Thanks to their steadfast commitment to conservation, the owners of this extraordinary Northland estate have not only created a luxury coastal retreat over the past 25 years, but a slice of pristine and protected coastal paradise.
Set against the backdrop of crystal clear waters, Taiharuru Cove has its own private bay and is dense with native kauri forest. Its spectacular elevation also affords panoramic views out over Elephant Island and the Hen and Chicks beyond.
The magnificent property is comprised of three buildings – the main homestead, the guest lodge, and a beach studio, totalling over 1000sqm. With the property comprising two lots, there is scope for a further home to be built on the property.
One of the owners shares that it all started in the mid 1990s, when he and his wife had a vision to achieve two things.
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“I’m a yachtie and have sailed up and down the east coast of the North Island many times over my life. As I got older and saw the coastline being chopped up, subdivided and generally developed, we decided we’d try and find unique part of coastal New Zealand and preserve it as it should have been,” he says.
“The second aspect was to create a multi-generational, legacy family property.”
After several years of hunting they found this very special 100-acre parcel. “It’s an outstanding part of the coast and very private. It was a totally undeveloped part of a farm with nothing on it when we bought it,” he says.
“The previous farm owners who had owned it for 20-odd years were keen conservationists. Of the 100 acres we bought, about 33 acres was already covenanted in very high quality native bush.”
So while they had a wonderful piece of land to start with, they have since undertaken an enormous amount of conservation work and pest control, including planting 70,000 native trees. A couple of years after they bought property, they found their first kiwi. This ignited a passion and concerted effort to look after the national treasure.
The property is comprised of three buildings – the main homestead, the guest lodge, and a beach studio, totalling over 1000sqm.
The view from the coastal retreat which has its own private bay.
“A group of us got together in 2002 and started what is now known as Backyard Kiwi, which has been a very successful kiwi conservation management group, based in Whangarei Heads.
“We did our first kiwi survey in 2002 and the area had just 70 birds – they were in sharp decline, potentially gone in 10 years. The survey this year showed over 1200 kiwi on the Whangarei Heads Peninsula. We’ve got kiwi all through our property – from a conservation point of view it’s pretty special.”
The homestead is the primary residence and boasts three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a dining space, two living areas, an office, gym, laundry and five-car garaging.
“We had some reasonably clear ideas about what we wanted, in terms of architecture. As it was going to be a legacy family property, we wanted a timeless design built to an exceptionally high standard,” he says.
After searching around both the North and South Islands, they settled on Chris Wilson (Wilson and Hill) from Christchurch, who went on to become one of the South Island’s leading and most respected architects.
“He nailed our brief to the letter – the general style is modernised New Zealand colonial, with lot of glass, stone and natural timber.” The craftsmanship is exquisite and having Wilson based in the South Island paid off when it came to materials.
“We bought some beams from an old mill in Kaipoi that we had remilled in tongue and groove and all the joinery in the main house is heart rimu, made in the South Island.”
The feature stone was procured for the chimney and exterior.
Verandas offer a sheltered spot to relax alfresco, no matter the season or weather.
Verandas wrap around the outside, offering a sheltered spot to relax alfresco, no matter the season or weather. The feature stone was procured a little closer to home. Paradise Stone from Whangarei was used for the chimney and stone sourced from a Maungaturoto Quarry for the exterior, which they chose for the flecks of rich browns and gold through it, a result of the iron content.
The finished result was also entered into House of the Year 2004 by builder Rob Littlejohn – winning the Northland category and a runner-up nationally.
The spacious guest house across the driveway offers three bedrooms, two bathrooms, two living, a dining space and laundry. It provides a totally separate space for family or guests. Further down towards the water, the beach studio dubbed The Ritz overlooks Horseshoe Bay and with its open-plan layout, internal and external bathroom, and outdoor fireplace is very much at one with nature.
While there are larger moorings available for big vessels in Whangarei, smaller boats can easily be launched from the cove and a Sealegs would also be a great option. The owners have loved many aspects of their landmark property.
“The location is absolutely stunning, it’s totally private we can’t see a soul, yet it’s only 20 minutes from Whangarei and two-and-a-quarter hours from Auckland,” he says. “I don’t know another property like it on the whole east coast – the natural landscape is magnificent and the houses have been brilliant, very thermally stable, solid and well built.”
David Maxwell, from Future Isles, says, “When you arrive over the hill and down into the cove of this natural amphitheatre, it feels like you’re in your own private sanctuary.
“The land’s natural contours form an enclave sheltered from prevailing southwest winds, offering complete privacy from neighbouring properties – you’re always at peace here. This legacy offering is ready and waiting for the next custodian to share with generations to come.”
- Sponsored by Future Isles
