A desire to roam the high seas means a new direction for an adventurous couple, who loved creating this luxurious country retreat at 34 Waiotahi Drive in Mangawhai, Kaipara, where they intended to raise their children.
Tony Orton and his partner Bea fit life with children Sami, 8, and Brooke, 4, around running charter company Offshore Adventures and media company Journey of a Fisherman.
“We’ve been back in New Zealand for about eight years now, after spending the good part of nine years overseas as a private fishing guide and running game boats for the wealthy,” Orton says.
“We’ve owned property in Mangawhai for close to 20 years, eventually deciding we wanted to create a rural tropical retreat where our kids would grow up.”
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Rob Cameron of Cameron Building Services completed this Waiotahi Estate home for them on 1.16 hectares of former farmland in November 2021.
34 Waiotahi Drive in Mangawhai is for sale by negotiation. According to OneRoof data, it has a 2020 RV of $1.43 million and the land was sold in December 2018 for $380,000. Altogether the property has six bedrooms, three bathrooms and covered parking for eight vehicles.
“We planned to be here for a very long time so we’ve over-spec’ed everything compared to what you’d do if you were building to sell, including putting over 125,000 litres of water tanks under the ground,” Orton says.
Custom-made oak barn doors, exposed trusses, polished concrete floors and a fireplace feature in the open-plan living-dining-kitchen with scullery and an island sheathed in Italian tiles. Photo / Supplied
“However, we’ve since decided as a family that we so love adventure that we can’t stand still. So we’re designing a 54-foot offshore sailing catamaran set up for game fishing and we’ll circumnavigate the world for five years, home-schooling our kids.”
After finding this land about four years ago they had diggers sculpt it for months, creating the right setting and privacy for their home which is accompanied by a large boatshed with additional accommodation. Its tranquil rural views include some up to the Brynderwyns.
“We’re about nine minutes’ drive from the Mangawhai Heads launching ramp and beach, near a couple of vineyards and an olive grove.”
Russian larch gates and attractive gabion walls introduce the home, from where they can keep an eye on around 15 Suffolk sheep grazing their two paddocks.
The board and batten home with gabled rooflines and raked ceilings incorporates an internal-access double garage and is orientated for the sun.
Living flows out to a louvre-covered outdoor area with cooking fireplace and spa pool.
The Mangawhai home sits on 1.16 hectares of former farmland, has two paddocks and a large boatshed with additional accommodation. Photo / Supplied
Inside living at 34 Waiotahi Drive flows out to a louvre-covered outdoor area with a cooking fireplace, spa pool and tranquil surroundings. Photo / Supplied
Custom-made oak barn doors, exposed trusses, polished concrete floors and a fireplace feature in the open-plan living-dining-kitchen with scullery and an island sheathed in Italian tiles.
“Bea’s passionate about cooking and it’s been designed to meet her standards.”
There’s also a media room and an office, a family bathroom, powder room and four bedrooms including the ensuited master with walk-in wardrobe. Forty square metres of attic space storage is fully insulated and lined. A heated pool and cabana alongside sub-tropical planting separate the main home from the additional boatshed-accommodation.
They refer to this additional space as ‘the lodge’, where two bedrooms, a lounge, bathroom and laundry adjoin the boatshed. This houses Orton’s sizeable charter boat and could fit a multitude of cars. A path from it weaves down through abundantly planted natives and fruit trees to a big tree house near a stream.
The couple feel like they’ll be passing on something very special when they sell the property, which also has large raised produce beds, a fish filleting area and little stock yard.
Bayleys Mangawhai agent Laureen Hayes, who is marketing 34 Waiotahi Drive with Letitia Partridge, says: “This property offers an extraordinary lifestyle, so close to the coast but away from the hustle and bustle in a beautifully tranquil setting.”
