Long-standing member of the New Zealand equestrian community, Ross Coles, along with his wife Stephanie, have developed their Karaka estate into a horse-lovers haven.
Coles has been a steward at Ellerslie Racecourse since age 14, was an NZ Show Jumper Representative and Huntsman of the Pakuranga Hunt. The Horse of the Year Hall of Famer was also team manager when New Zealand won gold at the World Championships in Rome. The couple purchased the Karaka property in 2000 and built their gracious homestead in 2007.
“My wife had a plan as to what she would like and we drew that up ourselves. Then one rainy day we were reading the local paper and there was an advertisement for a company called Villa Homes Ltd. They ended up building our house for us, from our plan, and they’ve done an excellent job of it,” says Coles.
Although it’s rich with beautifully detailed heritage features reminiscent of a classic farm villa, it’s well-equipped with all the modern essentials expected of a solid new home, including double glazing in areas, insulation, a heat transfer system and quality fixtures. Stephanie has a keen eye for recycling and repurposing old materials and has curated many of the key features throughout, including the solid kauri front doors.
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These perfectly complement the authentic-looking architraves, polished kauri floors and feature fretwork of the deep, north-facing veranda that runs along the front of the house. The big central passage is a nod to traditional farmhouses and the rooms are all oversized.
“We do entertain quite a bit so we needed a lounge, a separate dining area and a family room, so the kids also had space. It’s a home not a house. You can see the Sky Tower, Manukau City, Auckland Airport and all the lovely rolling Karaka country in front of you,” says Coles.
The elegant floorplan also offers three bedrooms plus study/storage room, with the light-filled master suite incorporating a walk-in wardrobe, spacious ensuite and veranda access. A separate laundry and large garage with storage and mudroom complete the package.
The elegant floorplan also offers three bedrooms plus study/storage room, three bathrooms, a light-filled master suite and multiple living spaces.
At 19.86 hectares and with well-raced paddocks, the property presents all the space and functionality needed for any type of farming – not just equine enthusiasts.
The couple have planted the simple yet structured gardens that frame the home, with good elevation flooding the grounds with light and sun all day. This building platform was originally occupied by a house barn, which was relocated and became the focus of the family’s impressive equestrian set up.
“We managed an agistment operation here with up to 12 horses, so people could come and ride. The horse lived here and we looked after everything. The 70m x 70m grass arena is big enough to have an international dressage arena and a show jumping arena on it,” he says.
The barn/stable complex includes a tack room/tool shed, tie up stalls and self-contained accommodation, which works perfectly for extended family, long-term visitors or farm workers. The two-bay hay shed at the end of the race offers easy access to hay in the winter, and has good water supply. There is also a truck shed and eight covered stalls for overnighting the horses.
The home is rich with beautifully detailed heritage features reminiscent of a classic farm villa.
Homeowner and Horse of the Year Hall of Famer Ross Coles says: “It’s a home not a house. You can see the Sky Tower, Manukau City, Auckland Airport and all the lovely rolling Karaka country in front of you.”
At 19.86 hectares and with well-raced paddocks, the property presents all the space and functionality needed for any type of farming – not just equine enthusiasts. The arable soil is ideal for cropping and there has been an avocado farm on site in the past.
While the setting enjoys an incredibly rural feel, the motorway is only a 15-minute drive from home. As the Coles are now ready to downsize, their gracious homestead is ready and waiting for someone to simply walk-in and enjoy all their hard work.
Cherry Cooper, from Barfoot & Thompson, is marketing the property with Trudy Boyce and says the beauty of this exceptional property is that it really can suit anyone.
“It’s such a beautiful place to live. When you’re sitting out on the deck with a gin in your hand, you see right across the harbour to the Sky Tower in the distance – it really is stunning. It’s one of the most charming properties we’ve seen out here.”
- Sponsored by Barfoot & Thompson
