An extended family has developed a versatile 4.2-hectare lifestyle property on the Matakana-Warkworth border to provide three generations with the “good life”.
Nicki and husband Aaron with their three sons bought here in late 2015 with Nicki’s parents Mardi and John, having searched the area for a suitable property to live together.
Local school teacher Nicki says: “The property has so many amazing qualities. It is so private, tranquil and safe. It is a hidden hideaway set right between Warkworth, Matakana and Snells Beach, so we are so close to everything, yet tucked away at the same time.
“Everywhere you look there are lush paddocks, established trees and a gorgeous pond which is fed by the many springs in the valley – and our view will never be built out.”
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They look out at a neighbour’s vineyard, with Matakana Estate just behind them over the hill, great for wine tastings, food trucks, and fun events.
The property has been a family sanctuary and peaceful escape with a strong connection to nature, a menagerie of animals and abundant produce.
The main home is a weatherboard beauty which was relocated from the North Shore around the time the Monarch Downs subdivision it sits within, was developed. Originally admiring the sea, it now admires the property’s own pond with a jetty, which is used to irrigate the grounds.
The family extended one end of the home to give Mardi and John a more extensive self-contained living and they had a huge three-bay barn built next to the house.
The four-bedroom, three-bathroom 280sqm home sits on 4.2 hectares and looks out to a pond.
The main home is a weatherboard beauty which was relocated from the North Shore.
Mardi grew up on a farm and living here has allowed her to breed heritage Orpington chickens, quails and ducks which, along with their three cows, add to the tranquil rural atmosphere.
The eldest of the three boys was heading into his teens when they moved here.
Nicki says: “They’ve loved having the room for target practice with slug guns, bow and arrows, riding, motorbikes and roaming and exploring around the paddocks and pond.”
Aaron is a local civil engineer and the big American-style barn, with bathroom, has served as his home workshop. It’s also a fine place for large scale entertaining and parties, plus a great teen hang-out spot. Its mezzanine level has bolstered accommodation but could be a studio or office.
The main home consists of two wings flowing out to generous decks. Mardi and John’s wing has a lounge with expansive rural views and vaulted ceiling, a kitchenette, two bedrooms, a bathroom and a shower room, making it ideal for guests, teens, or extended family.
The other wing has an open-plan kitchen-living-dining room, another big living room, plus a bathroom, laundry and double garage with a bedroom and rumpus room-study upstairs.
The big American-style barn, with bathroom, has served as a workshop for one of the homeowners.
The property has a large productive orchard, vegetable gardens and native trees.
There’s a large varied orchard and productive vege gardens and they’ve planted multitudes of native trees. There’s also a tractor/caravan/boat lean-to, a garden shed, a chook pen and plenty of open-air parking.
They’re located down a long shared private driveway, zoned for Matakana Primary, 10 minutes from the area’s beautiful beaches and from Matakana and Warkworth townships. Closeness to the new Warkworth motorway extension provides easy access to Auckland’s North Shore and CBD.
Now the boys have grown, their parents will downsize while their grandparents move to the beach.
Harcourts agent Amy Wagstaff says: “It is a real pleasure to market a home with so many features. This is not one to miss if your family is looking for an amazing lifestyle dream property.”
136A Monarch Downs Way in Warkworth, Rodney, is for sale by way of auction on March 15.
- Sponsored by Harcourts
