KEY POINTS:
Five years of hard work has turned a bare block into a horsey haven.
Cypress Hill Stud, 55 Peak Road, Kaukapakapa.
Idyllic is the word that immediately springs to mind when you look out at the view from Cypress Hill Stud farm - lush green fields, a pond with ducks swimming lazily on its surface and rolling hills in the distance.
In a nearby paddock three beautiful mares and their foals graze contentedly.
But Chris and Tracey Sorrell are leaving all this behind for pastures new in Australia.
It took this hard-working couple five years to turn what was just a bare block of land with no fencing into an established lifestyle block with 13 sheltered paddocks and a full size all-weather Olympic dressage arena for their prizewinning Hanoverian dressage horses.
``When we first bought the land it had a lot of large pine trees and gums which we removed,'' Tracey explains.
``Since then we have done all the fencing and planting. We even designed and helped my father build the house and the stables on the property.
Our heart and soul have been poured into the property, and we've done virtually everything with our own hands.''
The couple jumped at the chance to buy the 14.8 ha property because of its flat fields, fertile soil and future potential for subdivision.
They also knew it was an ideal location to breed the dressage horses which are such an important part of their lives.
The property's excellent soil, drainage and wind protection with the established Leyland cypress hedging lends itself to a top rate horse stud.
``We've raised some exceptional young stock there, including Vollrath Wildfire, a New Zealand 6-year-old young dressage horse of the year,'' says Tracey.
The whole focus on the property was to make it as safe and user friendly as possible with the horses, hence the big central race and paddocks to keep the stallion safe and sound and far enough away from the mares, the large set of cattle/horse yards and the spacious implement shed/stables.
Tracey's dad built the north-facing house that receives all-day sun. Under-floor heating in the contemporary kitchen wards off winter chills.
The open plan kitchen/dining/living areas open onto a broad paved terrace. From here you can sit and enjoy the peaceful beauty of the subtropical planting with the fields and hills beyond.
Although the house has only one bedroom, the large attached three-car garage could easily be reduced in size to provide more bedrooms. It also has a spacious loft that could be used for storage or as another bedroom.
And while the farm feels as if it is miles away from the city it is only a 15-20 minute drive to Albany. The small village of Kaukapakapa with its primary school, pub, shop and garage is just a five-minute walk down the road.
The area is changing says Tracey, with more land being subdivided into smaller lifestyle blocks. The property is therefore ideal for someone interested in investing in it as a land bank.
Chris and Tracey are reluctantly giving up their property to expand their thriving horse trailer business, Kara Kar Trailers NZ.
The couple saw the trailers while honeymooning in Australia and the business has proved so successful they have to move there to run it.
``We regret having to sell the property, but as life changes new opportunities arise and you have to follow them,'' says Tracey.
``And as much as we would love to keep the property, it would be impossible when living in another country. Otherwise I think you would have seen us stay here forever.''
VITAL STATISTICS
BEDROOMS: 1
BATHROOMS: 1
GARAGES: 3+
SIZE: Land 14.8 ha, house 180sq m.
PRICE INDICATION: Similar properties have sold for $1.5 million to $3 million. Tenders close November 30.
INSPECT: By appointment.
CONTACT: Shona Jurlina or Louise Urquhart, Bayleys, ph Shona 027 599 7022 or 417 0017, Louise 021 639 004 or 426 5911.
ON THE WEB: www.bayleys.co.nz # 172264
FEATURES: Tranquil rural lifestyle property set up for horse breeding but also suitable for horticultural purposes or as landbank investment for future subdivision. Thirteen fenced paddocks, pond, stables, panoramic country views.
