Coromandel: Home on the ranges

A lodge-type home in the Coromandel ranges sits in regenerating forest and boasts views and abundant birdlife, writes Cate Foster.

11 Mahakirau Forest Estate, 309 Road, Coromandel.

It doesn't get much greyer than the cityscape around the Barbican in London where Brian and Candice Reading lived for many years, down the road from Brian's financial consultancy firm. They met about 20 years ago when Candice worked in a local wine bar while there on her OE.

As a New Zealander of Rangitane and Te Arawa affiliation, Candice always knew she needed a little bit of her homeland to anchor her, and in 1997 came back alone to find a small bach and a bit of land. Instead she ended up with 17.55ha of 70-year-old bush high on the crest of the Coromandel ranges.

Although it had no building on it, it was secure behind locked gates among other sections of a similar size on what is called the Mahakirau Forest Estate; a covenanted area of native bush fast reverting to the condition it was in before the kauri logging of a century ago. Tui and bellbirds treat it like their playground. Candice could not wait to build a track down to the swimming hole, past the healthily growing kauri, and luxuriate in the silence and peace, so different from her home on the other side of the world.

When Brian got over the shock of being the co-owner of a piece of native bush rather than a beachside bach he rallied for, the couple drew up concept plans for a house. It had to be large enough to double as an office for Brian and to house their precious classic cars, and because of the sensitive nature of the site, to be in keeping with its surroundings.

Fraemohs Homes of Christchurch built it in their factory and delivered it in flat pack on the back on an enormous lorry that could barely squeeze through the overhanging bush on the narrow estate roadway. Because Candice and Brian had to return to Britain, the company also erected it, and later built the adjacent Dutch barn that houses the office, the cars, and a games room with pool table.

Built entirely of wood, the home has a lodge-type feeling. With its deep eaves over roomy decks it feels perched among the clouds. On misty days the clouds even come inside, and on fine days the flax bushes alongside the decks fairly hum with the activity of native birds. At night, the kiwis' eerie calls echo through the bush from all sides. Because they see so little human activity, all the flying birds are virtually tame and treat the house and its rich environs as their own territory.

Inside, the house has three roomy bedrooms and two bathrooms, one with a full sized claw-foot bath, perfectly positioned to watch the sun rise and the busy birds around the deck. A book-lined office upstairs where Brian used to work is a reminiscent of the library of an English gentleman's club, and the cavernous double-height living space would only need a moose head to be at home in the Rockies.

While Brian and Candice are sad to be leaving their bit of paradise, they are at a stage where Brian's work demands that they are nearer an international airport. He now finds he has to spend one month in every three in London, so they have moved to the countryside south of Auckland to be closer to the airport.

Vital Statistics

BEDROOM: 3

BATHROOM: 2

GARAGE: 5+

SIZE: Land 17.55ha, house 180sq m (approx).

PRICE INDICATION: In the region of $850,000.

INSPECT: By appointment.

CONTACT: Sharon James, Century 21 Coromandel, ph 07 866 8716 bus, 07 866 8021 a/h, 027 235 4771 mob.

FEATURES: Lodge-type home in pristine native bush setting behind security gates with room to land the helicopter, separate studio/office space and a games room.