Ararimu: A happy accident

Setting plants free from greenhouses has created a beautiful garden around a family home, writes Ellie Martel.

Serendipity, vvv 1055a Ararimu Rd, Ararimu.

The story of Rosalie and George Wheeler's nine-year-old picturebook home high up in Ararimu, south of Auckland, is as much about the garden as the house.

The couple built their massive, two-storey, four-bedroom house to take in wide views after living next door in a log cottage.

Rosalie grew flowers commercially in greenhouses on what is now the impressive garden.

"We lived with my son for a year while we built this house up here. Bit by bit we pulled down the greenhouses, except for one, and started the garden. It grew like topsy."

Eventually, she opened it to the public for charity rambles and gardening groups.

"We call [the property] Serendipity - because it all fell into place by accident."

The garden is one for all seasons, and features lawns, rose gardens, a pond, a retaining wall to allow no impediment to the expansive views and a small church entrance turned into a shed housing memorabilia. Her fantail pigeons, which love nasturtium seeds, are waiting to be fed along with the dog.

At this time of year they share the garden with wood pigeons, tui, thrushes, and in winter the waxeyes turn up, too.

Part of the attraction is the stand of native bush, which covers about two-thirds of the property and wraps around two sides of the house.

There's a rata in there that is 500 to 600 years old, and puriri, kahikatea, totara, nikau - "almost everything except kauri".

The 35sq m summer house was a late addition as the family grew to 17 and is a perfect all-weather outdoor entertainment area. Built with views, it provides a venue for large Christmas lunches. It is also a haven when barbecues turn wet.

The high ceilinged kitchen and dining area can be partitioned off from the rest of the house by a heavy sliding door preventing access to the grand entrance hall and the old-fashioned sitting room.

Features of the house include rimu beams, heavy rimu doors and a stained glass window above the front door.

Four bedrooms can be added to by turning the spacious games room above the garage into an extra bedroom.

An office off the master bedroom could double as a nursery.

Every room in the secluded house is built with a view out over the rolling farmland below. Although it is so rural, the property has only one tiny paddock, suitable for rearing calves or lambs for schoolchildren to show at agricultural day at the excellent local school.

This makes the house a good choice for someone who wants rural peace and privacy without having to look after grazing land.

Vital Statistics

SIZE: Land 2.49ha, house 320sq m (approx).

PRICE INDICATION: Around $1.1 million.

INSPECT: Sunday 1pm-1.45pm or by appointment.

CONTACT: James Twigg, Barfoot and Thompson, ph 292 4885 bus, or 021 500 668.

FEATURES: Rural views, office and games room. Separate garage workshop of 87sq m. Steel-framed greenhouse of 110sq m. Superb garden, including treehouse.