Hunua: Kauri and camellias

Open to the public in the summer months, Hunua Gardens has attracted thousands of visitors.

A glorious garden makes this Hunua home stand out from the rest. By DONNA FLEMMING.

An overgrown tangle of trees and plants greeted Raewyn Cook and David Goudie when they came to look at this 10-acre property near Hunua 14 years ago. But they didn't let that or the very basic house on the site put them off.

"We could see how wonderful the trees were, despite it being so overgrown," says Raewyn. "David has been in horticulture all his life and I grew up in a nursery, so we knew what we could do."

The couple bought the property and set to work clearing away a mass of creepers that were threatening to take over. As well as extensive native bush, including kauri and rimu, they found a grove of magnificent redwoods, a huge cherry tree, a copper beech, magnolias, jacaranda, camellias and rhododendrons.

"Our land had been part of a 200-acre farm, and back in the 1940s the farmer planted a lot of big exotic trees as well as keeping the native bush," explains Raewyn. "These kind of trees take more than a lifetime to grow."

An intensive planting programme, planned to enhance the existing vegetation, was begun. The result is a breathtakingly beautiful garden that the couple have shared not only with family and friends, but strangers. Open to the public in the summer months, Hunua Gardens has attracted thousands of visitors.

It has also been a popular place for weddings. Raewyn's two daughters are among the many brides who've taken their vows in the picturesque setting. 

Two streams that run along the sides of the triangular-shaped plot of land meet at a scenic waterhole. There are two dams - one creating a pond full of water lilies - and even a small waterfall. The same loving care and attention that was lavished on the grounds has also gone into turning the old wooden house into a gracious country homestead. The current house was constructed around the old dwelling, but it's impossible to tell where one ends and the other begins.

Oak double doors with leadlights lead into a foyer with stylish slate flooring that continues from the entrance courtyard. The formal lounge features a kauri fireplace, and the huge designer kitchen includes a central island housing the hob.

Beyond the kitchen is the informal dining area and family room. All the living areas have french doors opening to a veranda that wraps around the house, as does the master bedroom, also on the ground floor. Downstairs, too, is an office, which could be a fourth bedroom.

On the upper level are two further bedrooms and a billiard room, which also open to a veranda and a huge walk-in storage area.

Throughout the house earthy colours have been used to avoid jarring with the view through the windows. A charming outbuilding in the grounds could be used as a studio or retreat.

Arriving at the house via the tree-lined driveway is like entering another world, says Raewyn. "We love the peace and tranquility and, of course, there is complete privacy."

Raewyn and David will be sad to leave, but say the time has come to move on. "We see it as an opportunity for someone else to take the garden on to another stage, or to just sit back and enjoy what we've done."

VITAL STATISTICS

ADDRESS: Hunua Gardens, 39 McMurray Rd, Hunua.

FEATURES: Homestead-style house set in established gardens, including extensive native bush; four bedrooms; formal and informal living areas; billiard room; designer kitchen; separate laundry; two bathrooms and third toilet; internal-access double garage; walk-in storage area; character outbuilding.

SIZE: Land 4.24ha; house 330sq m (approx).

AUCTION: On site at 1pm, February 26, unless sold prior. Interest expected in excess of $1.1 million.

CONTACT: James Twigg, Barfoot & Thompson. Ph 292 4885 or 021 500 668 mob.