Hunua: Saddle up and party!

Facilities for the 18 horses on the property include paddocks with connecting gates, three enclosed stables and another three undercover, a breaking-in pen and a dressage arena. Photo / Geoff Dale

This Hunua property is the ideal set-up for equestrians who love to entertain in style.

If ever a property was meant for people who like to work hard and play hard, then Imari is it.

The 28ha Hunua property has been owned by horse breeder Chris for three years. It's a busy working farm with everything the serious equestrian needs close at hand.

But at the end of the day, when the horses have been safely settled in their paddocks, the 110-year-old renovated house is the perfect place to let your hair down.

"You get the best of both worlds," says Chris. "There's a great working environment on your doorstep and then the house, which is designed for enjoyment. You couldn't ask for more."

Imari, which backs on to the Hunua Regional Park, wowed Chris from the moment he first set foot on the land. He decided to call it Imari after a type of fine Japanese porcelain, "because the china is so beautiful and so is this place - the name just seemed to fit".

Heading up the tree-lined driveway, the sides of which are carpeted with daffodils in spring, you get a sense that you're arriving somewhere out of the ordinary. The drive goes up a hill past a three-bedroom house that's currently tenanted, a breaking-in pen, barn and stables to the historic homestead.

Built in 1895 as a four-bedroom cottage, the house is an entertainer's delight. Tastefully redecorated throughout, it's mostly open plan and there are french doors from nearly all the downstairs living areas leading to a deck, veranda or rear courtyard. Double doors open to a square deck at the front of the house, allowing breezes to cool the main living room in summer, while a Kent fire and ceiling-to-floor drapes make it cosy in winter. A second, smaller living area has a window seat that's the ideal spot for soaking up the late-afternoon sun.

The open-plan kitchen at the centre of the house comes with all the mod cons and a large walk-in pantry. A partially-glazed roof lets the light flood in, and the French doors from here lead out to the courtyard, a sheltered space planted with roses and lemon trees.

The formal dining room is the jewel in the crown. Painted a vibrant blue, the walls are lined in adjustable rimu shelves, which display books, china, antiques and treasures collected from around the world. Yet more doors from this room and the neighbouring informal dining and third living area take you to a wider-than-usual veranda that extends the length of the north-facing side of the house. This is draped with purple and white wisteria that provides welcome dappled shade in summer but lets in the sun in the winter months.

"We've had some great parties out here," says Chris. "Everything is floodlit, even the trees."

There are two bedrooms - a guest one downstairs and the main bedroom upstairs, which has an enormous dressing room.

"There's actually a huge amount of space in the roof that's undeveloped," says Chris. "I always planned to put another bedroom, bathroom and living area up there, but haven't got around to it."

The house has two bathrooms downstairs, and next to them yet another dressing room. A former woodshed behind the house has been converted into a guest room that could also be an office.

A path leads from the back of the house up to the salt-water swimming pool. Beside it is a covered bar. "Another great spot for entertaining," smiles Chris.

If you get bored of partying by the pool, there's always the lake, a few minutes' walk from the house. Its jetty has been the site of some memorable dinner parties. "I've had people here in black tie and shorts - it has been a lot of fun."

But a lot of hard work also goes on at Imari. There are currently 18 horses on the property, kept in paddocks with connecting gates so it's easy to move them around. There are three enclosed stables and another three undercover, which are 30 seconds away from the house, and adjoin a one-bedroom groom's cottage.

As well as the breaking-in pen there's also a dressage arena, and Chris has strategically placed jumps throughout the property to create a cross-country course. A short ride away is a plateau paddock that's perfectly flat.

The whole property is centrally raced and has its own abundant water supply. "I've put a lot of time and thought into getting everything working just as I want it and it has been wonderful," says Chris.

However, he's been offered a business opportunity overseas that's just too good to turn down, so it's time to sell up.

"I'll really miss this place," he says, looking out across the valley from a vantage point next to the stables.

"It's so peaceful and tranquil yet you're not too far away from the motorway and access to lots of places. But to be honest, you often don't feel like venturing too far. Everything you need is here."

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: Imari, 2581a Hunua Rd, Hunua.

FEATURES: Horse breeding property with 110-year-old wooden house; two bedrooms; three living areas; formal dining; kitchen with walk-in pantry; large laundry; two bathrooms; two dressing rooms; roof space for development; separate guest room/office/studio; double undercover parking; salt-water swimming pool with bar; second three-bedroom home and self-contained one-bedroom staff accommodation; stables; barn; dressage area; breaking-in pen; cross country course; three hay barns.

TENDER CLOSES: April 20. Interest expected above $1.5 million.

AGENT: Anne Lomas, Bayleys. Ph 205 1191 bus; 021 737 730 mob.