Kaiaua: New beginning

A Kaiaua couple have decided to retire and are reluctantly giving up their piece of paradise, writes Donna Fleming.

Waihihi, 1705 East Coast Road, Kaiaua.

All good things must come to an end, and after half a century the Finlayson family's connection to a prime piece of countryside by the Firth of Thames is just about over.

Pip Finlayson's parents bought the land in Kaiaua for him in 1954, when he was in his early 20s, and he has farmed it ever since.

For 30 years he and wife Carroll had an Angus stud. He's also turned his hand to other ventures, including horticulture.

"We had a subtropical fruit orchard, with avocado and kiwifruit, on land we've already sold," says Pip. "We've always had different projects on the go over the years and it's been very exciting."

And while a lot of hard work has gone on at Waihihi over the years, there's also been time for playing hard. Recreational activities enjoyed on the farm have included pig hunting, duck and pheasant shooting, and eeling in the stony-bottomed streams. The beach is just across the road for fishing and swimming and the land borders the Waharau Regional Park, a tramper's delight. "It's been a wonderful place to bring up our children," says Pip, dad of Adam and Sarah. "There was always so much for them to do."

The property has picturesque rolling hills as well as native bush, and there are fantastic views across the firth to the Coromandel and back to the Hunua Ranges. The sea views can be enjoyed from many rooms in the gracious homestead, which was built in 1957.

"The house is completely built of native timber - totara and heart rimu - which we milled off the back of the farm," says Pip.

Spread over three levels, the house has plenty of room for a growing family. The upper level has three bedrooms and a bathroom and on the lower one there's a another bedroom, bathroom and a study. The main level has a lounge, sitting room, dining room, conservatory, bathroom and a new kitchen.

Well-kept gardens surround the house and there's a new Astroturf tennis court for sports fans.

After five happy decades at the farm, leaving is not going to be easy for Pip and Carroll, who are moving to Auckland.

"We're retiring and it is time for a change of direction," says Pip, who will be very interested to see what the purchasers do with the land. It can be bought as a single entity or divided into three titles. Buyers can choose between 1.45ha with the homestead and tennis court; 117ha with a three-bedroom cottage (currently tenanted), woolshed, yards and two implement sheds; and a 118ha bare block.

Vital Statistics

SIZE: 237.43ha or three titles of 1.4509ha, 117.01ha or 118.97ha.

PRICE INDICATION: Market indications at this stage are over $6.5m. Expressions of interest expected on or by April 29.

INSPECT: By appointment.

CONTACT: Russell Savill, Wrightson Real Estate, ph (09) 904 8243 bus, 025 278 9552 mob.

FEATURES: Homestead with three living areas, Astroturf tennis court, three-bedroom cottage, streams and native bush.