Ramarama: Doves, tui and a watchgoose

A storybook lifestyle block near Auckland even has has its own clever goose, discovers Wendy Colville.

23 Maxted Road, Ramarama.

When the driveway to your home is a tree-lined avenue with a bridge over a meandering stream, you know you've really left the city. Yet Peter and Kathy Dunn's lifestyle property is still just 35 minutes from the centre of Auckland. Briardale is a 2.3 ha block with a rustic brick and board and batten house, and mature gardens that would do any garden tour proud. When Peter and Kathy walked down the drive two and half years ago, it was a Eureka moment. After five years of looking for the perfect country place Kathy rounded the bend and declared, "This is it." She says it was a case of love at first sight.

"Just the trees, the setting, the peace and quiet all appealed," she recalls.

Indeed, the stream that runs through a grove of mature kahikatea trees and under a wooden bridge could be straight out of a storybook. As you cross the bridge, look right and you will spot a small island with two goose eggs sitting in its centre. The property comes with a resident wild goose that Kathy says is an excellent watchdog.

"When you hear the goose honking you know someone's arriving."

The house is split-level, and recently received a new kitchen. Also on the property is a self-contained granny flat. Previous owners have operated the property as a bed and breakfast.

Level paddocks surround the homestead and the Dunns have kept a flock of Suffolk sheep that maintain the grass in cricket pitch order. In fact, the sheep have become more friends than business units. Kathy hopes that whoever buys the property will take on the sheep as well.

The couple moved from Glendowie and though they've embraced the farming life they admit they haven't completely mastered it.

"There was the year we had to rubber band all the male lambs (for castration). A year later the shearer pointed out we had a few rams in the flock - we hadn't got the technique quite right," Peter reminisces with amusement.

They also discovered crutching the sheep was a strenuous and exhausting job. Flipping sheep over is particularly tricky when the sheep fight back. A local shearer has now been delegated that job.

One of the things the couple has loved is the birdlife on the property. A dozen or so doves have made the place their home, and Peter says he's counted up to 20 tui in a tree at one time.

Both admit it's going to be a wrench to leave the peace and tranquillity of the place.

"One of the best things has been coming home after a day at work, climbing on the ride-on and driving over the paddocks. It's so relaxing and you can just completely switch off," Peter reckons.

Peter, a retail security consultant, has accepted a job in Sydney. Their next place is likely to be a small apartment in the city while they get established.

"It's going to be really hard going from this to a one-bedroom apartment, but when these opportunities come up you have to take them."

Vital Statistics

BEDROOMS: 4

BATHROOMS: 3

GARAGE: 2

SIZE: Land 2.35 ha, house 240 sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected around $1 million. Auction November 9.

INSPECT: Labour Day Monday 2.30-3.30pm.

CONTACT: Heather Fewtrell, Barfoot & Thompson, ph 239 1008 a/h,

0274 954 775.

FEATURES: Rustic home on a lifestyle farm with six level paddocks, barn and holding pens. House surrounded by mature gardens, native trees, birdlife, and a stream runs through the property. 35 minutes from Auckland.