Russell: Yours for $15.5 million

A family from Perth loved the Bay of Islands so much they moved to Russell and built an estate.

Moojebing Park Estate, Russell.

The Bay of Islands is a long way from Perth, but when West Australians Max and Angela Broughton wanted a change of lifestyle, Russell is where they looked.

"We'd holidayed here for about eight years previously and just loved the area," recalls Angela. "We started looking for land, found this place, and that was it."

They packed up their Perth home, and brought their three children, Daniel, then aged 11, Carla, 10, and Emma, 8, to their new 132ha property, and there the family has stayed for the past 14 years.

The Broughtons brought a little bit of Australia with them, naming their estate Moojebing - an interpretation of an Aboriginal term meaning "place of peace" or "happy place".

The land stretches the width of a peninsula 8km by road from Russell, or you can catch a ferry from Opua to within 2km of the property. The 3km driveway from the road to the main house passes a range of breathtaking views - south over the Waikare inlet, north over Orongo Bay, Uruti Bay and out toward Waitangi. The property has two headlands and 3km of coastline, including a bay with a jetty 80m down a grassy bank from the main house.

"We often have boaties pulling in and picnicking down by the water. We don't mind, we think this coastline is for everyone to enjoy," says Angela.

The main house spreads over about 650sq m and includes five bedrooms, a billiard room and a home theatre. But it's the view from here, as much as the house, which Angela has loved.

"The yachties from the Opua yacht club are out racing twice a week, which looks just beautiful. When the dolphins come in to swim around the rocks the whole household stops to watch them. Once we had some orca whales come in. The Waikare inlet is a great breeding ground for fish. We catch kahawai, snapper and flounder."

Angela has enjoyed showing all this to overseas visitors who she hosts in the other four dwellings on the property. Built from wood milled on-site, the two lodges and two cottages have a laid back country feel.

There is a helipad if guests want to fly in to stay, and a tennis court down by the beach. Next to the main house is a swimming pool, spa, outdoor bar and barbecue area. An equestrian facility with stables and an arena, and a cross-country course on the property, has encouraged one of Angela's daughters to become a keen eventer.

While Max continued his machinery dealership, the children went to local schools, and became involved in the community. Moojebing has hosted fundraising dinners, pony club meets and numerous birthday parties in what Angela says is a safe and secure environment for children.

There is enough land to take 180 to 200 weaner calves. The family became so fond of their livestock they gave many of them names. They can stay if the next owner wishes to keep them.

With the children now in their 20s, Max and Angela feel like another change of scene. But they have no intention of heading back to Australia.

"We've developed a great passion for Northland," says Angela. "We're looking for a smaller property up here somewhere."

Vital Statistics

BEDROOMS: 5

BATHROOMS: 3+

GARAGE: 5+

* THERE ARE ALSO FOUR OTHER DWELLINGS ON THE PROPERTY - TWO 3 BEDROOM LODGES, AND TWO 2 BEDROOM COTTAGES. THE MAIN HOUSE ALSO HAS A 1 BEDROOM FLAT.

SIZE: Land 132 ha, main house 650sq m approx.

PRICE: $15.5 million + GST if any

INSPECT: By appointment.

CONTACT: Charlie Brendon-Cook, Russell Realty, ph 021 403 723, 09 403 8895 bus, 09 403 7234 a/h.

FEATURES: Prime waterfront land with riparian rights, comprised of five titles that would suit a syndicate or an individual buyer. 3.2km of sheltered coastline with three houses and two cottages, tennis court, equestrian arena, swimming pool, spa, helipad and two jetties. Main house has billiard/conference room and a home theatre. 112 ha available for grazing. All paddocks have their own water supply. 8km by road from Russell, or the ferry from Opua pulls in 2km away.