Taupaki: Pastoral pleasures

Graham Hepburn meets a couple who missed their farm so much they bought a big lifestyle block.

8 Nelson Road, Taupaki.

Most people find lifestyle blocks a bigger challenge than they expected - but not David and Irvine Sadler.

The retirees had been on their Taupaki property for a year when they decided they needed to extend themselves further.

Mind you, David had run a 40ha farm in Brookby before the shift to Taupaki, as well as holding down company directorships.

The Sadlers moved from Brookby into Auckland central but, as Irvine says, "David didn't have enough to do and wanted some more land again."

So, they bought their rambling home on a lifestyle block in the rolling countryside of Taupaki. They've since painted the house and put an open fireplace into the living room.

David says, "Irvine's done a lot with the garden , and we've done a bit more work out here with fixing the fencing and a bit of chainsawing, but it's not too demanding."

Irvine adds, "Once we were out here I began to realise that David wasn't using his brain and needed some stimulation.

"He's a bit of a frustrated historian so I thought he should go to university and do a degree. But when he said he'd like to go back to his alma mater, Canterbury University, I thought he was joking."

So, the Sadlers are heading to Christchurch where Irvine, a former local body councillor and marriage celebrant, plans to take art classes and maybe get involved with the theatre or art gallery.

They'll be taking their dog Ben, part wheaten terrier, part something else, with them and maybe the cattle that David keeps on the property.

But they'll be saying goodbye to a home that has an impressive range of living spaces that could accommodate an extended family in comfort.

The main house has formal and informal living and dining rooms and an impressive master suite with a large, sunken en suite. There is a small sunroom off that overlooking the pool that Irvine calls David's snug.

At the eastern end of the house is a sizeable self-contained flat with its own kitchen, bathroom, living room with woodburner, and laundry.

At the other end of the house is the massive garage that could hold a fleet of cars and all manner of farm machinery. It also has a smaller rear roller door so you can zip out the back to the paddocks on your mower or quad bike.

However, it's the pool area that's the heart of the home. The northern side of the house, opening out to the pool, has a pavilion along most of its length with a louvred ceiling.

On the other side of the pool is the cabana, a modest description for what is an entertainer's paradise with its own kitchen and bar (including a commercial bar fridge), bathroom, wine cellar and a gas fire. The Sadlers have it set up with a big-screen TV and stereo, and as David says, its a real party place in summer.

The cabana has a picture window on its northern side that overlooks their property and the hills beyond.

"At Christmas we had family staying here and they wanted to move in," says David. "We had 24 people all together here at the house for Christmas Day and it easily absorbed the numbers."

Irvine and David may have owned the home briefly but they have built a lot of fond memories.

"It's a special place," Irvine says wistfully. "The grandchildren love it here."

The Sadlers, despite giving all this up, are still heading home - they were both born and bred in Christchurch.

Vital Statistics

BEDROOMS: 5

BATHROOMS: 4

GARAGE: 6

SIZE: Land 4.095ha, house 380sq m, cabana 60sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected over $1.3 million. Auction October 29.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 1-2pm.

CONTACT: Sue Noonan, Harcourts Hobsonville, ph 416 8176 bus, 0274 752 012 mob, 412 7783 a/h.

FEATURES: Extended family living on lifestyle block. Large home with adjoining self-contained flat. In-ground pool with cabana set up for guest accommodation or entertaining. Huge garage and workshop. Electronic security gates. Three 22,700-litre water tanks plus water bore for stock. New fencing on land that is divided into six paddocks.