Tutukaka: Wild life

A chance meeting led an Auckland couple to this rugged piece of paradise on the Northland coast. By VICKI HOLDER.

Having lived and worked in Auckland for many years, Gordon and Madeleine Stern suddenly found themselves retiring to tend alpacas in one of the most dramatic spots on the Northland coastline. Their large Rocky Bay property, two and a half hours north of Auckland at Tutukaka, captures the essence of wild New Zealand.

They'd always loved the area, but it was just a chance meeting that finally brought them up here to live. Venturing north to visit relatives one weekend three years ago, the couple stopped at a roadside stall to buy avocados. Rubbing shoulders with a local, they ended up inviting him to lunch. In turn they were lured to check out an amazing property on the clifftop. They were so impressed that by the Monday, they ended up buying it. Right at the end of the point, the property sits on a bush reserve on a rugged piece of coastline with paddocks all around.

They learned the previous owner was an American who had already gained consents to build among the native bush. But because his ideas grew even more ambitious, his plans were stymied and he decided to move further north, which meant the property was available again.

The American left the plans behind, which had been prepared by a Northland designer, Butt Design. The Sterns approached the same designer for more plans and were presented with three to choose from. They chose the most radical, a modern cedar design, which features living areas that curve around the cliff to maximise the outlook.

The house was sited to take full advantage of the outstanding 180-degree views of the coastline, which take in the Poor Knights, Sugar Loaf, Pinnacles and the Tutukaka heads and lighthouse. "All the decks fan out from the front, around the house. Out there the sun shines through all day and it's truly spectacular," says Madeleine.

The home is one of the finest on the Tutukaka coastline. Superbly constructed and crafted, the air-conditioned home has an expansive open-plan living area. A gas fire clad in Portland stone makes an impressive talking point.

Revolution Interiors was responsible for the fit-out, which blends natural materials with a moody colour palette. Pale Canadian timber floors flow throughout the house and steel grey rugs custom-made in India are set in the timber in the living areas.

In Christchurch for a few days while the home was being built, the Sterns took their plans to award-winning kitchen designer Ingrid Geldof who created a design with granite benchtops and twin ovens.

As well as a family room/study, there's a second lounge with a kitchenette for guests. Madeleine has an artist's studio, which could be converted into a single bedroom. All four bedrooms of the house open to the outdoors and have timber shutters that pull across the exterior. There is also a large double garage that includes the laundry.

As there are no neighbours close by, the Sterns enjoy peace and privacy. Yet they share a very long, bush-clad drive with six other properties. The woman who lives next door breeds alpacas, which is how the Sterns came to have about 100 of the animals grazing on their land.

"They're lovely animals, which you feed by hand. They all have their own personality," says Gordon, who has bred them for the New Zealand market. More and more people want alpacas for both breeding and pets. While these will be sold back to the neighbour when the Sterns leave, it's a fun option others might like to consider.

Services to the property include a sealed carriageway to the boundary with power and telephone supply, two 25,000 litre water-holding tanks and a smaller 1000 gallon tank for garden supply.

And while the house perches high above the ocean, access to two private beaches below is an invitation that is hard to resist.