Warkworth: Peacocks in the orchard

Running an orchard has been a great lifestyle choice for two Auckland escapees, writes Estelle Sarney.

Dome Valley Orchards, 182 State Highway 1, Warkworth.

Eddie and Kathy McDermott were Aucklanders born and bred, but by the time their son Jarrod was two years old they wanted out of the city.

When they saw the Dome Valley Orchards just north of Warkworth were for sale, they thought it would give them the healthy, community-focused lifestyle they wanted. They haven't been disappointed.

"We spend just about all our time outside," says Kathy, a cheery picture of good health. "We eat really well because of the all the produce we grow - Jarrod will eat five apples a day when all the different colours are hanging off the trees, not to mention our plums and mandarins. We hardly ever get sick."

The McDermotts knew a bit about plants from the landscaping business they used to own in Auckland, but had never grown and harvested fruit trees before.

"The first time I went up a ladder to pick some plums I just wore my pinny with the big pockets, and just about tipped the ladder over I got so heavy," laughs Kathy. "Then the first batch of apples I put in the shop a local customer had to tell me they were picked too green and would never ripen."

Help came in the form of former orchardist Ron Becroft, independent chairman of United Fresh, which runs the 5+ A Day promotion. He was passing one day and dropped in on the McDermotts to see how they were getting on.

"He was invaluable," says Kathy. "He told us what we should be doing and when, and put us on to some rural supply companies who had people who could help us, too."

"We realised a lot of [running an orchard] is common sense," says Eddie, now a lot wiser three years down the track. "You don't have to do courses or anything, just get a bit of advice from the right people."

The pair sell all their produce through the shop at the front of the property, which Kathy usually supervises while Eddie looks after the trees with the help of a part-time worker. It's amazing to think that all the pickings off 1400 apple trees (13 varieties), 50 pear trees (four varieties), 50 plum trees (four varieties) and 200 mandarin trees go out the front door, but the orchard is blessed with a perfect location. On SH1, it catches all the tourists and holiday makers heading north, then coming back south again. Eddie reckons 60 per cent of their customers in summer are tourists driving between the Bay of Islands and Rotorua. Then there's the significant local population in Warkworth, Matakana and Mahurangi.

"It's a neat community," says Kathy. "Jarrod goes to the local school, and we get invited to lots of things. A lot of the older people are always dropping in jams and chutneys for us."

When they close the shop at night, there is a lovely family home to retreat to. The main living area opens out to a sunny terrace and lawn, sheltered by trees and looking across to part of the orchard and the hills beyond.

"We can sit here and watch ducks come up from the stream to eat windfalls, and [watch the] peacocks.

"There must be about 200 peacocks living wild around here. They look beautiful strutting through the orchard."

Kathy has planted a garden that has colour throughout the year, from the weeping cherry blossom in spring, to agapanthus and frangipani flowers in summer, to the autumn leaves of pin oaks and liquidambars, to splashes of colour from camellias in winter.

There is also a pond just down from the lawn, around which Kathy has planted olives, pohutakawa, cherries and silver birches.

It is a physically demanding lifestyle, and unfortunately an old problem with Eddie's back has flared up and he can no longer cope with all the pruning, picking and lifting required to manage the orchard. The family isn't sure where it will go from here, but Eddie and Kathy say they'll never forget their time as orchardists.

Vital Statistics

BEDROOMS: 4+

BATHROOMS: 2

GARAGE: 2+

SIZE: Land 4.5 ha, house 253sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected over $1 million. Tender closes October 27 unless sold prior.

INSPECT: By appointment.

CONTACT: Ben and Nola Kloppers, Harveys Warkworth, ph 021 425 599 or 021 425 597.

FEATURES: Comfortable family home with office that could be fifth bedroom, and separate formal lounge. Orchard contains 1400 apple trees (13 varieties), 50 pear (four varieties), 50 plum (four varieties) and 200 mandarin trees. Shop at front of property has office attached. Top location on State Highway 1, near Warkworth township.