Once bare land, then housing a weekender half barn, Robin and Lyn Franklin's lifestyle block overlooking the Kaipara Harbour is now the setting for their large home and magnificent garden.
Lyn says Robin was "born with a green thumb" and has turned a neglected piece of farmland full of thistlesand weeds into a beautiful park.
"He has planted hundreds of trees, natives and exotics. He has worked very hard indeed and he just lovesit," she says.
After working 30 years full-time in Auckland's CBD, the couple were keen to move away from the city in the 1990s.
"Living in the country is like dying and going to heaven. I think we both feel that way," says Lyn.
It was after they made the initial move from the city to Ti Point near Leigh that they saw aerial photographs of land blocks for sale in Metcalfe Rd in 1999.
"We went for a drive to get a bag of kumara at the kumara capital down the road, Ruawai," says Robin. "And I said let's go and have a look at this land, see if it looks as nice as it does from the air."
One block in particular caught Robin's eye: the 4.16ha that would become their home. In 2000 they put up a half-round, five-bay barn "and we had a flat, so to speak, for weekend living", he says.
In 2005 they sold their Ti Point home and extended the Matakohe barn into a permanent home, facing northeast, built of concrete-tilt slabs and measuring approximately 345sq m.
"We ended up with a lovely two-storey house with magnificent views of the Kaipara Harbour and bush on the other side, which will never be spoiled, and also of Pahi Peninsula," says Lyn.
Inside they insulated and lined the concrete walls. Downstairs floors are polished concrete, upstairs rag board and they have an inverter for heating, a wood burner in the living room and another in the scullery, which also heats water. The bathrooms have solar water heating.
"The home is pretty warm in winter and also very pleasant in summer," says Robin.
A connector hallway joins the two parts of the home. Upstairs is given over to bedrooms, sewing room and office space, with Robin and Lyn's bedroom space incorporating en suite, walk-in wardrobe and sitting room, all with three-quarter wall dividers.
Downstairs are a guest bedroom, kitchen and dining room, tiled floor scullery, and the large living area with stone fire surround for the wood heater.
The living area's walls and windows soar full height to the ceiling by the wooden stairway, plus double and french doors open to the outdoors.
Image 1 of 7: More than 4ha of park-like grounds and a warm, spacious home create an enticing haven
"We can see the water from every room in the house," says Lyn.
"And the other side we look at our garden and trees."
There are also workshops, garaging plus a cellar. The couple enjoy looking over their property from their bedroom's balcony, watching the birds that have come to the property since they planted the trees -- poplars, natives, apples, bananas, quinces, lemons, oranges, pears and olives.
"It is amazing when you can look down on birds; we have lots of pheasants, pigeons, grey warblers and cuckoos. I have counted to nearly 100 little birds," says Robin.
Lawn runs down to the Queen's Chain and the tidal Kaipara. Across the road from their driveway is an easement to deeper water for launching boats.
The couple say it is now time to sell and move on to other things.
"We probably will be moving into the city again," says Lyn.
They think their home will appeal to someone who has sold a farm and doesn't want to live in a town, "or someone like we were, who want to get away from Auckland", says Lyn.
"Anyone wanting to could land a helicopter on the property," says Robin. "It's also marvellous grape country.
