SCHOOL ZONES:
Pukekohe East Primary School, Pukekohe High School.
CONTACT:
Gareth McIvor, 021 462 111, or Cherry Cooper 021 955 141, Barfoot & Thompson.
Setting out to buy a place by the sea as their new home in New Zealand, Mike and Claire Yeoman instead bought this Ramarama lifestyle property.
"My husband's brief was to find a small house by the sea. And we have ended up with this lifestyle block in the middle of two coastlines," says Claire.
"What happened was when we came down the driveway, we just fell in love with it.
"It was the feel of the countryside. We can't believe our luck really because it has been great from the word go.
"I think what I love about this place is we have privacy but we are not isolated.
"We moved here in 2002 straight from the UK," she says.
Ramarama was a commutable distance into Otahuhu where Mike was working.
"You have the accessibility to Auckland, and Pukekohe is a thriving town. It is just so easy, it is only 20 minutes driving to the airport. It's easy accessibility if you want to go to the Coromandel and south. If you want to go to Auckland it's not a problem. And we have great neighbours, it is a lovely community."
The brick and cedar house, designed by architect Morton Jordan, was built in the 90s by the previous owner.
The two storey home's ground level has open living including the kitchen with its cantilevered island benchtop and walk-in pantry, snug, media room with home cinema, two double bedrooms, bathroom and laundry. Outside there is a choice of alfresco dining and entertainment areas.
Upstairs are a mezzanine looking down to the open plan living area, office, two double bedrooms, a smaller bedroom and a bathroom.
For heating, there are two log burning stoves and an open fire.
"It is not a cottage, it is not a manor, it is just a really happy home," says Claire.
She says the features they appreciate the most are the large windows, sarked loft ceilings in some of the rooms and the eaves.
Image 1 of 7: This couple were seeking the seaside but instead fell in love with a lifestyle home.
"The way the eaves are, in the winter when the suns does shine you get the sun streaming in which warms up the house. In summer, when the sun is higher, you don't get fried. The eaves protect you, it's really clever.
"And there's lots of angles, lots of characters, different nooks and crannies."
The couple changed the windows to Smartwood (aluminum frames on the outside, wood inside). "It is a really warm feeling and we do love the feel of wood but we have tried to balance it out.
"We just love the feeling of light streaming through the house."
The property also has a tennis court, infinity pool, cabana and spa area.
The main rooms look out to their garden and paddocks, and there is convenanted bush on the property. Claire says they enjoy the sound of birdsong especially when she's working in the kitchen or they are in the spa.
"We have this lovely covered area so we can sit in the rain or shine in that spa and gaze at our garden and the paddock beyond. We see our highland cows ambling around. We had great excitement this year because we had our first calf � Baxter, he is about two months old now. Our firstborn!
"We did have two kunekunes as pets but because we are moving we have found a fantastic home for them. We just got three chickens as well, Kath, Kim and Koo and we also have a cat and a dog."
The property has a double garage/workshop, implement shed and hay barn as well as two water tanks and access to bore water.
Now that Mike has retired they are selling because they have brought a section north of Auckland and will build new. "My husband has always wanted to have a house built. It is close to the sea and we have a sea view. We are certainly going to miss this place to bits," says Claire.
She hopes their house will be home to a family next.
"The schools around here are pretty good. We have the tennis court and even if folk don't play tennis, it is a hard court so children could cycle there or play basketball, and with the pool it is great. In front of the garden we have quite a big lawn so I can just imagine children kicking footballs around."
They have thrived living in the country. Claire is a volunteer for Riding for the Disabled, Mike cycles and they both love tramping. "And, of course, sailing which is why we initially wanted to live by the sea."
