Home on the range in Warkworth

1738 State Highway 1, Warkworth, Auckland. Photo / Supplied

1738 STATE HIGHWAY 1 WARKWORTH

5

3

8

SIZE: Land 46.473ha, house 300sq m; studio 60sq m; decking 145sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected around $4 million. Set sale date closes July 7 (unless sold prior).

INSPECT: By appointment.

ON THE WEB: bayleys.co.nz/185187

SCHOOL ZONES: Warkworth Primary, Mahurangi College.

CONTACT: Shane Romani, Bayleys Warkworth, ph 021 889 906 or (09) 422 6363.

FEATURES: Large, north-facing property with ranch-style home, separate one-bedroom, one-bathroom studio and outdoor entertaining area including heated pool. Eight-bay barn with mezzanine level, stable, tack rooms, hay shed, stock yards and road access to entire farm.

This striking ranch-style property has been ideal for breeding a special type of horse, but its appeal to ad-makers has also seen highly trained cows strut its pastures.

Owners Jason and Rachael bought the 46.473ha property about five years ago. Its land size and handy location just south of Warkworth township were ideal for their horse stud. The property had an existing farmhouse set well back from the highway, but the couple have transformed it so thoroughly it's more like they've built anew.

The horse-mad family breed paint horses and train horses in the agile Western style of riding known as "reining", which Jason describes as "a cross between dressage and ice-skating, at speed". They also raise high-yielding German Gelbvieh cattle, but these were usurped by star cow "talent" who performed on demand for a Vietnamese milk ad filmed at the property. The ad-makers behind this and other projects were attracted by its lush pasture with wonderful trees and pockets of native bush.

Jason explains everyone simply refers to their sunny property as "the ranch". The term nicely sums up its relaxed yet premium atmosphere, where extras range from a hitching post near the front door to a resort-like heated pool and spa with Thai pool hut. The four-bedroom home is accompanied by a nearby 60sq m studio.

Rock walls introduce the sweeping driveway to the farm. The tree-lined drive passes a raft of rural facilities, including a three-bay stable, two tack rooms, a hay shed and stock yards. An eight-bay barn with mezzanine floor offers covered parking handy to the house.

The hacienda itself sits in an elevated, north-facing position, bathed in sun and admiring the estate. Its distinctive ranch style melds rustic charm with luxury and differentiates it from other upmarket farm homes. Jason says: "People have said it looks like a picture you'd see in a magazine." Five river-stone pillars introduce its Canadian red cedar construction accented by chunky macrocarpa detailing.

Mass-planted landscaping and a fountain form an appealing surround, and grand-scale steps lead up to the big front deck and pergola.

The family of five gravitate towards the open-plan front living area. Jason's particularly fond of a spot in the welcoming lounge, where he recuperated after a serious leg injury from a car accident. The room has cartwheel lights hanging from its pitched ceiling and a powerful wood-burner fire in a corner alcove clad in river stones. The macrocarpa used throughout the house was milled off the farm.

The central dining room adjoins the practical yet polished kitchen, boasting informal bar seating and a wide servery out to the front deck. Granite benches top timber cabinetry. Wine fridges, four built-in televisions and an indoor-outdoor sound system are just some of the home's many extras.

Four bedrooms lie in two wings behind the front living rooms. Young 'uns Samara (8) and Tristan (7) have an extra living area by their bedroom. This wing also contains a guest bedroom, third bedroom (currently used as an office) and a premium family bathroom with travertine tiles and double shower.

Jason and Rachael's master bedroom in the other leg of the house is a spectacular spread, opening wide to the pool area. It has a walk-through wardrobe corridor behind the bed and a second bathroom with laundry next door.

Talented rider and eldest boy Kurt, 18, resides in the nearby studio with bedroom, living area and bathroom.

The work-hard, play-hard family adore the resort-style pool complex, often unwinding in its spa pool. A Thai pool hut (with well-stocked bar fridges and deluxe barbecue) is set amongst subtropical planting.

"This property has been a brilliant place to raise children," Rachael says. "Whenever we go on holiday, they can't wait to get home."

The family have decided to sell the homestead and buy a smaller property more suitable for them to concentrate on horse-breeding.