Clevedon: Realisation of a dream

A mammoth makeover, hours of labour and a good few million dollars have created a landmark property that is out of this world. By VICKI HOLDER.

Several years ago a North American couple came to New Zealand in search of a corner of clean, green paradise.

They purchased a beautiful piece of lush pastoral land on two titles at Orere Point, south of Clevedon, rimmed with 2km of coastline.

The couple set about developing a show-piece farm where they could live in luxury and be semi-self-sufficient, while coaxing a business from the land. An additional $5.5 million was spent on creating roads, bridges and paddocks with 10km of post-and-rail fences; building a beautiful new architectural home; shifting an old villa on to the farm and renovating it; installing amenities and upgrading all of the staff residences, implement sheds and storage areas to a standard not often seen in New Zealand.

They built quality stables with accommodation above to run a horse stud. Chestnut trees are already being harvested for the commercial production of Chodka, a chestnut-flavoured vodka. A plantation of 3000 black butt eucalyptus trees will be harvested in 30 years time for making furniture and timber floors.

The piece-de-resistance of the farm is the new home, which is on the highest plateau of the land and surrounded by rolling lawns and landscaped gardens. Designed to open to the northern sun, it gains views of the harbour beyond.

The driveway sweeps from automatic steel gates that open from a tall rock boundary wall. Passing over streams, it winds past rustic black weatherboard farm buildings before approaching the home.

Melding into the countryside, the pale weatherboard house is capped with weathered orange tiles shipped from Spain. As modern as any home, it hides an abundance of sophisticated technology that makes living there secure, comfortable and luxurious.

Wired for sound throughout, a powerful system brings music to every corner. A programmable lighting system turns lights on when you enter various zones at night. With 10 telephone lines coming into the house, guests can be provided with their own personal phone number. Fitted with both 110- and 220-volt electrical systems, the house is designed for New Zealand and American appliances.

A burglar alarm system can be programmed to nominate rooms as armed or unarmed. There's a panic button for emergencies. An infra-red system controls the satellite TV from any room. Fibre optic cable links the internet connections and everybody is on the same server. The under-floor heating can be centrally controlled. A farm generator protects all systems in the event of power failure.

Entry to the home is through tall timber doors that open to a double-height entertainment lounge.

Polished concrete floors reach out through plantation shutters to an expansive terrace that wraps around the house. Sheltered between two wings on either side of the living area, an outdoor courtyard lets you enjoy alfresco dining beside a barbecue built into the wall.

Upstairs in the entertaining area, a mezzanine floor provides a quiet spot for contemplating the view. The office is also on this level.

A temperature-controlled wine cellar downstairs invites guests to sup at a massive table set on 100-year-old Oregon pine flooring.

Off the living room, the dining area unfolds to an intimate library with dark, book-lined walls, where the centrepiece is an 18th century French fireplace.

In the kitchen, a handsome La Cornue oven offers electric and gas cooking options. There's ample storage beneath robust granite benchtops as well as in the double, glass-fronted fridge. From the deep butler's sinks you can serve meals across the breakfast area.

The two guest rooms - with sumptuous drapes, lavish en suites and dressing rooms - flank the entry. However, the master suite - in a wing of its own - is spectacular, complete with a gas fireplace and plantation shutters opening all around to terraces.

Black butt eucalyptus floors line the substantial dressing room on the way to the travertine marble-lined bathroom, which is designed for two to use simultaneously. It incorporates a double shower with numerous shower heads and a free-standing bath in the middle of the room.

Behind the double garage and workshop, the raised garden beds supply a wide range of organically-grown vegetables, herbs and flowers, providing the household with healthy choices all year round.

Now that the owners have groomed their home to perfection, they are leaving their legacy for new owners to enjoy.

Vital statistics

ADDRESS: Orere Point Farm, 98 Orere Point Rd, Clevedon.

FEATURES: Redeveloped coastal farm with new roads; water treatment plant; post-and-rail fencing; renovated villa; upgraded staff residences; implement sheds and storage areas; new stables with 13 stalls and accommodation above; 25ha of chestnut trees; 3000 black butt eucalyptus trees; new home on landscaped grounds with sophisticated technology, including sound system, programmable, zoned lighting, 10 telephone lines, dual voltage electrical systems, alarm, satellite TV, fibre optic cablelinks for internet, under-floor heating and farm generator; three bedrooms, four bathrooms; wine cellar; office.

SIZE: Land area 125ha.

INTERNATIONAL TENDER: Closes February 21, 2003.

AGENT: Don Macky, Bayleys Realty, Papakura. Ph 09 298 2525 bus; 0274 720 420 mob.