Country: Mauku haven for horse lovers

By CEDRIC GRAY

Peter and Irene Haarhaus describe their beautiful 11.5ha property at Mauku, South Auckland, as "our world".

The description is understandable, because it is an impressive mix of grazing land, park-like lawns and gardens, native bush, a quality house and outbuildings.

The property is in Glenbrook Station Rd, which is an easy 15-minute drive from the southern motorway.

About 7.5ha is in rich, easy-to-work, well-fenced, sheltered pasture. For the past nine years it has been used for grazing horses, which Peter and Irene train in an adjacent, sand-based equestrian arena.

The facilities for horse training at this property are superb. The two-horse stable complex includes a tack room, a feed room, a workshop and outdoor yards. Well-formed walking trails through the native bush are ideal for light exercise.

The bush behind the house covers about 3ha, and Irene says it is often described as "the rain forest" by overseas visitors.

"Everyone that comes here falls in love with it," she says. There are magnificent rimu, kahikatea, totara, nikau and tree ferns.

The bush is reached via a walkway that is covered in wisteria and ivy. It passes an in-ground swimming pool and a barbecue area, and dissects lawns and gardens in which a wide variety of fruit trees flourish.

Appropriately named Woodhaven, the extensively renovated house features attractive rimu floors on two levels, and the timber walls and ceilings enhance the lounge, the kitchen and the family living areas.

The interior design is open plan to make the most of the views across the pool. The vista includes the well-manicured lawns and the bush backdrop.

A delightful bedroom suite occupies the upstairs area, where there is an entertainment centre and the master bedroom with an en suite, a walk-in wardrobe and an outdoor balcony.

The guest accommodation on the ground floor is served by a central bathroom and toilet. There is spacious garaging attached to the house, and ample water for stock and household use.

The property is being marketed by Bayleys, Papakura, at an asking price of $565,000. Phone Rex Gazzard on 09 298 2525 for further details.