Country: Organic options

Free-range eggs and fruit are just some of the rich pickings on this organically certified plot. CEDRIC GRAY checks the potential.

A South Auckland free-range egg farm, with scope for further development, is creating interest because the property is organically certified and it is in the heart of the region's fruit and vegetable basket.

The property of about 9.4 ha is only 1.5 km from the Bombay-State Highway One intersection. It is owned by Korean couple Joshua and Young Jung, who came to New Zealand six years ago.

An industrious couple, they have built four poultry houses, established well-drained, sheltered free-range areas over several hectares, and increased the bird population to a spring/summer peak of about 4800. More than 1000 eggs are harvested daily.

The property, a former citrus orchard, is in Mill Rd. It is divided into several paddocks where the remnants of the orchard provide shelter and a source of extra income. There are more than 200 macadamia trees, 40 tangelo, 72 walnut and 25 casimiroa trees. An interesting feature is the 17 lychee trees, which supply a delicate, sweet fruit much sought-after in Asian cuisine. The trees occupy about 2.8 ha of higher ground where the paddocks are divided, in the main, by bamboo and Leyland cypress shelter belts. A cluster of outbuildings includes a chiller room and implement sheds.

The ranch-style house, built 15 years go, faces north and has glorious views from its elevated site to a lake, which attracts a variety of native bird life. The property holds a fish farm licence and a dam water licence, and there is also ample bore water for crop irrigation.

The house has four bedrooms, an open-plan living and entertaining area, and an attractive outdoor patio which captures day-long sun and the best of the views. The kitchen serves a small family dining area and a larger area which, in typical Korean custom, is used for community dining. There is also a sunroom, an office and two-car garaging.

The property will be auctioned by Barfoot & Thompson, Pukekohe, on October 6. Call Hunter Utatao or Peter Hyun (phone 09 238 7019) for further details.