KEY POINTS:
A couple enjoyed swapping their city jobs for a relaxed lifestyle with an international flavour.
Willowdale, 115 Kai Iwi Lakes Rd, Dargaville.
A job offer in Dargaville was the catalyst for David and Cindy Jones to move north and set up a B&B.
David, who has a background in primary produce, took up the challenge of setting up a kumara co-operative in Dargaville when offered the opportunity five years ago.
Cindy, who was "in a high pressure job at the time", was a little taken aback at the prospect but welcomed the change of pace.
When he began house hunting, David stumbled across a house in Kai Iwi Lakes Road that was only a few years old at the time.
"I saw the property for sale on the internet and I always thought it would be nice to run a B&B and entertain people from overseas," says John.
The property is about 35km north of Dargaville and just two minutes away from Kai Iwi Lakes. From the back of the 4.3ha section there is track that takes you to Ripiro Beach.
Surrounded by hills, the north-east facing property is hidden from the road and sheltered from westerlies. The elevated home overlooks a garden filled with palms and a gently sloping lawn beyond.
Stepping inside from the deck that runs right along the front of the house takes you into the open plan lounge, dining and kitchen area.
Exposed macrocarpa beams are a feature in this space, as is the window seat with views over the garden. The kitchen has a large pantry, and a double oven with gas cooktop.
"The people who built the house really thought it through," says David. "It's got things like air-conditioning and there are insect screens on all the windows."
One end of the house is devoted to a self-contained are for guests. There's also a barbecue area to the side of the house that has outdoor seating and a spa pool. The cottage to the rear of the main house has two bedrooms and a bathroom. It has a fold-out sofa bed in the lounge. There's also a shed large enough for boats on the property that David was considering turning into a cafe.
The Jones say the B&B attracts "a steady flow of people, mainly from Europe, who want to see the real New Zealand".
"We've had some neat times and some great conversations," says Cindy.
"We've also done meals for guests who don't speak much English where we have had to show them pictures out of a cookbook to see if they'd like that for dinner."
David and Cindy are selling up because they have changed their focus. They are now running a grocery business, The Barrow, in downtown Auckland that they are in the process of expanding.
But Cindy values the time they spent running a B&B up north. "It's a great place to recharge and you also get the chance to learn different things."
VITAL STATISTICS
BEDROOMS: 5
BATHROOMS: 3
GARAGES: 4
SIZE: Land 4.372ha, main house 220sqm, minor dwelling 100sqm.
PRICE: $788,000.
INSPECT: By appointment.
ON THE WEB: www.barfoot.co.nz #361864
SCHOOLS: Dargaville Primary, Dargaville Intermediate, Dargaville High School.
CONTACT: Leo Smith, Barfoot & Thompson, ph 09 489 5084 or 021 965242.
FEATURES: Lifestyle property near Kai Iwi Lakes run as B&B. Main house has self-contained guest wing; two-bedroom cottage provides further accommodation. Barbecue area and spa pool; large shed suitable for boats.
