Havelock North: Bay watch

VICKI HOLDER checks out an awesome property on a prestigious subdivision in Hawkes Bay.

Caught up in Hawkes Bays' booming economic recovery, the owners of Sileni Estates Winery were lured to settle in one of Havelock North's finest lifestyle subdivisions.

Graeme Avery sold his international medical publishing business several years ago and decided to start up a vineyard and winery for export in Hawkes Bay with wife Gaby. He believed he could manage the export operations and domestic marketing from Auckland.

"We decided to build a lodge in the vineyard we could utilise for our temporary stays and host visiting wine, food and travel writers as well as export market distributors. Then we realised Hawkes Bay offered so much in terms of lifestyle, so much unrealised economic potential particularly in the tourism area. Sileni has a strong tourism component."

The Averys knew they really had to be at the heart of the business operation. They enjoyed the rural lifestyle, the unclogged roads and the Hawkes Bay people. Then Graeme became involved in some major Hawkes Bay business activities, including establishing the Hawkes Bay Tourism Association.

The Averys moved down to the Bay permanently in the Easter of 1999, staying at the lodge for 18 months. But it wasn't built as a permanent home and they felt awkward without a garden. So they looked around before buying their home in a prestigious subdivision of 15 lifestyle properties, all substantial homes on large plots.

About 10 minutes drive from Havelock North and Hastings, the setting is exceptionally attractive with well-established trees and a lake in park-like grounds giving privacy and shelter. It's a beautiful backdrop to the Averys' magnificent, architecturally designed home, which opens at every turn to the garden and expansive, sheltered outdoor living terraces.

The home has its sights set on the horizon. On fine days, Graeme says you can see the outline of Mahia Peninsula and in the evenings the lights sparkle from Napier Hill.

When they bought the house, the couple made some improvements, assisted by their architect friend George Paterson who has been responsible for all of their homes as well as the dramatic design of the Sileni complex.

Downstairs, there were originally three bedrooms, two of them small nurseries. The couple's children now have babies of their own, so there was no way they were in need of these rooms. Hence, they removed walls and turned the area into one enormous master bedroom with a huge dressing room, which still left enough space to make the big en suite even bigger. But there was also room for a climate and humidity controlled walk-in wine cellar, a feature of the house any wine-lover will appreciate.

Throughout the home the ceilings were switched from pine to cedar, helping to blend with the timber floor in the living area, kitchen and hallway.

The casual and formal living areas plus the big separate dining room remained unchanged, apart from the addition of a big, open fire. However, the kitchen was rebuilt to incorporate views, light and many practical features. Sliding windows above the bench open to the outside and bring the view indoors. Excellent work spaces are provided on a durable composite benchtop and three big pantry cupboards have doors that retract into the walls. A big glass storage cabinet can be accessed from the kitchen and the dining room. The appliances are the latest from Gaggenau, as well as Quantum DishDrawers.

All the bathrooms in the house have been redone with modern fittings.

Two upstairs bedrooms open to small covered decks where guests can sit and enjoy looking out at the views. There is also a large office on the upper level.

The separate self-contained flat gained a makeover too. Looking out to lawns and trees, this guest area has a large bedsit-type room, separate walk-in wardrobe, modern kitchen and a well-appointed bathroom.

"It's a comfortable home, quite modern with clean lines. But George has managed to create a softness," says Gaby. The pair say they have loved living here, but they feel the need to return to live among the vines. They're still committed to living in the Bay, for Graeme believes: "We're not going to get New Zealand right from the top down. The best way is to get the regions performing to the potential based on their natural attributes.

"If everyone did that we wouldn't have to lose the plot, spinning off on a tangent to things like the knowledge wave, which every other country in the world is doing."

He says Hawkes Bay is still gathering momentum. The Averys are here for the duration. Having made an impressive mark on the Enfield Dr home, they intend to do the same in the Hawkes Bay.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 130 Enfield Dr, Havelock North.

FEATURES: Lifestyle property with park-like grounds 10 minutes from Havelock North and Hastings; abode finish with Colorsteel roof; renovated with new high ceilings; open fireplace in formal lounge; new kitchen with Gaggenau appliances; new bathrooms with Vola tapware; temperature and humidity-controlled wine cellar for 1200 bottles; large outdoor terraces off two separate living areas; three bedrooms - master with en suite and dressing room; study; separate self-contained flat with new kitchen, bathroom and dressing room; fenced paddock.

AREA: Land 1.7403ha.

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST: Close February 9.

AGENT: Claire Hewitt, Bayleys, Havelock North. Ph 06 877 0024 bus; 027 448 1655 mob.