Kumeu: The best of everything

More than just a horse-lover's dream, this property offers five-star equestrian facilities, fabulous landscaping and the best grazing land in the area. By CEDRIC GRAY.

Bearsted Farm, a 4.9ha property on the outskirts of Kumeu, has been described as an equestrian lover's dream, but it is much more than that.

The house and stables are classic English Tudor style. Nothing has been spared on the site development and landscaping and the farm boasts the finest grazing land in the region.

The property goes up for auction on October 6 and the talk in the nearby township is that the figure of $2 million is under threat.

The driveway from Tawa Rd provides the perfect introduction. It is lined with replicas of Melbourne street lamps, which are controlled by a timer at the attractive main entrance.

The facilities for horses are five-star quality. They include an Olympic-size (60m x 20m) all-weather dressage arena, an all-weather lungeing circle, magnificent stables with three indoor boxes and outdoor yards and 16 north-facing, well-sheltered, fenced paddocks.

The stables, which were built a year ago, match the nearby five-bedroom home perfectly. These are no ordinary stables, with the deluxe horses' accommodation, tackroom and feed room occupying most of the ground floor beneath a bar and games room on a mezzanine floor.

Upstairs, there is a two-bedroom unit complete with a cosy lounge and kitchen. The stables and equestrian arenas have a separate entrance on Tawa Rd.

The water supply and irrigation system is similarly impressive. Clusters of water tanks enjoy a capacity of more than 200,000 litres. A 16-zone computerised system controls the irrigation for the gardens and training arenas.

The two-storey house overlooks the terraced lawns and gardens - the landscaping is highlighted by paradise stone that has been laid in an interesting book-leaf design to create the terraces. The outdoor swimming pool features an island pagoda at one end and a sheltered dining corner at the other.

The family dining area extends to most of the ground floor, opening to the pool and wide, cedar decks. It is served by a modern kitchen with two wall ovens, a dishwasher and a pantry.

There are three bathrooms, including the en suite in the master bedroom, an office-cum-computer room and a storage room.

An elevated fireplace is in the family area, and the heating is supplemented by thermostatically controlled wall heaters in all rooms and three-speed ceiling fans. There is a complete security system.

The property is being auctioned on site by Norwest Real Estate, Kumeu. Contact Simon Armitage on 412 8876 for details.