Matakana: Idyllic farmstay

VICKI HOLDER visits an idyllic farmstay destination north of Auckland that leaves a lasting impression.

WHAT better way to restore jangled city nerves than waking in a big, comfy bed to the gentle, distant sounds of farm animals tuning into the day?

At Hurstmere House, one of the Heritage & Character Inns of New Zealand, guests are well and truly removed from the hustle and bustle. It's easy to unwind and lap up the genuine, country-style hospitality dished out by the friendly hosts, ex-dairy farmers Anne and Bob Moir.

At the end of a long driveway, which is shared by the Morris & James potteries and Hyperion Vineyard, this gracious hill-top home is enveloped in a restful rural landscape about a kilometre north of Matakana.

Not just luxury accommodation, it's a small working farm in an idyllic setting. Beautiful gardens around the house give way to undulating green paddocks dotted with sheep and cattle grazing contentedly on the fertile pasture. Closer to the house, free-range chickens provide tasty eggs for the hearty country-style breakfasts.

Guests come here to be pampered and explore the area north of Auckland - a haven of stunning beaches, boutique wineries, restaurants and other tourist attractions.

Anne and Bob have been making guests welcome at Hurstmere House since they moved here in 1995 - bringing the 1930s, Arts & Crafts style house with them. A mammoth task, they transported the house in three parts from a removal yard in Whenuapai. But they adore the character of old homes and Anne couldn't face seeing her traditional-style furniture in a new home. They named their new abode Hurstmere House because it once stood on Takapuna's Hurstmere Rd.

Some homes transported to new positions in the country have an awkwardness about them that never seems quite right. Hurstmere House, on the other hand, nestles on the land as if it has always been there. A deep, wrap-around veranda added to the ground floor improves the original upright design. And a generous, sympathetically designed kitchen/living extension to one side not only gives a lot more living space, it also provides more balanced architectural proportions.

The entrance to Hurstmere House is spectacular as you drive up the circular driveway. Deep red-coloured roses fill the garden beds in front, adding a dramatic splash of colour against the white weatherboards and black trim of the house. A scarlet bougainvillea drapes along the veranda outside the dining area, thriving in the hot summer sun that pours across the lawn.

The interior has been restored to highlight the beauty of the extensive rimu panelling that lines the entry foyer, lounge, dining room and library. A graciously curved entry door opens to a delightful hallway where an exquisitely detailed, round leadlight window offers natural light at the base of the staircase.

Striking windows and french doors featuring an unusual configuration of nine glazed panels were copied to ensure the new addition harmonises with the old.

The soft colour on the walls and sumptuous furnishings warm each room and create a comfortable ambience. Original crystal chandeliers bring timeless elegance.

The Moirs rearranged living quarters and added classical white en suites to comfortably accommodate eight guests. They named the four suites after the friends who helped them complete the house. The Moana Suite is a new, self-contained addition with its own kitchen, lounge and separate bathroom. The Jilly Suite has a wood-panelled library/sitting room with a beautiful deck and expansive views. The Goldstone Suite has its own private bathroom with a magnificent clawfoot bath. The Martell Suite has a dressing room and wonderful spa bath built into a nook that was previously a large cupboard.

The Moirs serve breakfast in the new living area from their farmhouse-style kitchen designed by the House of Devon. The washed pale green timber cabinetry - with cut-outs in the shape of hens on the pantry doors - has a mellow appearance that suits the house's vintage. Even the glazed panels in the crockery cupboard match the style of the windows elsewhere.

The kitchen looks out across the lawn to a pretty summer house set in a broad perennial border. Many guests have been so enchanted with this picturesque scene that they've returned to be married here, erecting a marquee on the lawn for the reception.

Hurstmere House is the kind of place that leaves lasting memories and is hard to leave. The new owners may wish to keep Hurstmere House as luxury accommodation. However, it's equally well-suited as a large, comfortable family home.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: Hurstmere House, 186 Tongue Farm Rd, Matakana.

FEATURES: Luxury farmstay accommodation in restored 1930s home; peaceful country setting; original timber panelling in formal living areas; four guest suites, each with white tiled en suites; large living areas (formal and casual); new farmhouse-style kitchen; two implement sheds and a half-round barn.

SIZE: Land area 9.16ha.

INTERNATIONAL TENDER CLOSES: January 31.

AGENT: Lorraine Mildon, United Real Estate, Warkworth. Ph 09 425 7949 bus; 0274 979 282 mob.