Northland: Room to relax

CEDRIC GRAY meets a couple of yachties who chose Northland over Queensland as the ideal place to be for a while.

Brendon and Jo Neilson sailed the world for 11 years before buying their impressive 20.1172ha property at 47 Fishlock Rd, Tomarata, yet they could just as easily have finished up in Queensland. Yachting friends in Tomarata, between Wellsford and Mangawhai, persuaded the couple that the fast-growing Northland region had much more to offer.

"After so many years of tranquil bays and no neighbours, the peace and quiet of the country appealed," they say. "That, and the clean air."

The Tomarata district has a wealth of outdoor leisure options, the chain of lakes and a popular playground for kayaking, windsurfing and yachting. At nearby Mangawhai there is an excellent golf course, surfing, coastal walks and quality restaurants. A further attraction is the fishing and boating in the upper reaches of the Kaipara Harbour to the west.

Brendon took early retirement from the aviation industry in 1991, and during their overseas travels the couple gleaned ideas for their retirement home.

"We intended to buy land in the greater Brisbane area, but we changed our minds when we were confronted with bush fires and hot, sticky temperatures," says Jo. "We both decided that without a doubt New Zealand was the place to be." But the couple did not return empty-handed - their stylish three-bedroom home, built 15 months ago, is Australian outback in style. It has sweeping verandas on three sides - "so that we can follow the sun or seek the shade" - and it is designed for spacious indoor-outdoor living. A striking feature is the internal atrium, the design for which was based on ideas from the Greek Islands and a resort on the island of Bonaire.

The home has glorious views to every corner of the property and beyond to neighbouring dairy farms. There are two downstairs guest rooms with a shared bathroom, a study or extra bedroom and a sewing room. The stylish kitchen serves the large living areas, heated by two woodburners - one with a wetback. There is solar heating for additional warmth.

The master bedroom on the first level has a walk-in dressing room, en suite and a balcony. Two-car garaging with internal access opens to a spacious parking area.

The grounds have been neatly landscaped and planted with a mix of native and exotic shrubs, the landscaping including mini croquet and bowling greens.

The property is divided into 15 well-fenced paddocks in excellent pasture. A spring-fed dam provides ample trough water, with up to 50 head of cattle grazed to the finishing stage. The outbuildings include a substantial five-bay implement shed (with shower and toilet) and good stock yards.

The property is for sale with Harcourts, Wellsford, at an asking price of $980,000. Contact Joyce Chappell on 09 423 7577 for details.