South Head - Cracking lifestyle

A South African couple gave up sailing around the world for life on a macadamia orchard.

940 South Head Rd, South Head.

Henk and Cheryl van Wijk are nuts about the South Head area. To be precise, the couple are nuts about their macadamia orchard with a sheltered north-west aspect overlooking the southern Kaipara Harbour.

After nearly 12 years living as ``sea gypsies'' as they circumnavigated the world on their 13.7m yacht, Henk and Cheryl found themselves landlubbers as they swapped life at sea for life harvesting macadamia nuts.

Not that the nut is unknown to the affable couple - they farmed macadamias and sub-tropical fruits for 13 years in Port Edward in the South African region of Natal.

In 1989 when their daughters were 11 and 14, they gave up farming for sailing and began their adventure of sailing around the world before settling back in South Africa.

But in 2000 their original plan changed as their eldest daughter Justine had ``jumped ship'', met a Kiwi and was getting married in New Zealand.

``We had to go through the South Pacific as part of the circumnavigation,'' explains Cheryl. ``So we thought we should have a look around New Zealand when we got here.''

Due to their macadamia farming experience, friends in Auckland suggested Henk and Cheryl have a coffee at South Head's Macadamia Nut Farm and Cafe.

The couple noticed the farm owner was selling subdivided sections of macadamia orchards and by the end of the day they had purchased a neighbouring plot.

The land had no house on it so Henk and Cheryl, who were still living aboard their yacht, would pitch a tent on the land and decide where the future house would be sited.

The couple had fallen in love with New Zealand's villas but also wanted a new home, so after meeting with local builder Peter Dyer, settled on a three-bedroom, two-bathroom replica villa.

The home has all the charm of a villa thanks to the ornate skirting boards and sash windows, but with the added bonus of such modern conveniences as an internal vacuum system. It is also fully insulated and low maintenance.

The country-style open plan kitchen includes such charming features as a butler's sink, and tiles with a rooster handpainted on them by Cheryl.

The 6ha farm has orchards just off the main road, then the land slopes down to another macadamia orchard near the rear of the property. The farm gains its water from a bore, a pond and a stream.

The 1200 trees on the farm are 20 years old and the couple harvest six to 12 tonnes of nuts a year.

For the past two years help for the harvest has come from two or three overseas students who work in exchange for food and accommodation.

They stay in a self-contained Skyline garage, while next door to them is Cheryl's mum's cosy sleep-out.

Harvesting starts in June but picking is in earnest in August. The nuts are processed next door at the Macadamia Farm and sold to the local market.

``We love macadamia because it is an uncomplicated crop. You have big windows in which to do other things,'' says Henk. ``The farm produces an income that finances the lifestyle to live out here.''

Although the couple have the ideal lifestyle of the short picking time and then the summer to enjoy fishing and camping, plus being near their daughters Justine and Suzie who live in Auckland, they have decided they want a new project. But they hope to stay in the South Head area.

VITAL STATISTICS

BEDROOMS: 3

BATHROOMS: 2

GARAGES: 2+

SIZE: Land 6.186ha, house 182sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected above $1.1 million. Sale by negotiation.

INSPECT: By appointment.

ON THE WEB: www.bayleys.co.nz # 172192

CONTACT: Mary Massara, Bayleys, ph 021 412 622, 417 0053.

FEATURES: Gorgeous replica villa nestled among macadamia tree orchard. Two separate dwellings on a farm that also has a stream running through it, a pond and bore. On a sheltered north-west site with harbour views.