Taumarunui - Outdoor pursuits

A pair of Auckland refugees found a lifestyle property that offered both peace and a launch pad for outdoor adventures.

14 Ongarue Back Road, Taumarunui.

Three years ago Kiri Rodwell and John Broadwell decided they wanted to move out of Auckland and try life in the country. They were open-minded about where to buy, and decided instead to find a teaching job for John first.

Taumarunui was not where they expected that to come from, but when they researched the area it sounded like the perfect spot.

John loves the outdoors, so the town's location within 40 minutes of the Tongariro and Whanganui national parks was appealing (see accompanying story on the facing page).

It took a while to find the lifestyle block they'd dreamed of, but as soon as they came up the curving driveway of this property they knew it was the one.

They were greeted by native and exotic trees, lush gardens, a track that led past glow worm grottos down to a river, and an orchard waiting to be rejuvenated.

Mt Ruapehu could be seen from the top of the driveway. The house was rundown, but they knew they could restore it to its 1960s grace.

Kiri says the fibrolite house was architecturally designed in the modernist Californian style, a movement which helped pave the way for the maximising of light in homes and indoor-outdoor flow.

``It would have been quite radical in its day, particularly for Taumarunui,'' she smiles.

It was originally owned by the Hunter family, whose sons went on to form the 80s rock group Dragon. Their mother, Voi, still lives in the town, and Kiri says she created the garden to remind her of her native Fiji.

The house's wall panelling and tongue and groove ceilings in Southland beech, rimu and kauri are reminiscent of a Fijian bure.

Kiri and John converted the Hunter boys' music room downstairs into a lovely two-bedroom apartment to rent out to tourists.

They named the property Wilowe Fields (an old English spelling from John's native country) and have had a steady stream of visitors from Britain, Europe, the United States and Australia.

``We've met some wonderful people, and our reputation is now spreading by word of mouth. If the next owner would like to keep the name and carry on receiving visitors from it, they're very welcome,'' says John.

The main house is above the apartment. The living, dining and kitchen area are open plan, opening through bifold doors to a patio and wide front lawn where a flock of free range chickens wander between egg-laying.

A pond-like water feature between gardens along the front of the house adds to the relaxing atmosphere.

Two bedrooms, a study and a bathroom are along one end of the hallway, while the master bedroom at the other opens to its own deck.

Another reason the couple wanted to move to the country was so Kiri could host writing workshops and retreats. John, who teaches English, social studies and tourism at Taumarunui High School, arranged for a woodwork class to be tasked with building a two-room writers' studio. It now sits sweetly in a paddock near the house, waiting for the garden Kiri planned to plant around it.

``Retreats are well suited to this property, and we've had writers and poets come from all over New Zealand,'' says Kiri.

Behind the studio is an orchard including trees bearing apples, plums and cherries. John says more could be made of this, or some other horticultural venture, as the climate is mild.

They have run cattle and goats on the property in the past, but now have just a few sheep to keep the grass down.

Kiri and John have partly refurbished the house, but will let the next owners put their mark on it by finishing it off. John has developed health problems, which have forced the couple to reluctantly put the property on the market with a view to moving back to Auckland.

``We'll miss everything about this place,'' says Kiri. ``But are looking forward to handing it over to someone who can see its potential. It will richly reward someone with vision.''

VITAL STATISTICS

BEDROOMS: 4

BATHROOMS: 3

GARAGES: 2

SIZE: Land 4.072ha, house and apartment 249sq m.

PRICE: $595,000.

INSPECT: By appointment.

ON THE WEB: www.harcourts.co.nz # KC060210

CONTACT: Maureen King, Harcourts, ph 0272 930 155, 07 878 7833 a/h,
07 878 8700 bus.

FEATURES: Architecturally-designed 1960s home with a self-contained two-bedroom apartment underneath that could be linked back into the main house via a staircase.

Two-room writers' studio could also be a sleepout. Plentiful workshop space. Land contains paddocks, orchard, gardens and track down to river. Minutes from Taumarunui township.