Te Henga Valley: Beauty and serenity

It appears to have got the lot, but the potential is there to make yet more of this outstanding Queenslander-style homestead, writes VICKI HOLDER.

When Niven Todd retired from the ambulance service, he fancied settling down to work with his wife, Jeanette, on a small farm.

After looking everywhere, the agent suggested a lifestyle property with a swimming pool in the Te Henga Valley, 5km from Bethells Beach. Niven's initial thoughts were no thank you, but because she was so pleasant he let the agent drive on in through the big steel gates.

As soon as the couple arrived they fell in love with the property's unspoilt beauty and serenity. Here, the only sounds are the calls of the birds, which flourish in the native bush that spills over from the protected parkland all around. "No bulldozer will turn up and start digging holes in this area," assures Niven.

Cradled in the Waitakere Ranges, this slice of heaven, which the Todds call Bushy Lodge, is only 30 minutes from Auckland city. It's close to the popular West Coast beaches, the Waitakere Golf Course and numerous other attractions. Niven and Jeanette have lived in the valley for 12 years, enjoying its inspiring bush walks, horse trails, lakes and waterfalls.

The homestead - at the end of a long driveway lined with Canadian redwoods - is a long and low Queenslander style. Sited on an elevated plateau, it enjoys views north across seven paddocks, which were originally fenced for deer. Now they feature pedigree black-faced Suffolk sheep, turkeys, hens and ducks.

Designed and built by an Australian architect, the homestead features timber weatherboards and a deep veranda all the way round to protect it from the weather. Two majestic palm trees on either side of the entry guide visitors to the front door.

Inside, this charming home radiates the warmth and relaxing conviviality of a country lodge. The Todds once considered painting the bare timber ply walls and ceilings to give a lighter effect, but everybody said no, recalls Niven. The knotted raw timber gives a rustic character that seems right for the unpretentious style of the home. The ceilings reach up through exposed timber beams high into the steeply pitched roofline, which adds an open feeling of space to every room.

From a central foyer, the home divides left into living areas and right into four bedrooms, including one on the mezzanine floor, and two bathrooms.

Double doors open to a spacious lounge with a big open fire above a bricked hearth. French doors open to the veranda and corner windows provide pretty garden views from every angle.

Around the corner, an informal sitting or dining area adjoins a generous farmhouse-style kitchen. The walls are lined with diagonal rimu tongue-and-groove, which is matched by the rimu bull-nosed edge on the huge kitchen bench. A long breakfast bar provides an informal dining area for the family.

At the end of the room, an old iron stove provides effective wetback heating for the whole house in winter. In summer, the windows above the kitchen sinks open for an easy connection with the outdoors.

Through a big laundry and storage room, the home opens to a vast, sheltered rear garden that disappears into the bush across a full-size, fenced tennis court and a vast salt-water swimming pool. At one end a built-in barbecue is kept pristine, while further along there is an enclosed spa house, six-car garaging with a bathroom and loft above, a bloke's shed, a tack room and dog kennels built for breeding. There are also substantial stockyards and a solidly built loading ramp.

A stream flows through the property to a shady pool that attracts a wide range of birds and fish.

Lovely as it is, this sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of city life offers plenty of potential for further development as a retreat or guest lodge.

Vital statistics:

ADDRESS: 118 Bethells Rd, Te Henga Valley, Waitakere City.

FEATURES: Queenslander-style homestead on lifestyle block with seven fenced grazing paddocks and native bush; surrounded by regional parks; four bedrooms plus two bathrooms; large salt-water swimming pool; fenced tennis court; built-in barbecue; security gates; Suffolk sheep, turkeys, hens and ducks included; substantial stockyards and loading ramp; enclosed spa pool; workshop/storage shed; six-car garaging.

SIZE: Land area 4.067ha.

PRICE: $630,000.

AGENT: Rob Crothall, Barfoot & Thompson, Henderson. Ph 838 6059 bus; 027 458 9582 mob.