Waiatarua: Holiday memories

Provincial France meets Kiwi style in this delightful home built from scratch. By CEDRIC GRAY.

When Bob and Deana Gill decided to go bush and settle in Waiatarua, high above the vineyards and orchards of Henderson Valley, they had one main mission in life - to build a house that would remind them of their happy visits to provincial France.

To do so they had to start from scratch. "There was this large slab of concrete, a granny flat and about two acres [8230sq m]," says Deana. "We were determined to build a house as authentic provincial France as possible."

Fifteen years later, their property is a mix of gracious French and picturesque New Zealand - "the best of both worlds," she says.

It is surrounded by some of the finest native bush in the Waitakere Ranges. There are a couple of paddocks suited to light grazing, an orchard flourishes and the tidy, easy-care gardens are full of colour and variety. There is also a lovely bush walk to a waterfall and a sparkling stream.

The property, in Mountain Rd, has an interesting history dating back to the 1880s when Wesley Spragg opened the Turanga Heights Estate at "the top of the Waitakeres" for settlement. Spragg launched the New Zealand Dairy Association in 1886 when he opened the first dairy factory in Pukekohe. Several leading Auckland business people built hoilday homes on the estate.

The Spragg home was razed to the ground by fire in 1986, hence Deana's reference to the "large concrete slab" on which the stunning French connection was built.

North-facing and built on two levels, the home flows beautifully between the kitchen, family room and sunken lounge leading to an outdoor patio and pergola.

The entire ground floor, patio and sheltered barbecue area has been laid in imported Mexican terracotta tiles, introducing a rustic look to the outdoors and complementing, to near perfection, the interior where timber window shutters and timber ceilings are features.

The kitchen, described by Deana as "wonderful to work in", has a Gaggenau cooking appliance as a central feature, conservatory-type windows ensure natural light and there's ample cupboard space for the most discerning host.

There are three upstairs bedrooms, the master bedroom enjoying a superb en suite and private balcony.

A four-bay carport is attached to the house and the comfortable, self-contained, two-bedroom guest accommodation.

There is also a two-storey barn in a lovely secluded setting and an all-weather tennis court.

The property is being marketed by Norwest Real Estate, Kumeu, at an asking price of $759,000. Contact Kathleen Vitasovich on 412 8876 for details.