Waitakere Ranges: Family home for all seasons

By CEDRIC GRAY.

It started life as a cottage in the bush. Now, many years and many man hours later, the rustic timber home in the Waitakere Ranges reaches for the sky over several levels.

It stands on a 3.9495ha plateau at the end of Parker Rd, Oratia, seemingly miles from nowhere. Only a peep of Waitemata Harbour when the mist lifts announces its close proximity to suburban Auckland.

The property is owned by Phil and Megan Chitty, who have been employed in Queenstown for the past year or two, Phil on film set construction work. And their home would scarcely look out of place at some southern alpine resort where it could host an army of skiers, every single one of them with some degree of comfort.

It is a huge, rambling home of five bedrooms and spacious living areas. A gallery extends from the main entrance to the family room. It is a striking feature of the interior, with its Australian hardwood flooring, servery through bifold windows to the kitchen and attractive timber fittings. When the weather turns nasty, it comes into its own as an ideal indoor hospitality venue.

Tasmanian hardwood flooring extends throughout the living room, served by a large kitchen, with ample storage and modern appliances. The family area and lounge are heated by a feature fireplace, the entire floor opening to a wide outdoor deck, which affords spectacular outdoor entertaining.

Four of the bedrooms, a study and the family bathroom are on the ground floor, the master bedroom (with a small en suite) occupying the upstairs wing.

The house is surrounded by colour and contrast, the palm-lined driveway leading to a fascinating cacti and succulent garden flanked by stands of native bush.

The Chittys have a resident donkey, who has the run of a couple of paddocks in good pasture. There is sufficient grazing for a few sheep or a pony or two, and the land would be ideal for a fun-orientated cycle course. For the most part, it bounds the Aritaki Regional Park.

There is a large studio, workshop and garaging at the end of the driveway.

For more information, contact Kathleen Vitasovich, Norwest Real Estate, Kumeu, on ph 412 8876 or 021 753 000.