Karaka: Wine, wildlife and water

The grounds flow down to a small lake, shared by three properties, which attracts a host of bird life. Picture / Geoff Dale

This home with a difference has all the elements of a rural lifestyle.

Most visitors to Clare and Carl Hankins' Karaka home stop in their tracks before they reach the front doors. For these doors are unlike any others. Oversize in heavy macrocarpa, they greet people with a carving of the tree of life, flanked by a rising sun and a setting moon. Their maker, Tom Muir of Auckland, has given them iron handles shaped like leaves. On the inside, "the woman's side", explains Clare, the doors are inset with copper in the shape of a woman's hourglass figure.

"The first time we visited the house we came round the bend in the driveway to see the magnolia in flower and thought 'wow', but when we saw the doors we realised this was somewhere quite special," recalls Clare. "We sat on the steps and looked out at the lake, and it wasn't long before we put in an offer. And we hadn't even seen the wine cellar."

The house previously belonged to a French consul, Pierre Gaston, who had a temperature-controlled wine cellar built on to the side of the main garage. It includes a tasting area.

"We didn't know much about wine before we moved here, but it's motivated us to learn to appreciate it more," says Clare.

The house opens into the living area, with the kitchen and dining area at one end and the bedrooms and bathrooms at the other. The living area flows to the outside, past a water feature, across a gentle grassy slope and down to a small lake.

Clare says it doesn't seem to belong to anyone in particular, but is enjoyed by three properties along its generous banks. It may once have been an inlet from the Manukau Harbour nearby, but is now surrounded by land. It is fed by the area's stormwater system, and has a drain to keep water flowing.

"It attracts amazing bird life - shags, herons, pukeko, ducks and geese," says Clare.

Back towards the house is a swimming pool, deep enough at one end to feature a diving board. Along its length is a self-contained two bedroom guest house. The original owners built and lived here while they constructed the main house. Clare has been using it as bed and breakfast accommodation.

"While I've been at home with children it's been nice to have some contact with other people. Neither Carl nor I have family in Auckland, but it seems a shame not to share this place. Overseas tourists who stay here find the clean, green New Zealand they expect, maybe even with cows or sheep across the way."

Clare has loved becoming part of the Karaka community, and hopes to stay in the area. Joshua, aged six, attends nearby Te Hihi School.

"It's a great little country school with about 220 pupils. They still have an agricultural day when the children take along a farm animal they've reared for a couple of months. We've done chickens; last year we did a sheep; I'm told this year it's a goat," laughs Clare.

The respected private school, Strathallan, is at the end of the next street, teaching children from pre-school to high school age.

"We feel like we're nowhere near a big city, but the Papakura shopping centre is only five minutes away, and Pukekohe is 15. Carl used to work at the airport, and is now in the city, so often catches the express train from Papakura."

Being in a quiet street off the main road has its advantages when it comes to entertaining two children who love bike riding.

"Between 4pm and 6pm everyone's out walking their dogs. People know each other by their dogs - I'm the one without the dog," smiles Clare.

Back inside, the vaulted ceilings lined with macrocarpa are softened by bright blues and yellows on the walls.

"I like the colours inside. I wouldn't have thought to choose them, but they're a bit more fun than cream on cream," says Clare.

All the living areas and bedrooms on the ground floor have doors to the outside. You can even lie in the bath and gaze out at the rose garden, and mini fruit orchard beyond (a gate alarm will warn you if someone's coming up the driveway).

Upstairs is a study, and a very big rumpus room.

"This has been our little boy's toy room, but it could easily be a big boy's toy room," says Clare. "Previous owners have had a billiard table up here, and a home theatre."

Clare says they've done very little to the house in the two and a half years they've been there.

"We were fortunate that the previous owners did everything to the highest quality. The appliances, carpet, even the lighting is top grade. We haven't felt the need to change a thing."