Labour of love by the lake in Rotorua

213-215 Spencer Rd, Lake Tarawera. Photo / Supplied

213-215 SPENCER RD LAKE TARAWERA

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SIZE: Land 2587sq m, house 376sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected over CV of $2.5 million. Tender closes March 2 at 4pm.

INSPECT: Sun 3.15-4pm.

ON THE WEB: www.duncanrealty.net/ DR2273

SCHOOL ZONES: Lynmore Primary, Mokoia Intermediate, Rotorua Boys' and Girls' High, Rotorua Lakes High.

CONTACT: Tim O'Sullivan, Duncan Realty Rotorua, ph (07) 349 7053 or 0274 974 986.

FEATURES: Three-year-old architecturally designed home on a waterfront lifestyle property at Lake Tarawera, with four bedrooms, including self-contained guest accommodation.

More than a decade ago Chris and Janet Watmore fell in love with a lake.

The English couple met Lake Tarawera while visiting their daughter in New Zealand in the 1990s. It was placid, beautiful and bountiful. It gave them food and it gave them peace. After a whirlwind courtship, they made the relationship official. In a spontaneous romantic gesture they bought a retirement property on the lakefront.

"I think it's the best lake in New Zealand," says Janet. "It's loaded with beautiful trout. It's deep, it's pure. The ever-changing moods of the place are always wonderful to see. It's a fascinating place, just as lovely in the winter as it is in the summer."

In the heady first six months of the relationship they did little but sleep in or fish by day and watch the moon rise over the lake by night.

That first flush of love morphed into a more productive relationship. Chris and Janet, then in their early 60s, fell back into their old industrious habits. First they bought highland cattle and sheep. Then they sold their first Tarawera home and bought another, which they gutted, renovated and turned into Spencer Lodge - part substantial home, part luxury accommodation. Once happily ensconced in it, they set themselves another challenge - to build a dream home on a large waterfront section a little further around the lake.

The section hosted a worm-ridden old bach that wasn't worth saving. Janet and Chris trucked it off and began to create their vision of the perfect "smart" home, as an investment. Though they've dealt in a lot of property over the years, it was the first house they'd built from scratch and Janet admits they went a bit over the top. "We put the best of everything in it."

The house, now 3 years old, was designed by Rotorua architect Philip Carling to "float" down the side of a hill in three levels. On the top floor are two double bedrooms, each with en suites, and a study. On the lower floor is a self-contained guest suite with two more bedrooms, living area, bathroom and kitchenette. The central level hosts the entranceway and formal and informal living areas, with a kitchen that opens up to the view so completely that Janet says it feels as if you're cooking outside.

One of their most extravagant purchases were the kitchen benchtops, from Madagascar. Made from a bluey-green material inset with mother of pearl, Janet says they sparkle like the lake when the sun lands on them.

From the outside the house appears lodge-like, built from Canadian red cedar and Tauranga river stones. A walkway links the home to the lake edge, where there's a recently rebuilt jetty and boatshed.

Janet and Chris put so much effort into creating their ideal house that it seems crazy only one person has ever stayed in it, and that was only for a few weeks.

Family demands have drawn Janet and Chris back to Britain, leaving both this new house and Spencer Lodge empty. They've come to the reluctant conclusion that they and their lake will have to separate - temporarily, they hope - so they've decided to sell both properties.

Janet hopes they can continue a long-distance relationship with Tarawera, and she won't be heartbroken if it doesn't sell.

"If it goes, it goes. If not, we'll just use it for holidays."