SCHOOL ZONES:
Selwyn Ridge, Waldorf (Steiner), Pyes Pa and Oropi primaries, Aquinas College, Tauranga Boys and Tauranga Girls.
CONTACT:
Phil Mangos, Bayleys, 027 496 5995
AUCTION:
July 20.
The opportunity to live off the grid added an interesting component to a rural lifestyle when Emma and Wade Exler were searching for a property out of Auckland.
"Living off the grid gives you more of an appreciation for the things we take for granted. Power, hot water, cellphone coverage, etc," says Emma.
The couple and their children, Lyla and Luka, moved from a lifestyle block in Waitakere to this 4.545ha property near Tauranga, with solar panels, a wind turbine, back-up generator and a wetback fireplace.
"Not connected to mains power or water. No phone line. No power bills," says Emma.
"We bought in September last year; settled and moved in December. It is a contemporary home. It is warm, comfortable, functional, simple and tastefully decorated."
The couple were not familiar with Tauranga, so were not looking in a specific area.
"The house sparked our interest. The views are idyllic and we'd never lived in such a new house before. We brought it purely based on that."
Their home, just five years old, is in the countryside near Ohauiti, in the rolling hills behind Tauranga. Ohauiti village, about five minutes' drive from the Exlers' home, has a hall and a small group of shops. It takes the family about 15 minutes to drive to central Tauranga.
The Shadowclad house has a Decramastic tiled roof. Windows are double glazed and there are stone pillars by the entrance way and deck.
A boardwalk leads to the front door, which opens into a wide hallway. To the left are the open-plan lounge/kitchen/dining. To the right are three double bedrooms and a bathroom off the hallway. There is internal access at the end of the hall to the double garage.
The family has made a few small changes inside the home -- new drapes and blinds, new kitchen sink and tap. Outside, they have tidied up the garden.
Image 1 of 6: Want to live off the grid? This rural home in Tauranga may be just the answer.
"There are garden beds running right around the house, which we have filled with mulch to let the new owner add their own touches. There are also established gardens strategically planted to block the wind," says Emma.
From their home, they see rolling paddocks, pine forest and native bush.
"There are 360-degree views of green. We feel like we live on our own little mountain. We can't see any neighbours," she says.
The family doesn't eat meat but they have four pet cows.
"The previous owner had cows, pigs, ducks and chickens. There is a large chicken run and pig area with pig house. And we have apples, peaches, pears, nectarines, lemon, lime and feijoa trees."
The four large paddocks (two of which have access to the stream on the property) are fenced and have water troughs. A three-bay implement shed is where the family keep their motor bikes and ride-on mower.
The children love playing in the stream on the property.
"They play there all the time in summer. Swimming and making leaf boats. We often go down to feed the eels," says Emma.
And the family enjoys going on bush walks.
"We love how the setting lets us feel at one with nature while still living in a nice modern home.
"We enjoy sitting on the deck looking out to the cows in the paddock, and the pine forest in the distance. Also the winding driveway, which is 1km long, where we can see anyone coming to visit. This house is magical when the sun is shining."
She imagines the property will appeal to someone "quite alternative" who wants to "move away from relying on big corporations to supply necessities. Someone who wants to grow their own food".
They are selling to move closer to the children's schooling, sports and hobbies.
