SCHOOL ZONES:
Warkworth primary, Mahurangi College.
CONTACT:
Jeneen Binsted, Harcourts, 0275 367 107.
AUCTION:
Onsite at 2.30pm, October 29.
Not all New Zealanders can say they have kiwi in their backyard, but Fran and Andy Leonard can make the claim hand on heart.
They often hear the birds at night in the native bush of their hideaway home, which is only 10 minutes from Warkworth.
The couple, originally fromEngland but who met in the Middle East, never dreamed they would be able to live somewhere so beautiful, Fran says.
"We've been here for about 10 years. The thing that attracted us most of all when we saw it were the views. They are absolutely breathtaking, because we're up just on the ridge line. The ridge line gives us fabulous shelter and it's got a little micro-climate.
"We find what happens is the mist lies in the valley so the whole of Warkworth can be fog-bound and we're up in bright sunshine."
On a clear day you can see Little Barrier, Great Barrier, the Coromandel and Kawau Island.
"It's absolutely stunning. On a winter's morning you've got the mists lying in the valley and you've got the sun coming up behind Little Barrier and it's just a beautiful view."
The 4.5ha property is quiet, private and teeming with native birds. "We've got tuis bouncing around in the flax bushes outside the kitchen and we've got the kiwis in the bush.
Image 1 of 8: It is not uncommon to see kiwi in the surrounding bush here.
"We've got lots of kereru. It's lovely to sit out on the patio at night and you can see them doing loop de loops over the bush."
The bush down in front on their land is QEII covenanted, which means it can't be cut down and you can't be built out, Fran says. On top of all that, the people who live on the road are friendly.
"We've made some good friends. Everyone helps each other out -- we have quite a social scene. We have an annual get together just after Christmas, the Wyllie Rd street party."
There's a mid-winter Christmas party as well, and the Women on Wyllie Book Club.
The couple love the water and when they came to New Zealand crewing on a boat they decided to come back.
The house, which is 14 years old, was built by a young couple and Fran and Andy extended it.
Fran, who cooked on the boats, says after working in tiny galley kitchens, a decent kitchen was important, so this one has everything from a vege sink to an oven tower and a five-element induction hob, which she says has been great when hosting big gatherings, including the street party.
The porch entrance leads the way to open-plan living and dining.
The formal lounge has a bay window, there is a double-sided schist fireplace, and the informal lounge has bifold doors that open to the deck.
The master bedroom has an en suite and walk-in wardrobe, and a sliding door that opens to the deck. There is a guest bedroom, and another room has a built-in pull-down bed.
Outdoors, the 10-seater table is staying with the house, plus there is a seat on the ridge perfect for a having a glass of wine and looking out at the view, and there is a wood shed, vege patch and a green house.
You could live off the land, Fran says.
The location is also fabulous, with vineyards and Matakana Village, with its shops and restaurants, nearby.
