Rural solitude with benefits in Puhoi

Property at 121E Fowler Access Road, Puhoi. Photo / Michelle Hyslop

121E FOWLER ACCESS RD PUHOI

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SIZE: Land 3358sq m (approx ), one-eighth share (communally owned) in approx 35.5ha, cottage 55sq m (approx).

PRICE INDICATION: RV $450,000. Upcoming auction date to be confirmed (unless sold prior).

INSPECT: By appointment.

ON THE WEB: harcourts.co.nz/OR4387

SCHOOL ZONES: Orewa North Primary, Orewa College (Year 7-13).

CONTACT: Beven Shaw, Harcourts, ph 021 628 111.

FEATURES: Cottage plus legal building site on 3358sq m, plus one-eighth use of communally owned and maintained 35.5 ha (approx). Orchards, gardens, river swimming and a ready-made community, yet still within an hour of Auckland.

Thirty years ago, Tony Morrison and seven friends and partners decided they wanted the simple life for their children, one that living in Mt Eden couldn't offer. All members of the same Playcentre, they already knew they shared the same life values and, in 1979, had enough common memory of what communal living at its best could offer, namely community, friendship and shared resources. However, they were also realistic enough to know that communal living hadn't always worked, so they set about cherry-picking the best and discarding the worst of the ethic.

Consequently, what evolved on the sunny rural land Tony found for them all just north of Wenderholm Reserve is an interesting piece of social engineering as much as it is land ownership. The way it works is that each of the eight partners has a freehold building site of around 3000sq m, theirs to do what they like with, within the bounds of council rules and regulations, and all share the amenities and maintenance of the remaining 35.5ha.

"What we have created here," explains Rhiannon Herrick, Tony's partner, "is a community of like-minded friends. It's definitely not a commune. To keep connected we all meet most Friday nights for dinner. There's always a 'welcome in the summer' picnic down by the river, Guy Fawkes by the orchard and so on. We're now on to a second generation of family, friends and hangers-on so there is a wonderfully full and warm community of all ages."

The amenities on offer are pretty special. To keep the soul contented, a parcel of the most densely treed land covenanted as native bush, and protected from cattle and sheep, has grown richer and stronger over the years. With an organic growers' Biogrow registration, the shared land also takes care of many other needs.

Two large orchards grow everything from figs and grapes, to apples and every citrus variety you can think of. Lush vegetable gardens on the fertile land in the valley and contented dry stock providing freezer tucker means that if not totally self-sufficient, they are well on the way there.

Despite the rural solitude, this slice of paradise is only 12 minutes from Silverdale, not much more from Albany Mega Centre and 36 minutes from the CBD mid-afternoon. Most of the partners work away from the valley and rely on the excellent SH1 links in both directions.

If a dip in the river doesn't fit the bill, the hot water mineral springs at Waiwera are nearby down Wenderholm hill, while Wenderholm Beach and its wide sands, Puhoi River and, of course, Puhoi Hotel, are also close amenities.

Views from the building site on the freehold title for sale encompass the peaceful rural valley unfolding on its way to Waiwera inlet and, in the distance, Waiwera River winds across the valley bottom. There is also a little cottage, an M rather than an A-frame, to settle in while deciding what to build. All electricity is underground.

"It's time," is how Rhiannon sees their decision to move west of Auckland. "This is wonderful and we'll never lose touch with everything here, but we have a new venture now that's taking all our energies."