CONTACT:
Lisa Crowe, Harcourts, 0274 961 935, 07 3431892.
Meryl Yvonne's magnificent waterfront property on the shores of Lake Rotoiti is a rare freehold gem which was once part of a large Maori trust block of land.
In the 1960s, an 8.75ha block was sold into private ownership. In 1994 Meryl became the fifth owner of the farmland, which is fertile, elevated and has stunning lake views.
A trained nurse who became a natural healer 30 years ago, Meryl was running clinics in Auckland, Wellington, Sydney and in coastal Northland where she was based.
After her Northland property flooded for the third time in four years she decided to create a new healing centre away from the coast and on high ground.
The "absolute tranquility and utter privacy" of this Maniatutu Rd property, which is 600m away from the nearest road and 15 minutes drive from Rotorua Airport, appealed to her instantly, and she knew it would make an excellent retreat.
"It is such a special property. But to be honest, it needed so much work done when I bought it that I don't think many other people would have had the energy to tackle it."
Meryl says the house was "just an old bungalow sitting in a paddock with a fence around it".
Beyond that, the property included 500m of road that runs down to the lake's edge, poorly kept farmland and two tracts of native bush, which had horses running through them.
Meryl's improvements to the land have included working with Environment Bay of Plenty to turn the larger area of native bush near Lake Rotoiti into a conservation block. The smaller block, which includes some 1000-year-old natives, has also been regenerated and designated a conservation area, which cannot be farmed again.
In 1995 Meryl began a two-year project to completely rebuild the three-bedroom main house and add a second storey to it.
Harnessing her passion and energy for renovating and interior design, she transformed the old bungalow into a welcoming home that blends rustic charm with modern comforts.
Image 1 of 8: Chill out in this tranquil and private waterfront retreat or explore its potential for tourists. Photos / Supplied
The home's striking features include Rimu floorboards, rough sawn redwood ceilings, solid concrete, hand-plastered walls, a triple-layered ceiling which provides excellent soundproofing and a outside sauna house with traditional Maori carvings that looks over the lake.
Environmental building materials include non-toxic paint finishes, wool insulation and a self-sufficient heating system.
The layout includes a master bedroom, en suite, main bathroom, separate toilet, kitchen and dining, office and two living spaces on the ground level. Upstairs are two large bedrooms and another bathroom.
In 2011 Meryl and her partner, Manu Nehu, added a separate guest house which sleeps up to 10 people.
Called Kerere, which means messenger in Maori, the four-bedroom guest house is used for overseas visitors, healing clients and as a teaching space.
They have named the overall property Wa-i-marama, which means a place, or time, or enlightenment.
The property's guest accommodation, riparian rights and proximity to Lake Rotoiti as well as its stunning waterfront and rural views across hectares of tribal land make it an excellent option for future owners to develop it as a tourism destination.
