Taste of the tropics

115 Pararekau Rd, Karaka. Photo / Supplied

115 PARAREKAU RD, KARAKA

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SIZE: Land 1 ha, house (approx) 520sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Similar sized properties in the area are selling in the mid-$2 millions. For sale by negotiation.

INSPECT: Sunday 2.30-3pm.

ON THE WEB: barfoot.co.nz/495842

SCHOOL ZONES: Hingaia Peninsula School, Rosehill College.

CONTACT: Ian Croft and Karen Hitchcock, Barfoot & Thompson, ph 021 753 096 (Ian) or 027 292 7858 (Karen).

FEATURES: Secure lifestyle property privately set down a gated right-of-way and opening onto a resort-style lagoon pool complex. Includes three living areas plus office, kitchen with butler's pantry, guest suite and internal-access garaging. Grounds include eight paddocks, with the possibility of future subdivision.

Spotting this lifestyle property's lagoon-style pool set against a waterfall and cosseted by tropical planting instantly intrigued James and Thada Chapman.

James is a long-time farmer so living anywhere too urban wasn't an option after selling a Mercer farm.

Thada says, "James wanted a larger property. I saw a picture of the pool here and said 'You have got to look at this!' It's like a little island resort with the palm trees.

"It's a magic spot. In summer we just live out there. And even in winter sitting out under the shelter of the eaves is lovely. Kids have a wonderful time here because there's a path at the back of the rocks and they climb up and jump into the pool."

Upon visiting the Karaka property about three years ago, they were impressed by its setting - down a gated right-of-way, screened from neighbours by shelterbelts and well-placed planting. "It's utterly secure and extremely private so you feel very safe living here. And it's very quiet, yet you are so handy to motorway access." They're about 1.5km from the Karaka on-ramp and just over 3km from sought-after AGC Strathallan School.

The 520sq m brick home with tile roofing was built about 19 years ago and features some accomplished wooden detailing. "The chap who originally built this place for himself was a builder and the woodwork and cabinetry is incredible; it's just done with such precision," explains Thada.

An intercom-controlled security gate lets visitors into the private right-of-way, dotted with premium properties on large land-holdings. No115's driveway sweeps around past tropical planting, a large lawn and an internal-access five-car garage before looping back around a central garden bed with towering palms. This allows visitors to alight under the shelter of an impressive entry portico. "That's one of the features we've replicated in our new house," says Thada, who explains they're selling as they've built a new home near the Jamieson Park horse stud James has established in Mercer.

Double entry doors open into an entranceway, with a large office lined with bookshelves nearby.

"This is the nicest house I have ever lived in," says Thada, who is a lawyer. "It flows well and it's a very comfortable home to live in."

There are numerous living spaces to choose from, all opening out to the northerly patio and poolside area. The expansive formal lounge is a gracious space, neighbouring a formal dining room. A hearty wood-burning fire heats the open-plan family room-kitchen, which is accented by wood-panelled walls.

The kitchen includes granite benches, a butler's pantry and servery-style bifold windows opening to the entertaining terrace outside. Thada has outfitted their new home with two ovens, having appreciated the two Bosch ovens here. Beyond a sprawling second lounge-games room with bar and sarked timber ceiling is a guest suite including a walk-in wardrobe and en suite.

There are four more bedrooms at the other end of the home. The master suite (with en suite and walk-in wardrobe) and another bedroom open to the poolside area, where there's year-round shelter under cedar-sarked eaves. A little thatched poolside bure complements the ambience created by hibiscus, palms and cycads.

A separate bathroom with spa bath, a shower room, two separate toilets and a laundry complete the layout.

The substantial landholding is currently spread across lawns and eight paddocks with a little stockyard, grazed by two cows that Thada calls "our resident lawnmowers". There's a possibility of future subdivision without detracting from the ambience of the existing home because of where it lies in relation to the paddocks.