Home and income in coastal Franklin

This unique property is on the market after twenty years of being lovingly built and nurtured by its current owners. Only one hour from Auckland and within an easy drive to Thames, Hamilton or Tauranga the home is situated on a quiet country lane and operates as a home and income.

The architecturally designed home of 245m² sits on 12,001m² within walking distance to the sea. Finished in 1999, it is built of locally sourced rammed earth and cement walls (350mm thick) with upper cladding of timber and a long run colour steel roof. There are concrete polished floors, Douglas fir timber joinery and kiln dried poplar T & G raked ceilings. The exposed rammed earth walls along with contrasting untreated Macrocarpa and Douglas fir timber give a warmth and environmentally friendly approach to modern rural living in a highly appealing coastal/pastoral setting on the Firth of Thames, with a backdrop of the native forested Hunua Range. Absolutely no chemically treated building materials, solvents or coatings have been used in this totally non-toxic house.

Living Areas: The main kitchen/dining/living area (with cathedral ceiling) on one level faces due north and is bathed in winter sunshine streaming in through 15 glassed window and door panels, and the heat is effectively stored overnight in the thick earth walls and concrete floors. It features a free standing Pyroclassic combustion wood burner plumbed for water heating. This combines with state of the art vacuum tube solar collectors on the roof, resulting in a totally self-sufficient house water heating system.. Two sets of tri-fold French doors open out from the dining area onto a large patio entertainment area and the garden.

The kitchen features a double stainless steel sink and bench top for preparing food and washing (looking out on the patio through a large bi-fold window), an oven and gas hobb, dishwasher and ample pantry along with plenty of cupboard and drawer space. All appliances are near new. There is a centre island bench top with drawers and cupboards as an action centre in the kitchen. Once again, polished concrete floors and natural timbers are used extensively to give a feeling of warmth and country living.

Bedrooms: There are four, inclusive of the sleepout bedroom. The spacious master bedroom with cathedral ceiling has a walk in wardrobe and modern ensuite with colourful tiled wet shower area, vanity and toilet. A second master bedroom and ensuite is the centrepiece of the granny flat occupying the east end of the house (Guest Wing, see below) The upstairs large (25m²) bedroom/study/multi purpose room (accessed by a wooden stairway) has great (4-way) views across the Hunua Ranges to the west, down the coast to the south and out across the Firth of Thames and the Coromandel ranges to the east and north (with wide bay window nook), It is serviced by a toilet and hand basin at the bottom of the stairs.

Bathrooms: Two ensuites and a separate toilet in the main house, plus a third bathroom in the sleepout in the barn.

Guest Wing: At the other end of the hallway from the main master bedroom there is a self-contained guest wing or granny flat that is fully wheelchair friendly and carpeted. It has a cosy double bedroom with adjacent very large full bathroom, well-appointed kitchenette, and lounge that can be opened out through French doors onto a private deck that leads to the nearby spa pool.

The Laundry is off the hallway with generous additional storage.

Parking: Adjacent to the Guest Wing is a 22m² lean-to carport with door opening into the kitchen/lounge area. There are 3 spaces in 2 carports + 2 other car parks by the house and barn with ample off-street parking spaces in between.

The Barn: This original building (1930s) of approx. 95m² includes a workshop, fruit packing and storage area, a 30m² sleep-out and second (double) carport area.

The building has a raised mezzanine area at one end. The sleep-out is well appointed with its own double bedroom and bathroom (complete with shower, toilet and vanity) and an earth wall. There is a modified kitchenette arrangement for guests if they want to prepare breakfast/light meals.

The building has both concrete and timber flooring, with the guest area permitted, insulated and carpeted.

The Sanctuary Pool House: This natural macrocarpa weatherboard facility was built as part of the Eco Spa retreat and features a solar heated 30,000 litre swimming pool for aquatic therapies and recreational use.
The 72m² building also has a shower and changing room, along with a separate massage room and a three person far infra-red cedar timber sauna.

Built in 2010, it has a continuous run of large stacker windows on the north side for passive solar space heating. The pool has a unique EnviroSwim ionisation/oxidation system to avoid the need for chlorination, and a backup gas heater for winter top-ups when necessary. The massage room has a bamboo inlaid ceiling, carpeted floor and is insulated for patient comfort.

The pool house, with its rustic untreated timber construction, abundance of internal light, high ceiling, 3 stained glass window features, and inspired tiling of wet areas has a highly notable special energy about it.

The Gazebo: Built in 2009, this 22m² open air room contains a 6 person Leisurerite Manhattan spa pool and is a great addition for both the residence and the guest accommodation business.

Features: This lifestyle property has been managed biologically (totally chemical free) since 1977, and was Bio Gro certified organic from 2011 to 2015. It is planted in an extensive range of about 350 fruit trees (30 varieties, including 5 walnut trees) and the grass around them is regularly mowed, creating a park-like environment throughout. There are 18 bee hives for effective pollination of the fruit trees (yielding an average 700kg of exquisite bush/orchard honey per year). The property operates as an Eco Spa retreat and features a Pool house, Gazebo with Spa and a large packing shed/ workshop complete with its own sleepout facility that is currently used for accommodation bookings.

Orchard and Land: Comprising 1.2ha, the land is currently planted in a dazzling array of approx. 350 temperate and subtropical fruit trees which are sold as organic and provide part of the tidy income that the property provides.

The land is flat to gently sloping, with one slightly steep small orchard block on the northern side The lower land bordering the property to the north is a natural flood plain, so provides a natural barrier for an open view as it would be unsuitable for future building or development, The aspect is rural and very pleasant with views back to the Hunua Ranges and a short walk to the main East Coast Road (7km north of the village of Kaiaua) allows beach access and the playground of the Firth of Thames.

The property is watered via collected rainwater with 4 large tanks (combined capacity 90,000 litres). A large garden area featuring a wide range of vegetables and small fruits along with a glasshouse is used for self-sustained living.

A dream location for the ultimate lifestyle:
+ Superb fishing and boating in calm seas
+ Sandy & stony beaches with clear waters
+ Coastal esplanade reserve
+ Spacious & serene rural setting
+ Expansive views of Coromandel Ranges
+ Decks for outdoor living - 30m² (main patio) + 6m² (apartment)
+ Fertile & productive garden & orchard
+ Property generates income of over $50,000/year
+ Previously Biogro certified organic
+ Next to Waharau Regional Park
+ Tramping, mountain biking, road cycling and sea kayaking in protected waters
+ Lightwire wireless rural broadband
+ Only 1 hour drive from Auckland
+ 80 mins. to Hamilton; 30 to Coromandel

For further details or to arrange a viewing please contact Mike Wade from Claridges Real Estate DDI 07 213 0708 or Mobile 021 726 599.