Mountain view is mesmerising
Location adds a perspective to life Carrington Road. This five-hectare property 8km to the west of iconic North Taranaki garden Pukeiti is 280m above sea level, 11km from the coast, and 11km from the peak of Taranaki Maunga. On a fine day, you can enjoy a sea horizon out in front, while the mountain is an inspirational presence right behind you.
The distant sea view is nice to have, but it is that mountain view that has held owner Paul here for 16 years, and influenced the renovation of his 130-year-old villa home.
A mountain view for New Plymouth residents presents a cold southerly outlook, but this address a half hour from the city is just a few minutes uphill from Okato and that puts the peak to the east of the property. “In summertime, the sun rises straight over the top of the mountain,” Paul says. “In winter, it comes up over the (Pouakai) ranges.”
That lets the morning sunlight angle in and warm the living areas here. stunning at 3095
The mountain and its moods are captivating, he says. “The sunsets are incredible. It can change colours four or five times before dark. Sunrises are incredible, too.”
The moon can keep the mountain visible after dark. “I’ve taken photos with no light at all and the mountain stands out clearly.”
Because of that view, the windows and exterior doors in this end of the open-plan kitchen-dining-lounge area are over-height, reaching to the ceiling. “I wanted to be able to sit in here and see the top of the mountain.”
Paul doesn’t tire of this view. “It’s cool on a winter’s day with the fire going. I don’t often watch TV; I’d rather sit here and look out at the mountain. If I’m reading a book, I’ll stop a lot and look up.”
Paul was familiar with the property before he bought it - his sister and her husband owned it for the previous 10 years from 1997. “I used to visit them and have to apologise for being rude and staring up at the mountain all the time instead of talking to them.”
The house sits on a levelled plateau with paddocks and bush features at a lower level around it. Many native trees - including rimu, kauri, puriri, and totara - have been planted on the slopes to add a shelter effect and are now well-established. A tributary stream runs through the lower property and eventually connects to the Mangatete Stream that runs down to the coast.
Paul was smitten with the property. “I told them, if they ever wanted to sell it, to give me a yell.”
That happened in 2007 after he sold his Pungarehu farm. “My brother-inlaw rang and asked if I still wanted to buy the property.”
There was no hesitation. “I bought it over the phone!”
His sister and brother-in-law had begun the transformation of this property, buying the then bare land and moving the 1890s villa up from its original inner-city section. They started renovating it, but Paul took that work to a new level, investing in character detail where possible and contemporary upgrades where they improved comfort and convenience.
That approach resulted in new or recycled timber mouldings to maintain the look of the original skirtings and architraves, and double-glazed windows and exterior doors to enhance light and views while improving the home’s energy efficiency.
Each of the four double bedrooms has doors opening out to the verandah that wraps around most of the house. Counting the doors opening from the living areas, there are 10 sets of exterior doors, Paul says. “On a hot summer’s day, I can open all the doors up; it gives a lot of options, if it’s a windy day.”
Paul added on the large master bedroom extension, which has one set of bifolding doors opening towards the sea and another towards the mountain. There’s a beautifully fitted-out ensuite with native timber floors, and tiled walls and floor in the double-sized glass-wall shower.
Two bedrooms remain to be finished, with plasterboard linings done but paint needed. New owners might want to select their own colours in these rooms.
The main bathroom is a conversion of an original bedroom, giving it a
bay window feature beneath which a cast-iron, clawfoot bath now sits facing the mountain. Paul says a relaxing soak here is a special treat with that view.
Another extension to the original villa accommodates the finely finished kitchen and dining-room. The kitchen combines the character touch of panelled cabinet doors and drawers, with contemporary granite bench tops, and a stainless-steel oven. From the island bench, a cook here can look up to the mountain and out over the rural landscape.
In the lounge, a freestanding woodburner provides plenty of warmth to make the whole house cosy during winter.
The dining area features a bifolding window that adds an alfresco feeling to a meal here and brings the landscape closer.
That landscape adds extra appeal to the property, Paul says. A corner of the property contains about a half-hectare of QEII National Trust-covenented bush that links to the Blue Rata Scenic Reserve bordering the nearby Stoney River.
The river can’t be seen from here, but it is definitely heard at times. “After a big rain, I can hear the rocks rolling in the Stoney ... some of them are 10-to-15tonne boulders!”
The nearby bush is another attraction of living here, he says. “That’s one of the great things here; you can just go off and walk. Tracks take you up to Bell’s Falls and Holly Hut ... it’s quite magical up there. I take visitors down to the blue rata tree in the reserve ... that’s spectacular! And you can go swimming in the river.”
Paul has been sharing the setting with a bunch of friends for a while, after setting up a casual social club in half of the 18m-by-9m steel shed he had built across the gravel parking area from the villa.
This generous space has a suitably rustic feel. There’s an impressive bar in one corner, -with a 100mmthick counter top crafted from a slab of timber he cut from a macrocarpa tree felled on the property. A lean-to kitchen off the back of the ‘clubrooms’ is well-equipped to cater to the regular gatherings, and toilets have also been installed adjacent.
The other two-bay half of the shed has plenty of space for vehicle storage and workshop needs. “It’s a dream shed for a bloke,” Paul says.
He’s now keen to set out and explore New Zealand - and the horses grazing below the house are a pointer to his plans.
“I am going to ride my horse around New Zealand, while leading a pack horse with the gear and supplies I need. It is a goal I have always wanted to do, so the time is right for me to sell up and get on my horse and go.
“I feel the house and property would be much better utilised with a couple or family here. It even has opportunities for hiring out or accommodation arrangements.”
Bayleys consultant John Blundell is marketing this property and feels the appeal that has held Paul here. “The countryside, the bush, the mountain, the ranges ... there’s nothing else to disturb that! There’s beautiful privacy up here, but it’s just minutes from civilisation.”