The drive from Raglan town to Waitui takes about seven minutes in total, but when you arrive at the house it’s as if you’ve driven an hour away from the rest of the world. Located down a private tarsealed road that winds through the trees, signs of home begin to greet you just before the main drive.
The essence of Waitui was inspired by owner Scott Cato’s vision to unify the house with the land. He’s created a space that captures the view and sits in harmony with the natural surroundings. The dark stained board and batten has westward facing rooms and a deck with wonderful vistas.
Surrounded by water on three sides, Waitui sits on three acres of headland in the Opotoru Estuary. The open-plan, two level layout of the living area provides daily picturesque views of Karioi and the Raglan Harbour. Vaulted ceilings, a state-of-the-art kitchen and cosy lounge complete with a central log burning fireplace add to the welcoming space. Step from the kitchen out onto the covered deck through two wide-opening French doors–dining al fresco will become a daily treat.
Just down the hallway, the spacious master bedroom and comfortable second room also face west, so you’re never without a view of the water. There is a two-car, stand alone garage, providing secure parking, storage and laundry.
Crafted for simplistic living, the grounds of Waitui are a world all its own. Built to enhance what was already there, the natural environment tends to care for itself. But for the self-sustaining green thumb, Waitui offers thriving, fertile soil, with three simple potager gardens and four contoured terraces just off the driveway, ripe and ready for planting.
A short venture from the house and down the railway-sleeper steps you’ll find a small boatshed tucked just off the water’s edge. Currently set up to house summer guests, but with an excess of space surrounding and its own seprate drive, it could be transformed to suit an artist’s studio or house a separate residence. The possibilities are endless.
The serenity found at Waitui is what most go in search of – those still moments filled with only the sounds of birds and the quiet lap of water. The spirit of Waitui will unite you with the land, water and sky all in one unique space called home.
The time has come for Scott to handover the keys to a new owner and set out on a new adventure.
If you are interested in discovering Waitui, contact Julie Hanna–027 441 8964 or Blair Hanna–021 0200 8282 at Ray White, or find Waitui online at rwraglan.co.nz, ID #RAG22678.
Karamea Puriri
