12 Macs Road, Hira, Nelson

Lud Valley life changer

Step back to a less hurried time as you head up the green Lud Valley to Macs Road; the sound of bellbird and tui are antidotes to city noise and there's a revitalised, characterful home nestled in among the trees awaiting you. Those yearning for simpler pleasures, more self-sufficiency and the space of 1.453 hectares for children to run and play will be smitten. Four fenced and gated paddocks behind the bay-window house give you the opportunity to keep horses or graze sheep or other animals.

You'll be part of a welcoming neighbourhood of like-minded families in this rural haven, yet 15 minutes drive from Nelson and on the Hira and Nelson schools bus route. With an implement/workshop building, a garage with lots of storage room, you have the basis for a small working farmlet for animals, or growing produce of your choice. Best of all, there's a lovely house to come home to - with high, timber-battened ceilings, very spacious rooms, including a bay window lounge, modern kitchen and bathrooms and a pleasant garden with patio areas for outdoor enjoyment. Two of the bedrooms - including the master with en suite bathroom - are very spacious, the third a single and there's also an office space and huge living space in two areas.

The home, relocated from Princes Drive to this site 15 years ago, looks as if it has been here forever. Wide hallways, rimu timbers and airy spaces are all part of its period attractions. All the important amenities - electrical, plumbing and ceiling and underfloor insulation - have been renewed or revised. The house is sturdily built, stucco-clad with a corrugated iron roof.

Families will enjoy all the modern touches; the large capacity log fire (with wetback) to warm the house on winter nights, the updated bathrooms and the well-equipped country kitchen with its corner window seat. You can have fresh eggs from your hens, with chook shed and a decent run just up from the house.