New Zealand’s largest house

It may look it belongs on the Sussex downs but this fine country house is actually 20 minutes from the city centre of Auckland.

An expat couple, who had been living in New Zealand for 17 years, commissioned local architect Greg Noble (www.gregnoble.co.nz) and his wife Georgie to design and build a typical English country house and garden. It took four years from conception to completion, and today is the country’s largest residential building.

‘It’s not unusual historically to build in the classic country house style and there are plenty of good colonial examples everywhere,’ says Mr Noble.

‘However, the country adopted a modernist approach from the 1950s and there has been little traditional building since.’ He continues: ‘Creating a brand new English-style country house, in new gardens and its own parkland setting is unique today - not least, because this kind of opportunity is so rare in the UK.’

The house which has seven bedrooms, a separate guest cottage, swimming pool and tennis court is now on the market through Brown Sotheby’s (+64 9 366 4666; http://brownssothebysrealty.com)

Price on application through Brown Sotheby's +64 9 366 4666