Cape South, Hawke's Bay
The decision to move from England to New Zealand was a sudden one! It happened one Friday evening after a particularly bad week of work in London with Britain in the grim grip of constant security scares and war in Iraq looming.
My husband, Peter, and I rapidly organised a “recce” and in five hectic days managed to buy a 12 acre section (the future base for Cape South), found a 1905 villa in Waipawa to move as the basis of our new home and organised architect, builders and project manager to begin work.
In December 2003, a year after that initial recce, we and our three children arrived here permanently and by August were installed in The Homestead, our gracious, verandah-surrounded villa overlooking rolling Hawke’s Bay countryside to the sea.
Cape South is a unique place, with a special atmosphere both within its properties and throughout the surrounding magical 12 acres. My husband, who sadly died at the end of 2006, adored Cape South and everything that it stood for. He was at peace here and lovingly and tirelessly worked turning the bare farm land into the beautiful landscaped gardens and grounds that one sees today.
Peter’s generous and caring spirit meant he wanted to share Cape South with everyone and providing holiday accommodation was one way of enabling this to happen. Adding the Studio and turning the Homestead into one of Cape South’s self-contained properties were all ideas that he was committed to and believed in.
We all hope that anytime you spend here at Cape South is truly memorable … and you return time after time!
Mirabel Brook