• The dwelling is an historical cottage which now dates over 160 years of age. Built from the classical native timbers of its age and later provided with a twin topped roof, it has a character of its own.
• Almost attached to the dwelling is a small shed that used to be the slaughterhouse and chicken coop.
• The original woolshed has been gutted and refurbished to contain the restaurant, kitchen, education centre and aquariums. Its interior has been kept rustic. Underneath the old woolshed, two implement sheds have been changed to house the dive hire department. Additional space has been provided for storage, refrigeration and implement sheds.
• The single car garage has been retained and  part of it allocated to the dive tank compressor such that its noise won't interfere with the tranquility experienced in the cafe/restaurant. The dive tanks with compressed air are stored here too. The garage is also used by way of workshop, with a long work bench and tool storage.
• In between garage and woolshed, a flat area has been dug to serve as parking and turning area. It is bordered by tall trees and flower beds.
• The access road from Goat Island has been reinforced and widened and provided with passing bays. Stately Phoenix palms and specimen trees invite visitors to an estate of class. There exist four access gates to the property, from tar-sealed roads.
• A second road provides access from the Leigh-Pakiri Road, but it is steeper and not metalled.
• Adjoining the cafe, several areas have been developed in tiled terraces, one of which is large enough to accommodate a marquee for 120 seated guests.
• Paved roads lead to the various terraces and to the 'bottom field', a flat area suitable for playing or parking.
• After experiencing considerable land erosion, the steepest land has been retired, and various patches of trees planted. The idea was to retain visual lines of sight in order to enhance the spatial experience of a steep land looking out over a wide valley towards the sea. Gullies have been planted with tall poplars.
• Around the dwelling and woolshed, six fenced paddocks have been retained in grass, and they are being grazed on contract. A small yard has been retained for stock management. Specimen trees have been planted where the landscape could be enhanced.
• Shelter belts and sheltering groups of trees have been planted to create a warm and sheltered microclimate. The steep property faces north and the warmth of the sun is stored and reflected by the hill side. Land winds pass over the shelterbelts on the road sides and the sea wind is lifted by shelter belts closer to the restaurant.
• It is one of the very few properties in this zoning with an established business and income.

Frontal and side view of the woolshed. Above the restaurant/ classroom and cafe; below the dive rental store, toilets and showers. Click on the image for an enlargement. High-res.

Plan view of the woolshed complex with paved paths and terraces. Click on the image for a larger view. High-res.

The main entrance road is bordered by a row of Phoenix palm trees.

One bank of the main entrance road is retained by a dense agapanthus bed.

The view over the Goat Island valley with Goat Island . The coast around the island is a marine reserve.

The historical cottage seen from poplar valley. More palm trees bordering the 'bottom field'.

The kauri cottage is made of hand-sawn weatherboards.

On its shaded side, the cottage has a verandah.

The alternative entrance drive is flanked by Phoenix palms, but is not hardened.

A paved walkway leads from the cottage to the woolshed, through dense plantings, a childrens' forest.

Plenty of lawns to enjoy the sun and the fragrance of foliage and flowers.

Description of the cafe/ restaurant
The combined use of the main space in the woolshed as class room and as restaurant was possible because the restaurant operated mainly at night as the schools came during the day. Also the main business for the restaurant happened in the summer school holidays.
The cafe has inside seating for 50-60 people and was, till recently, fully licensed for as many. Sewage and toilet facilities have been provided to suit. There are two normal toilets and an invalid's toilet with ramp access. Kitchen facilities are found in an 'inside' kitchen for direct access from the main restaurant, the main kitchen for cooking, meal preparation and dishwashing and a servery adjoining the patio terraces.
The patio terraces, outside terraces and inside dining room are ideally suited for parties and are limited only by inside seating for 50-60 guests.

The cafe/restaurant which opened in December 1992 was a popular place with good patronage, even through winter when special evenings were organised to celebrate the cooking from various ethnic origins: French, Mediterranean, Indonesian, Dutch. Also special fish food celebrations were held. For these occasions the restaurant was changed entirely by means of props and elaborately painted scenery. These have been stored in the attic above the restaurant.

Since a spate of new cafes and restaurants appeared outside Warkworth, and also since strict drunk-driving laws, the restaurant has lost patronage to the extent that it urgently needs to find a new identity. Even so, it must be remembered that the main business season in New Zealand is very short and that the winter months would be best served by closing the centre and to implement changes and additions.

The combination of a cafe with the education centre worked well as it provides another attraction for visitors.

The dive shop can be a busy place in summer when the weather is fine but the parking facilities are always adequate.

The patio terrace has been roofed over and is protected against wind and weather.

A wedding party just before the arrival of bride and groom. The outside terrace is large enough to seat 120 in a marquee.

Inside seating allows for 50 guests but more can be accommodated with different configurations of tables and chairs. This was once a shearing shed.

Description of the education centre
Since the late 1980s, New Zealand's seas have experienced rapid degradation, which even today, has not been sufficiently recognised. In 1990 Dr Anthoni decided to devote the rest of his life to saving the sea, for which a marine education centre was needed. Located near the first marine reserve at Goat Island, exploring the sea was an important activity that our children should not miss out on. From humble beginnings with secondhand suits, eventually an extensive collection of special wetsuits emerged in a large variety of sizes. With it came a large collection of fins and masks. Even optically corrected masks are available for short and long sighted divers.

Between 1992 and 2000, the Goat Island marine reserve enjoyed spectacular popularity because of the many friendly fishes that were attracted by feeding them. However, since the Department of Conservation prohibited fish feeding, the numbers of visitors diminished. But enthusiasm from schools remained, sufficient to keep Seafriends in business. Now that the plight of the sea is becoming popularised, interest for the marine environment may increase again, just at a time that Seafriends' educational resources have been developed.

A day at Seafriends typically rotates students between three activities: rocky shore studies, snorkelling in the sea, and lecture with aquarium visit and a movie. But many more resources have been developed for further studies and skills development (see appendix). The Seafriends web site on internet has become an indispensable resource for schools, educators and decisionmakers. Unfortunately, most students visit Seafriends only one day in their lives, and even then the programme is rushed. Our most memorable visit has been the Correspondence School who enjoyed a full week submersion in matters of the sea. It demonstrated that our programmes are able to keep children fascinated from eight in the morning till ten at night, for a whole week. Such programmes can be reinstated in the form of summer camps, once accommodation has become available. See the list of resources in the appendices.

When considering that the education centre opened in December 1992 with hardly anything to show for, the progress made since, is indeed exemplary.

• The book library grew steadily, first with memorable and rare books, and later with the best information that money can buy in new books. It now stands at about 800 books, specialised in the sea and the environment. The library has public access and books can be loaned over internet.
• The sea water aquariums slowly improved as a working ecosystem and they are now pro-grading (getting better) using the techniques and knowledge recently discovered by Dr Anthoni. It is the intention to show what the sea once looked like - not a mean task. In order to create interest for the sea, the aquariums have always been free of charge. The Seafriends temperate ecosystem aquariums are not connected to the sea. They are indeed unique in the world. There are eight tanks of 360 litres each, representing the local habitats. Two experience tidal rise and fall of the water.
• A series of 1000 photographs was printed for visitors to browse through, such that the immensity of our marine heritage becomes visible.
• An ever growing series of books containing web site printouts is available for study.
• A wall display shows the underwater habitats of Goat Island and information about them.
• The information displays and aquarium displays have been lagging behind because their information still needed to be collected and assembled, which is still in progress.
• Seafriends had, until recently, a maritime radio licence for shore to ship calling on VHF channels 74, 73 and 16 as well as the ship to ship channels.

Children being lectured in the classroom, which can seat over 60 in theatre style. In the background the extensive nature library. The brown doors lead to the aquariums.

Visitors getting dressed in professional wetsuits with excellent buoyancy and protection. All sizes, short or tall, can be accommodated.

Seated on the beach and already dressed in protective long wetsuits, school children receive snorkel instructions and safety procedures.

The snorkelling is the highlight of a school visit, and everyone is keen to enter the water. Sometimes dolphins come snooping around.

Potential growth and investment path
Seafriends has over the years suffered tremendously from underfunding. Had it been able to start larger, it would have been able to retain markets better and to draw more income. Over the years, small competitors have started in snorkel hire, dive hire, boat hire, kayaks, beach studies and snorkel guiding. All this to the detriment of Seafriends' income. Even though Seafriends enjoys kudos from its lofty aims, the average customer is more interested in convenience and price while often remaining unaware or uninterested of how they can help save the sea. Many cafes and restaurants are now competing for a slowly increasing market, each causing harm to the other. So where does Seafriends fit in today?

• Seafriends is entirely unique. Whereas education and hospitality are practised everywhere, the goal of Seafriends, that of saving our seas and marine education, are still unique. On this uniqueness it must build further. Every addition should relate to the sea or have a sea theme. Awareness of the sea is now, after 15 years of work, slowly growing. Problems in the sea are accelerating and becoming pressing.
• Local camps in Snells Beach (Parklands = 80 beds, Camp Mahurangi = 160 beds) are closing, causing a pressing need for accommodation. Some schools go to camp but most prefer a more manageable and comfortable option. Seafriends should have accommodation for at least one class plus parents and teachers (30+2+5). Two classes could perhaps stretch the facilities, but would be much more profitable. Accommodation would fully utilise the kitchen. This market is there NOW and Seafriends should fill the void. One problem is that schools on camp do many non-Seafriends activities like visiting Kawau, but this could be combined by boat from Leigh.
• The marina on land is an idea to buy medium sized boats that have had their time at sea and cannot pass safety survey. They could be modified internally for bunks and would be placed off the deep end of the 'bottom field'. This way accommodation with a marine theme can be provided and it may not be expensive to do.
• With active education programmes and marketing, every day at Seafriends can be booked. We have enough programmes to fill a rainy day. Proactive week-long summer camps are now possible.
• For maori children the sea is an important inheritance. Maori see themselves as caretakers of NZ's environment, notably the sea. It is important therefore that Maori children are well educated about the sea. This is a new market which requires lodging. It also requires a subsidy per visit, which should be obtained from Government or Education.

Time table and sale value
Seafriends has committed itself to honour all bookings till the end of the financial year on June 30th, 2007. Should the purchaser prefer an earlier settlement, these bookings should still be honoured.

The value of the property consists of the following assets:
 

Please note that a sale is not binding until a contract of sale and purchase has been signed by both parties.