Property report: Spotlight on Pt Chevalier - Stepping into the top ranks

Pt Chevalier. Photo / Michelle Hyslop

Once in the shadow of its more fashionable neighbours, the coastal suburb of Pt Chevalier is coming into its own, writes Graham Hepburn.

When areas such as Ponsonby and Grey Lynn were becoming trendy and pricey, Pt Chev was viewed as something of a poor cousin.

But that has changed in recent years as buyers - particularly families - come to appreciate its charms.

As Bernadette Morrison, of Bayleys, says: "Pt Chevalier has a lovely relaxed vibe and offers a great lifestyle choice. The streets are wider, the sections that haven't already been subdivided are generally larger and there's easy parking when compared to its inner-city neighbours.

"The beach, Coyle Park and Meola Reserve are big drawcards and there are great schools in the area. Being predominantly flat, it's easy to get around and is close to motorway access for commuting. Historically it was seen as a more affordable option to get close to the inner city, however this is rapidly changing with the recent growth in the Auckland market and prices have increased accordingly."

Ross Brader, of the Professionals, says: "Being a peninsula, residents enjoy living the coastal lifestyle with Pt Chevalier beach, boat ramps at Oliver St and Raymond St, paddle boarders, kite boarders and windsurfers all well catered for.

"We have a sailing club at Raymond St Reserve and the parks and reserves are enjoyed by all with Coyle Park at the end of the point the most popular, Walker Park used for school athletics, cricket and rugby league, and Eric Armishaw Park is a popular staging area for the kite boarders."

He says children's education needs are well catered for with "all bases covered from kindergarten and primary through to high school and even tertiary, with Unitec just across the motorway".

Pt Chev Primary has had to accommodate a rapidly rising roll on a tight site. More classrooms have been built as the roll has grown by more than 50 per cent since 1996.

Some more modern homes have been built on waterfront sections, but the housing stock in the suburb is mainly bungalows, ex-state houses and Art Deco homes - popular because of their traditional and sturdy building methods with potential for renovation.

Although Pt Chev still lags behind its neighbours as far as its dining scene - it is getting better - it has a wonderful array of amenities at hand: Auckland Zoo, Motat, Chamberlain Park Golf Course and Meola Reserve and Dog Park. Major motorway improvements such as the widening of the Northwestern Motorway and the construction of the Waterview interchange and tunnels to complete the Southwestern Motorway will make it easier for residents to get around.

Ross Brader says another aspect that makes Pt Chevalier popular with house buyers is that 75 per cent of homes are marketed by negotiation or with an asking price versus 25 per cent by auction.