My Auckland: St Heliers

(Anti-clockwise from above) Michael and Claire Holloway with their children, 4-year-old Hannah and 2-year-old Lucy, at Madills Farm in St Heliers; The Butlers Banquet cafe; Kohimarama beach; Distinctive Linens. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Claire and Michael Holloway tell Cate Foster why St Heliers was the place they wanted to live when they returned to Auckland after years in London.

Michael
"When I met Claire I lived in Holloway, North London, which, as anyone who has been there knows, is a rather gritty, grimy sort of place.

I tried to convince her it was part of the family estate, but she wasn't convinced. She always made it a condition that if we got serious we had to live in New Zealand, and as near to the beaches as we could. Once I had seen Auckland's Eastern Bays I didn't need much convincing.

I like all the little shopping centres along Tamaki Drive but St Heliers is my favourite. It has a real villagey feel, just like Uppingham which is the nearest little place to my home in the UK. There is a real sense of community and a good age mix.

We spend a lot of time outdoors in the weekend with the girls. You do that when you have small children I suppose, but I get a real work-out from this boot camp sort of class I've been going to at ASB Stadium at 6am twice a week. I've been going with the same group of guys now for two years. I'd never want to miss it; partly because I'd get ribbed so much, but the real reason is you feel so good after it.

Sometimes we get to have a night out and a favourite is a movie at the Berkeley or just a quiet drink in the Attic Bar in Mission Bay. We just sit there relaxing, enjoying a glass of wine and drinking up the view. A perfect place at the end of the day."

Claire
"St Heliers truly is an area that has everything, and once Hannah, who's now three, and Lucy, who's two, came along, we were so glad we lived where there is so much green space as well as a choice of lovely beaches. I often make an expedition to Madill's Farm with the girls. They let off steam there in the playground and then we walk round the corner to Butlers' Banquet in Melanesia Rd for fluffies for them and caffeine for me. There's a little parade of shops there, with a hairdresser, a fish and chip shop and a good wine store among other things.

They also enjoy going to the beach at Kohi. This is perhaps our favourite of all the local beaches because it has that lovely row of pohutukawa for shade and a gradual slope into the water. Hannah also has fun at the Eastern Suburbs Gymnastics Club in Apirana Ave and we all enjoy going to the Glen Innes Pools. They've been upgraded and are a pleasure to use.

I also feel we're fortunate in the range of shops we have nearby. We always use the Pak'n'Save at Glen Innes, but there is also Nosh, and not far away, Farro Fresh Foods in Lunn Ave. They have wonderful specials on lamb there. We're spoiled for choice with them and Nosh to choose from. But just down the road in the St Heliers shops I can never resist going into Distinctive Linens. I've got to know Liz there and she has provided so many lovely things for our home. If the girls get restless we just pop into the library on the way home. They enjoy story time and I just sit back and watch them enjoying themselves.

But my favourite amenity has to be my mum! She doesn't live far away and she's always happy to help out with the girls. They just love being with her so it works out so well all round. We're lucky to have grandparents so near."

Claire and Michael's picks

Madills Farm playground

Butlers' Banquet, 45 Melanesia Rd, Kohimarama. Ph (09) 528 1228

Attic Bar, 1/55 Tamaki Drive, Mission Bay. Ph (09) 521 0000.

Kohimarama beach

Farro Fresh Food, 80 Lunn Ave, Mt Wellington. Ph (09) 570 7071.

Hatch, Shop 22, Eastridge Mall, 215 Kepa Rd, Mission Bay. Ph (09 521 3421.

Distinctive Linen, Shop 10, St Heliers Mall, 33 St Heliers Bay Rd, St Heliers. Ph (09) 575 9592