Fancy jumping into the sea for a swim at the bottom of your own property? Charles and Jin MacCulloch's home has a gate at the bottom of the back yard leading down to platforms so they can do just that — or launch a kayak.
The couple have been
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79 Ferry Parade, Herald Island, Auckland. Photo / Fiona Goodall / Getty Images
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"I was horrified," Jin says. "We lost our home instantly. Basically, we just had no home. We had to rent for three months."
This house was on the market, too, but they hadn't looked at it because they didn't think it would be in their price range.
But when the other house fell through they came, were smitten and found they were able to buy it.
Says Jin: "As soon as I stepped in this house I said to Charles 'Okay, I'm not moving anywhere, I'm never going to leave here'."
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Before buying they had rented their Hillcrest home out for three years when they went to Korea, where Jin is from.
In Seoul they experienced high density living, on the tenth floor of a 25-storey apartment block amid 500 apartment blocks.
By the time they left they were craving scenery and sea.
They had both visited Herald Island before and wanted to live there. This house had the open space they were looking for — and the sea views.
"It probably made a much bigger impact because we knew what we'd deprived ourselves of for the previous three years," says Charles. "It just ticked the box."
It was a huge relief to buy the house, because not many homes come on the market in this area, says Jin. They can look across to Hobsonville and like the view because it is an active one but not intrusive. "There's always something going on," they say.
Charles has a dinghy and takes the couple's twin children out fishing— and sometimes dolphins come into the area.
All the bedrooms look out to sea — "it's a lovely place to wake up to," says Charles.
There is a large, open kitchen, dining and lounge area with a second lounge next door.
The master bedroom upstairs has an en suite, a spacious wardrobe area and a balcony from which you can watch the kingfishers and herons.
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The deck, fenced backyard and the view is one way and there is a patio and garden area on the road side.
The backyard also has a sleepout which Jin, who is a potter, has used for her studio but which could be used as a bedroom.
They love the community feel of the area and the fact they are near the shops and cafes at Hobsonville, Whenuapai and Westgate, plus the central city is only 20 minutes away.
They have bought a house in Milford which they intended to rent out, but as they have friends there and the house is close to a primary school, they have made the tough decision to move.