Eastern Bays - An exclusive extract

Including Mission Bay, Kohimarama, St Heliers, Orakei and Glendowie

The Eastern Bays reflect all that is aspirational about Auckland: history, a sense of grandeur and an interesting demographic range.
Living in the Eastern Bays carries unequivocal status, and it's all about lifestyle.

The harbour views, the white sand beaches, the leafy bays offering delightful strolling - even the drive to work in the city alongside the picturesque harbour is a pleasure.

The area is becoming even easier on the eye thanks to power and phone lines vanishing underground, and sand at the beaches being topped up.

Kohimarama attracts both families and retired people - locals enjoy being able to walk to the waterfront, with superlative views of Rangitoto Island. Mission Bay and Orakei are the locations to be seen in, and many choose to purchase here for that reason alone.

The bays have every type of dwelling from the opulent mansions of Orakei's Paritai Dr to pockets of humble state housing. Apartments are multiplying as developers pounce upon the remaining seafront sections.

Amenities
Local schooling is high quality, with many sought-after primary and intermediate schools. The predominantly high decile area has at least nine primary schools with most including intermediate years although some families prefer to send their children to Remuera or Meadowbank intermediate schools.

Co-educational Selwyn College, Glendowie College and Catholic boys school Sacred Heart are the local secondary schools. Many students also attend private schools in Epsom and elsewhere.

Shopping facilities are spread throughout, with a village atmosphere at St Heliers and a preponderance of eateries at Mission Bay. There's limited grocery shopping locally although the Eastridge shopping centre at the back of Kohimarama, and Meadowbank Foodtown are reasonably close.

All the bays are tidal but suitable for swimming.

The reserve bordering Mission Bay is well frequented by picnickers, walkers and sunbathers. The Glendowie sandspit and Tahuna Torea bird sanctuary have fabulous walks.

And then there's the harbourside Tamaki Dr for walking, running, cycling, roller-blading or stroller-pushing.

There are numerous green areas including Orakei Domain, the quaint Dingle Dell, Glover Park, Madills Farm, Kepa Bush Park, family friendly Churchill Park and many smaller reserves.

Local icons such as Tamaki Yacht Club, Kohi Yacht Club and Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World are well patronised. Mission Bay is virtually all restaurants and cafes, whereas St Heliers has a wider range of shops.

Trends
While the sky-rocketing prices of a couple of years ago have gone, quality homes on good sections still sell for top dollar.

Apartments are now spread across Orakei, Mission Bay, Kohimarama and St Heliers.

Most of the dwellings along Tamaki Dr are apartment blocks with older two-bedroom apartments starting at $500,000 and new luxury apartments selling for between $1.75 million and $3 million.

Best streets
Paritai Dr in Orakei, Cliff Rd and Springcombe Rd in St Heliers and The Rise and Riddell Rd in Glendowie.