Herald Island: Pleasing finale

8 The Terrace, Herald Island. The move from Herne Bay to Herald Island is one Gary Daverne had not expected to make.

The globetrotting composer and conductor had been looking for more than a year for a waterfront property, but not just any waterfront would do.

His favourite spot at Bland Bay was a tiring three-and-a-half-hour drive away, so Gary's search was on for flat waterfront from which he could launch his boat, north west facing and less than an hour out of Auckland. He reckons he'd forgotten all about this little pocket on the fringes of the upper Waitemata Harbour until he was out helping a friend house-hunt at Herald Island. He screeched to halt at the "For sale" sign outside the house (featured in the May 7 Heraldhomes) and immediately fell in love with the property.

"Flat waterfront land is hard to find around Auckland's cliffy bays," says Gary. "But there's something special about the mangroves and tidal harbour up this way. And I'd not realised how close to town this is."

In fact, from his Herne Bay apartment, Gary can see the tip of Herald Island, and at a mere 20 minutes away, it is an easy weekend commute in his busy schedule.

Gary is just back from conducting symphony concerts at Gallipoli and Istanbul, launching his second orchestral CD with EMI and sell-out Proms concerts with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra.

Gary jokes that with three bedrooms and a rumpus room, the house has way more space than he needs. But he suspects word will get out and his city friends will be flocking out for lazy weekends in the summer, so he may need to equip those rooms with beds after all. Already former owners Pien and John are eyeing up visits when they return from their own European travels.

"I love being able to launch my boat from my own jetty," says Gary.

He's looking forward to eventually moving out to the island to live when Auckland city life gets too frantic, but meantime relishes the easy-care section, sun and views for relaxing breaks.