All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Property

Found a fine feathered nest in Matakana

NZ Herald
12 Aug, 2011 05:30 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

230 Whitmore Road, Buckleton Beach, Matakana. Photo / Ted Baghurst
230 Whitmore Road, Buckleton Beach, Matakana. Photo / Ted Baghurst

230 Whitmore Road, Buckleton Beach, Matakana. Photo / Ted Baghurst

230 WHITMORE RD MATAKANA
6
4
4
SIZE: Land 5.08ha, house 493sq m (approx), cottage 96sq m (approx)
PRICE INDICATION: CV $2.7 million. Interest expected above $3 million. Tender closes September 1.
INSPECT: By appointment.
ON THE WEB: kellands.co.nz/37894
SCHOOL ZONES: Matakana School, Mahurangi College.
CONTACT: Fiona Mackenzie, ph 021 968 880, or Rob Cochrane, ph 021 955 888, Kellands.
FEATURES: A lifestyle property with broad sea and rural views and a sandy beach with riparian rights. The large main house is on three levels, with a large master suite and living area at the top, three guest rooms and a living room downstairs, and the main informal and formal living areas in between. The two-bedroom cottage has been recently renovated and has a single garage.

A tiny square of newsprint sealed the fate of Jane and Brendan Bourke. The couple were living on the North Shore and idly dreaming of semi-retirement in the country when they saw a small real estate advertisement. The text went something like this: "Country property, lovely views, beachfront, with riparian rights."

That was on a Tuesday evening, five years ago - by the end of that week the property was theirs. "It was a real spur-of-the-moment decision," says Jane.

"But it had a real 'wow' factor. It had everything we liked: we wanted some peace and quiet, we were slowing down, and we like the country life. Living in the country was something we always wanted to do but, until then, work had dictated where we lived."

On the property was a large, almost-new house and a separate cottage, with multiple options for indoor and outdoor living spaces, so their children (and, later, their grandson) could have their own space when they stayed. It had a 450m stretch of sandy beach, a heated pool, an orchard of fruit trees, an enormous vege garden and a chook house. It had the then-fledgling Matakana Village and Omaha Beach down the road, but wasn't far from the city. An orchestra of visiting native birds harmonised with the gentle soundtrack of the waves below.

All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

But it was the outlook that really sold the house. Pretty much every window - and many of them are floor-to-ceiling - frames a "spectacular" view, says Jane. The kitchen and main informal living area are surrounded by windows - as are the master suite directly above it and the three guest bedrooms directly below. To one side is the sea, with Kawau Island in the foreground and the Coromandel visible in the distance. Out front is the calm Baddeleys Beach. To the other side are rolling hills. And everywhere are mature trees, mostly natives.

The view did require a bit of work. After the couple moved in they embarked on a judicious reshuffling of foliage. The result, says Jane, was fantastic. "You get the sea on one side and this gorgeous countryside on the other. No matter where you look there's a view."

And then the rural dream promptly began. With decks on both sides of the house, Jane and Brendan can follow the sun all day - breakfast on the deck overlooking the sea, lunch in the north-facing sun room, a bit of sunbathing on the enormous deck off the master suite and an afternoon drink on the deck off the sun room. In winter they can retreat with friends to the dining room, warmed by an open fire, and in summer they have barbecues on their beach.

"There is nothing nicer than having your own nice piece of beachfront," says Jane. "We absolutely love it here."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Evidently the native birds do, too. Large kereru glide across the front of the house, from a stand of kauri to a fat puriri. In summer, moreporks snuggle together on the railings to the north, occasionally diving for puriri moths. And tui consider the property their own. A pod of whales regularly visits Buckleton Beach below. It's this wildlife and views that Jane will miss the most as she and Brendan prepare to downsize.

"There are not many properties around here that have a view like this, let alone their own beach. We're looking to move now to something smaller, but we want to stay in this location because we really love it."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Property

Property

Penthouse with mega-balcony for sale as owners quit city for life on a yacht

16 Jun 10:25 PM
Property

Mystery buyer snaps up historic convent for $275,000

16 Jun 07:38 PM
Property

'Man, it's a big drop': New CVs spark confusion as Auckland Council braces for barrage of calls

16 Jun 06:20 PM

Audi offers a sporty spin on city driving with the A3 Sportback and S3 Sportback

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Recommended for you
'Terrifying': Shoppers flee New World, Victoria Park fire; smoke seen across city
New Zealand

'Terrifying': Shoppers flee New World, Victoria Park fire; smoke seen across city

17 Jun 12:20 AM
How often you should be cleaning your toilet, according to experts
World

How often you should be cleaning your toilet, according to experts

17 Jun 12:12 AM
Australia Post unveils dedicated parcel-only offices for online shoppers
World

Australia Post unveils dedicated parcel-only offices for online shoppers

17 Jun 12:08 AM
'Posed little to no risk': Sand mining company defends operations
Northern Advocate

'Posed little to no risk': Sand mining company defends operations

17 Jun 12:04 AM
'Perfect chance': Homeowner's Matariki lightshow a new tradition for Napier
Hawkes Bay Today

'Perfect chance': Homeowner's Matariki lightshow a new tradition for Napier

17 Jun 12:02 AM

Latest from Property

Penthouse with mega-balcony for sale as owners quit city for life on a yacht

Penthouse with mega-balcony for sale as owners quit city for life on a yacht

16 Jun 10:25 PM

Couple turned dilapidated apartment into something special.

Mystery buyer snaps up historic convent for $275,000

Mystery buyer snaps up historic convent for $275,000

16 Jun 07:38 PM
'Man, it's a big drop': New CVs spark confusion as Auckland Council braces for barrage of calls

'Man, it's a big drop': New CVs spark confusion as Auckland Council braces for barrage of calls

16 Jun 06:20 PM
Premium
South Island's largest supermarket to open early and under $50m

South Island's largest supermarket to open early and under $50m

16 Jun 05:00 PM
Gold demand soars amid global turmoil
sponsored

Gold demand soars amid global turmoil

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search