KEY POINTS:
Including Hobsonville, Whenuapai and Herald Island
This is lifestyle territory and the suburbia of the upwardly mobile. Buyers upgrade from other parts of Auckland, particularly from other less affluent western suburbs.
They'll come with their water toys, mountain bikes and horseriding gear to enjoy the wealth
of recreational treats on offer. Boaties love it naturally, with the good water access and West Harbour marina.
It's popular with young families although the lack of a local secondary school dulls the attraction for those with teenage kids. The suburbs are a healthy mix of ages and ethnicities.
Asian buyers like the modern low-maintenance homes and retired rural landowners like the culture shock buffer it gives compared to inner city living.
There's a great contrast between the duplex dwellings and wire fences that define housing owned by the airforce, and the elegant, brick-and-tile executive houses of West Harbour's finest enclaves.
Just a stone's throw from airforce land, Scott Rd has some stunning water's edge properties. Whenuapai has hidden million-dollar homes with views across the upper reaches of the Waitemata Harbour.
Herald Island has rapidly lost its traditional baches to make way for new houses. For an area only developed during the past 15 years, West Harbour has already become noted for its stylish homes and gardens.
Amenities
Schooling is one of the biggest issues here - there's no local secondary school. Ex-airforce land has been bought for a state secondary, but a decision on its future is yet to be made.
Plans for a private secondary school, Sutherland College in Brighams Creek Rd are awaiting resource consent. In the meantime, older children bus to secondary schools in Takapuna, Te Atatu and Henderson and the private Kristin School in Albany. Younger children are well catered for with at least five well-respected primary schools.
Westgate is the big retail centre of choice. There are local shops in Hobsonville, Whenuapai and West Harbour, and marine-related services at the Westpark marina.
Throughout West Harbour there are playgrounds and green restful spaces, including the Luckens Reserve that meanders down to the water opposite Mariner View School. Stroll through Westpark Marina or take the coastal walkway from the marina for views.
At the Hobsonville end of Upper Harbour Dr, there's a vintage car display at the Monterey Park Motor Museum. Sports facilities include the Hobsonville Bowling Club and the Belvedere Tennis Club. There is a good choice of restaurants and cafes in the area.
Trends
A recent luxury house with sea views sold for $2.23 million but that was unusual; normally you can spend $750,000 for a near-new house and get a sea view.
The area near the top of the north-western motorway is cheaper, but if you head the other way towards Hobsonville prices can easily nudge $3 million for water's edge land along Scott Rd.
The ex-hippy hangout Herald Island has now gone well and truly upmarket. All the old cottages have disappeared and prices start at $400,000.
Best Streets
Mansion Court and Courtneys in West Harbour; Scott Rd in Hobsonville; Pohutukawa Rd and Totara Rd in Whenuapai.
