Whangaparaoa: One for the water babies

With a private jetty, riparian rights and water views in two directions, this Whangaparaoa lifestyle property is one for water-lovers. By VICKI HOLDER.

A water view is not so unusual when you live on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, north of Auckland. But this property boasts two breathtaking water views - to the Hauraki Gulf in the distance and of the picturesque Weiti River.

Nestled peacefully on a ridge among the hills, the large lifestyle property rolls down to a silvery stretch of water that snakes along the banks of the sleepy village of Stillwater.

To do justice to the magnificence of nature, the house looks out through verandas on both sides, catching all-day sun as it rises in the morning and sets above Stillwater at dusk.

Although still not quite complete, the home was inspired by the architecture of Southern California and resembles a Mexican hacienda. Solid, rustic, structural beams project from the roofline to form a canopy above terraces. Hot pink bougainvillea has already been trained through part of the overhanging roof structure to help integrate the building into the landscape.

The ambience is enhanced by landscaping with big, leafy palms, dramatic succulents, cacti and designer rocks, which hug the courtyards and sitting areas.

Adjoining the old portion of the house, which has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, the high, pitched kitchen marks the beginning of the new. The appliances include a Bosch wall oven and Fisher & Paykel DishDrawer. Its spotted gum polished flooring continues into the living areas next door through an arched doorway.

The timber floor marches through macrocarpa posts seemingly supporting a pitched macrocarpa ceiling, and a passageway bisects the two sides of this open-plan room.

A batten-and-board dado around the walls of the dining room adds a traditional note to the relaxed, contemporary setting. Meals can be passed through a jarrah-framed servery from the kitchen to the dining table.

Separating the dining area from the lounge, a blue, plastered wall injects a bold shot of colour. Both areas spill into a sunken sitting space that gazes out to the river through large, glass windows. An open Jetmaster fire against the windows is raised on a hearth that continues in benchseats and provides a repository for logs. Big palms in planter boxes on the lower level thrive in the natural light that floods in through skylights.

Glazed doors open on both sides of the room, helping to merge the interior with the surrounding landscape. At the end of the room, doors open to a sheltered, shell courtyard where palms in yellow planter boxes can be lit up at night.

There's an absence of internal doors in this home, and the living area unfolds without barriers to a private realm that includes a new guest bathroom and luxurious master suite lit by beautiful Italian copper lights.

Although the bathroom includes quality fittings, the design is simple and uncluttered. An open shower is separated from the toilet by a plastered partition wall, and a water vessel is held by a slab of rough hewn granite reaching between the walls.

Heated limestone floors continue from the guest bathroom through a foyer and into the master suite. A combination of dressing room, bathroom and large sleeping/lounging quarters, the area opens to a terrace looking out towards Stillwater.

Further down the hill, a guest cottage offers ideal self-contained living for a teenager. There's yet another original cottage adjoining the house next to the three-car garaging with a room-sized chiller for food storage at one end.

The land provides some interesting contours, from the pines on a steep hill above the house to lush grazing paddocks and a large pond filled with carp that you cross as you enter the property. It can be subdivided into various sizes depending on which plan the council is working to.

With at least 100m of riparian rights, the property comes with a private leased jetty where you can moor your boat just minutes from the Hauraki Gulf.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 50 Cedar Tce, Whangaparaoa Peninsula.

FEATURES: Subdividable property with harbour, river and rural views; riparian rights to Weiti River with private leased jetty; new house adjoins old with two sleepouts; Southern Californian-inspired home; three bedrooms; four bathrooms - master en suite with spa bath; garden landscaped with palms, succulents, cacti and native plants; Alti joinery; spotted gum polished flooring; underfloor heating to tiled areas; walk-in chiller; 35 minutes from Auckland's CBD.

SIZE: Land area 5.83ha.

TENDER: Closes 4pm, May 12.

AGENT: Les Taylor, Ray White Bogue Hibiscus Realty. Ph 09 424 8761 bus; 0275 234 210 mob.