Offering the best of both worlds, No44 The Crescent is close enough to popular Langs Beach that the Everett family can be swimming after a three-minute car trip or a 15-minute walk. They also can retreat to their 4.73ha block when they feel like privacy.
Royce and Jenni Everett andchildren Brendan and Kristin bought this kauri home about 10 years ago. That was right at the beginning of Langs Beach Estate being opened into 10-acre blocks, and their home had been the original farmhouse.
The bonus of that, says Royce, is the home's original owner "had the pick of everywhere and chose this spot because it looks down to the cove. You can see the boats being launched and you can still hear the sound of the sea. And the native bush is established with lots of totara, nikau with wood pigeons and tui. I am also pretty sure I have heard kiwi."
Royce and Jenni, who are based at Whitford, had started looking for a beachfront holiday home at Langs Beach, but couldn't find what they wanted. They were used to space and wanted distance from neighbours.
This home, which Royce describes as quirky colonial, fitted the bill. At that stage other homes had not yet been built on the new estate.
"We liked that it was isolated, away from the main beach. We live rural so we like living in our own little plot; and the height because it is high and has extensive views over the Hen and Chickens. Everyone who comes, they can't stop looking at it. It is kind of intriguing.
"This place takes you into another world because you are so far away from everything, and up in the sky. The clouds roll through here. It is high. People come here and they seem to get into a different headspace, it is quite spiritual in a way.
"On a clear day it is spectacular and you can see through to Whangarei Heads and the Poor Knights."
In the decade the family has come here they have added a large deck from the main lounge and repainted.
Image 1 of 6: Retreat far from the madding crowd and enjoy a view so glorious it silences visitors
"Titivated it up a little bit," says Royce. "We go fishing, we socialise and we relax up by the bush. Every year about three or four families come up and spend New Year's Eve with us and stay for a week or so. Our garage has accommodation as well so there is lots of sleeping room. We have six bedrooms on the property."
The house is built on three levels. The concrete floored basement has a table tennis table. The next level up has the main living area with two lounges, the kitchen, dining and laundry. A wood burner heats the entire home easily. The lounge and kitchen open to the large deck.
"If we had stayed here we had planned to put in a new kitchen against that deck, which would make it even more usable."
On the upper level are the bedrooms: master plus three more and a bathroom.
The master bedroom had been an artist's studio. "We have converted this into the master bedroom because this is the room with the most spectacular views," says Royce.
Royce understands the house was built from kauri timber milled on site. "It is a neat place, it has wooden floors I believe from there, so the bones of the house are from the whole site."
They also appreciate how each home on the estate has a lockable boat shed, and residents share the recreational area, including the tennis court, smokehouse and barbecue area 500m from the beach.
"We have an 8m inflatable in the boat shed and a tractor. It is only about five minutes to the beach and it would be one of the best boat launching beaches in the country. We have fabulous fishing. We catch mainly snapper."
Royce imagines their special place appealing to like-minded people: "Someone who wants to get away from everybody but still be close enough to utilise a beautiful beach. We like being able to spend a couple of hours at the beach and then we scarper up to our piece of paradise."
