FEATURES:
Ten-year-old home in elevated position with rural outlook backed by harbour and sea views. Two living areas open to large deck looking out to harbour.
Selling up to buy a nice spread and enjoy a simple life in the country is a daydream for many Aucklanders. But for former North Shore mayor Paul Titchener and wife Prue it became a reality when they sold their Bayswater home and tootled around the country in a campervanlooking for a likely spot.
In 2003, they saw a property advertised at Tairua beach, "but we didn't want a bach place; we wanted a permanent place", says Paul, so they asked the agent what else was for sale.
That's when they were shown this Rewa Rewa Valley property, which had been built two years earlier but had lain empty for a year.
The Titcheners liked the solidity of the "Queenslander-style" home, which is Linea weatherboard on a block base with Colorsteel roofing - and the views of the harbour and the ocean from its elevated position sealed the deal.
"You can see over to Pauanui and out to the Aldermen Islands, but the beauty of it is that you get the sun all day," says Paul. Prue adds: "Every room has a view of the water except the office at the back."
Having written books on local history and boating, Paul has an office downstairs crammed with pictures and memorabilia. Next door is a large garage where he keeps a clinker-built dinghy, although he confesses he doesn't get out in it much these days.
Upstairs, the open-plan kitchen and living area and the lounge next door both have woodburners and open to the large, partially covered deck with harbour views. Prue says most meals are eaten out here while the couple enjoys the rural outlook and abundant birdlife.
"It's such a big, lovely, wide deck that at Christmas we put the tables together out there and there's plenty of room," says Prue.
Internal double doors allow the family room and lounge to be closed off if required. The kitchen, which has a breakfast bar and living area, also enjoy harbour views.
Prue has an office out the back on this main level and there is a laundry next to the back entrance, which opens out to the rear of the property, where the lawn flattens out.
Upstairs is the main bathroom, a spare double bedroom and the master with en suite.
Paul says the person who built the house had owned the land for some time and had planted the section, meaning the trees had a chance to mature. The couple has added some fruit trees and "tried to make it into an easy-care garden".
The Titcheners have enjoyed being part of the "very active Tairua community", and Paul has served as president of the local rugby club as well as starting up an oral history group. But in one of those ironies that life throws up, the Titcheners are returning to Auckland.
"When we bought the house eight years ago we didn't have any grandchildren; now we have seven," laughs Paul. "So we need to be closer to family."
