Maraetai: Labour of love

This rebuilt, outstanding beach home boasts breathtaking views and exceptional living, writes VICKI HOLDER.

Stepping up the hillside across the road from Omana Beach, this imposing white home with balconies was a four-year labour of love for its owner.

Although it looks new, it involved massive renovations that required major excavation and reconstruction - a process the owner looks back on with great pride, and relief.

Such an ambitious project was expensive, back-breaking and, at times, frustrating. But the owner was meticulous about detail and everything had to be completed to the highest possible standard.

When he bought it for its peaceful location and dazzling Hauraki Gulf views, it was a typical, two-level bach surrounded by lawns. Working alongside a team of builders and engineers, the owner spent four years as a hands-on project manager, reconstructing and modernising the home to take full advantage of the property.

A spacious, new tandem garage with storage was installed underneath with undercover parking and plenty of off-street parking in the drive. A smart, self-contained, two-bedroom apartment sits off the new, tiled entry hall. This downstairs area gained a north-facing terrace from the lounge - a sheltered, sunny spot to enjoy the magnificent view. A sheer descent water feature on a wall of the terrace greets visitors coming through the electric gates. Particularly dramatic at night, a light hidden beneath the pool shines up at the waterfall that pours down in a sheet across a stainless-steel backplate.

Impressive stairs - covered in premium, plush, pile carpet - wind up to the living areas on the middle level. Every few steps, a chrome light placed low down on the wall guides you up the stairs. A stainless-steel handrail follows the line of a curved, solid wall of glass bricks. Together they form a balustrade that draws light into the stairwell. The owner is justly proud of the design, for it took 15 approaches to various contractors before he convinced somebody the design was feasible.

On the middle level a huge living area in front opens out through tall, glass doors to a large, tiled terrace that wraps around to the rear of the property. Glass balustrades give unobstructed views of the beach that stretch to Waiheke Island and as far as the Coromandel on clear days.

Those working in the kitchen can look across the curve of a granite breakfast bar and out to sea. A practical design, the kitchen features a cobalt blue splashback behind the gas hob and Smeg stainless-steel appliances. Storage is ample, but additional cupboards are contained in the generous family living area behind. A room-sized cupboard off this area was designed for linen storage, but it could easily accommodate all the family luggage and more. The owner spent many long hours digging this vast cavity out of the hill.

A tiled bathroom on the same level serves guests and the double bedroom behind the living area.

There are two more bedrooms on the next floor, while the master bedroom suite hides in a separate wing housing a large tiled en suite, walk-in wardrobe and fitted dressing room. With plenty of space for a desk and sofas, this rooftop eyrie spills out to a sunny, private balcony where the owners revel in the spectacular sunsets. A speaker phone linked to phones on the other levels via an intercom system lets you admit callers without having to scramble downstairs. A burglar alarm pad by the bed offers a feeling of safety.

Past the laundry, the back door opens to a deck where a new Sovereign hot spring spa was recently installed beneath a pergola, which is fenced to comply with the latest safety regulations.

To minimise the work in the garden the owner created a landscape that requires little maintenance. Instead of lawns in front of the house, he created a secure boat and caravan parking area, complete with power points and sewage outlet.

This grand, lock-up-and-leave home treats owners to an incredible lifestyle by the sea just 40 minutes by car to town and 30 minutes by ferry. Fishermen can surf-cast off the rocks from the beach across the road. There's a boat ramp right opposite and Omana Regional Park is a minute's walk away. It's just the place to chill out and completely wind down.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 20 Omana Esplanade, Omana, Maraetai.

FEATURES: Rebuilt, low-maintenance waterfront home; 180-degree views of Gulf Islands, Coromandel Ranges and city lights; four double bedrooms (family room currently used as fifth bedroom); income from self-contained flat with two bedrooms, bathroom and modern kitchen; decks from every level; extra-large, two-car, internal-access garage with automatic doors plus understairs storage and workshop; sheer descent waterfall; Sovereign hot spring spa under gazebo complex in rear garden; large water tanks for flat and main house; central vac system; security alarm systems; electric security gates; audio system to gate; sensored security lights on driveway and caravan/boat parking area; new UHV TV aerial, pre-wired for Sky TV.

SIZE: Land area 809sq m.

AUCTION: 7pm, July 14, Bucklands Beach Yacht Club, Ara Tai Drive, Half Moon Bay.

AGENT: Christine Fowler, Ray White Mountfort Estate, Bucklands Beach. Ph 535 8128 bus, 021 930 529 mob.