SCHOOL ZONES:
Campbells Bay
School, Murrays Bay Intermediate,
Westlake Girls' High and Westlake
Boys' High.
CONTACT:
Carole Thomas, ph 486
1727 or 021 539 553, Chris Wiley 486
1727 or 021 887 066, Premium
FEATURES:
Large cliff-top mansion
with path down to semi-private beach
and riparian rights. North-facing
courtyard includes in-ground swimming
pool and large east-facing deck. The
house has uninterrupted views of
Rangitoto and the Hauraki Gulf.
Underfloor heating throughout tiled
areas of ground floor and bathrooms of
first floor. Property comes with
landscaping plans for cliff-top area.
There aren't too many properties in Auckland in which the noise of the city completely disappears, to be replaced by the sound of surf breaking on the shore. But this is one of them.
Down a long driveway off Beach Rd, it sits on the absolute cliff top - theonly things between the lawn and Rangitoto are a pohutukawa-covered cliff, with a private track down to the small beach below, and the waters of the gulf.
Sitting on the deck in the spring sunshine, looking out at the view, there is no sound of civilisation, not even a passing car, just the waves and the occasional gull.
Ask Neil and Sue what attracted them to this property when they bought five years ago and Neil responds "the privacy and quietness" while Sue chips in with "the tranquillity".
Shifting into the city from a 500ha Waipu farm was a big move, so peace and quiet were important to them. And this property has peace and quiet in spades. As Neil says, "You wouldn't believe you were in the middle of Auckland."
The tranquillity starts at the front door - you step through to a large, double-height entranceway, with a sweeping staircase on the right up to the first floor.
The soft terracotta-coloured floor tiles extend throughout the ground floor, except for in two bedrooms and the formal lounge, and sit atop underfloor heating.
To the left is the downstairs bedroom wing - perfect for teenagers, grandparents, guests, or even as a work-from-home option. As well as two large double bedrooms, which face on to the north-facing courtyard (which is sheltered on three sides), there is a third office/single bedroom, a full bathroom and toilet.
Straight ahead from the entrance is the living wing, which forms the other two sides of that courtyard. A large kitchen contains every mod con, including double Bosch ovens, steamer and dishwasher and a four-burner Smeg cooktop. It also has a spectacular view over the informal sitting area, through the French doors, over the deck and lawn, straight out to Rangitoto.
The view is shared by the open-plan dining area, large enough to take a 10-seater table, and which also opens to the deck through French doors. That flows through to the formal lounge, which includes a gas fireplace.
Upstairs, the first room is a small space that can be used as a nursery, office, or even library. Beyond that is the upstairs sitting area, with an even more spectacular view - elevation will do that - and a deck from which to enjoy it.
Off to its right is a large double bedroom, with en suite bathroom and small walk-in wardrobe, while to its left is the master suite. Here, the en suite is a full-sized bathroom, including a spa bath, the walk-in wardrobe is generous, and the bedroom itself is large enough to take the bed and a three-piece lounge suite - and still feel large and airy. Both bedrooms have views of Rangitoto.
Although everything about the house is undoubtedly top-end, it all pales in comparison to the location and what nature has to offer outside. Sue and Neil have added to what they bought - landscaping around the courtyard and the front garden.
They've even had landscaping plans drawn up for the cliff top and the pathway down to the semi-private beach (at high-tide, only they and their neighbour can access it), where Neil fishes off the rocks. His best catch was four snapper in one day.
And, he says, as I notice the spa on the corner of the deck, which also has that stunning view, "It doesn't get any better than having a wine in the spa in the evening".
It's certainly been a fabulous spot to transition from country to city living. But there's a business to be bought and funds to be raised. The view and the fishing will have to go.
