KEY POINTS:
EASTCLIFFE RD,
CASTOR BAY.
Mike and Jill Fish bought their North Shore house without even laying eyes on one of its biggest selling points.
They liked the location in peaceful Castor Bay, that it had enough space for their children and grandchildren to stay, that it was warm and fairly new.
"We didn't want to buy a house that we'd need to do up," says Jill.
"But we never saw the view until we moved in," adds Mike.
Gesturing out an upstairs window towards a storm-blurred Hauraki Gulf, he says, "It was like this - even worse. It was like pea soup."
When the sun finally came out, long after the deal was done, they realised they had views that went from the Whangaparaoa Peninsula to Bucklands Beach.
Heraldhomes, unfortunately, will have to take their word for it - all we can make out on the day we visit is a Rangitoto-shaped smudge that's the only thing separating the grey sky from the equally dreary sea.
In fact, Jill suspects that sometimes the only studying Mike does in the top-floor office is of the view towards the east. "He tells me he works."
When Mike's not "studying", the couple enjoy walking in nearby Kennedy and Centennial parks and popping down a secret walkway to Castor Bay beach - though they admit they don't go down nearly as often as they should.
The beach is, not surprisingly, a hit with the grandchildren.
Mike and Jill say they've been "really happy here" for the past six years but they're downsizing to a smaller home nearby as they no longer need so much space.
"Every bedroom here has a bathroom. We have a lounge we don't even use unless we've got a big crowd, such as at Christmas," says Mike.
"The grandchildren will have to take up less room in the new house."
The 240sq m house certainly has a lot of rooms. As well as the study, the top floor has a master bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe and en suite. There's also a north-facing terrace with a view, Jill and Mike report, out to Great Barrier Island. Through a door is another double bedroom, also with walk-in wardrobe and bathroom.
A strategically placed pair of interior shutters allows this room's inhabitants to peek out through the hallway window to the view.
The lowest level hosts a double garage, laundry, workshop and storage area, and at the entrance level is a third bedroom, the aforementioned spare lounge and the rest of the living area - the dining room, the kitchen and a lounge with a fireplace.
From here, French doors open up on to a patio and a small patch of lawn and garden.
Tucked away around the corner is Mike's summer vegetable garden, with a promising crop of tomatoes just starting to ripen. The sea roars away in the distance and the wind batters the trees in between.
Jill says it's a wonderful spot to spend a sunny day and she'll miss the easy flow from the lounge - their new place doesn't have such a smooth transition.
"We've had some great gatherings here, haven't we?" says Mike.
But Jill's not going to miss having all those bathrooms to keep clean. And Mike says he won't regret having fewer stairs.
"But I will miss the views, that's for sure."
SIZE: Land 1/2 share of 809 sq m, house 240 sq m.
PRICE: $1.39 million.
INSPECT: Sat-Sun 1.30-2.30pm.
ON THE WEB: www.bayleys.co.nz
SCHOOL ZONES: Campbells Bay School, Murrays Bay Intermediate, Westlake Boys High School, Westlake Girls High School.
CONTACT: Christine Hughes, Bayleys, ph 021 731 219.
FEATURES: A 12-year-old home set over three levels with views to Hauraki Gulf islands. Living area contains two lounges, one of which opens out on to a courtyard.
