SCHOOL ZONES:
Kohimarama School, St Ignatius School and Glendowie College.
CONTACT:
Ferne Butler, Ray White, 021 652 139.
Chris and Estelle Tant are keen cyclists. As well as regular cycling and adventure holidays, most weekends they bike from their home in Allum St, Kohimarama, to Titirangi's Scenic Drive. These rides almost always include Tamaki Drive, says Chris. After all, it makes sense to pedal along one of Auckland'smost scenic cycling routes, so close to their home. "This is a great area if you're active," says Estelle. "There is so much to do, not just the cycling, but walking, too."
Often Chris will walk his kayak on its wheeled base down to nearby Kohimarama Beach and head out on the water to Rangitoto and Browns Island.
When the couple, formerly from Orakei, moved in with their toddler son Alex, Estelle was pregnant with Jeremy, who has just celebrated his 21st birthday. Recalling the original 1950s weatherboard home, Estelle says, "It was a basic little place when we bought it".
The sloping rear garden was not more than a patio and a "jungle" of planting. Wanting to make the most of their new family home, they renovated soon after moving in to a design by Paul Macintosh, now director of Macintosh Harris Design. They added a new master bedroom wing and a tiled extension to the living area, with French doors that open on to a balcony.
Outside, they added a resort-style garden oasis with extensive split-level decking and a heated pool, which has harbour views. Surrounded by hibiscus flowers and a water feature, it's a private haven and ideal teen hang-out. "Sometimes at Christmas we'll put a volleyball net up and play water polo," Chris says.
The garden has been a team effort, although Chris jokes he "plants and walks away". Estelle is the "weeder and feeder". The couple's hard work has paid off. A dragon palm Chris planted all those years ago is now robust and mature. A tiny bangalow palm with a single leaf is now statuesque. Because the garden is so sheltered, there's even a true tropical plant in the mix, a Queensland golden cane.
The Tants love al fresco entertaining and their garden is perfect for it. A copper gas flare shoots flames at night. "It looks impressive when we're having drinks or a barbecue," Chris says.
Image 1 of 10: This private haven is an ideal family home and perfect for hanging out. Photos / Fiona Goodall, Getty Images
There's plenty of room for entertaining inside, too. An open fireplace, under-tile heating and heat pumps keep the house cosy in winter. There have been more recent renovations, ones which enhance the original matai flooring. The granite kitchen and laundry were installed a decade ago. More recently, the house has been repainted and the bathrooms were updated 12 months ago.
The house has been ideal for family life. It's close to good schools, and before the neighbours' trees grew, Estelle used to be able to see over to Madills Farm Reserve where the boys played soccer. "If it was raining I could just look to check whether the game had been cancelled." Chris and Estelle's master suite has been a quiet retreat, but the remaining four bedrooms have served several purposes as the boys grew -- bedrooms, TV rooms, guest rooms and studies. There's plenty of storage throughout the house, including a double, internal-access garage and a room to the side that is perfect for gym equipment, bikes and kayaks.
But now, with Alex flatting and Jeremy doing his basic training with the navy, Chris and Estelle are empty-nesters with no need for such a big home.
"We keep teasing Jeremy that we'll change the code on the keypad entry to the front door," jokes Chris. Wherever they live -- which they hope will be nearby as they love this area so much -- cycling will still be part of the mix.
