Barriers on the horizon? No sweat in Leigh

44 Barrier View Rd, Leigh. Photo / Supplied

44 BARRIER VIEW RD, LEIGH

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SIZE: Land 1778sq m, house approx 140sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: $1.28 million upwards.

INSPECTION: Sunday 1-2pm or by appointment.

ON THE WEB: ljhooker.co.nz/CZHAY or premium.co.nz/TAK8294

SCHOOL ZONES: Leigh School, Mahurangi College.

CONTACT: Marie-Dominique Lennan, LJ Hooker Warkworth, ph (09) 425 8589 or 021 490 039 or John Angus, Premium, ph (09) 422 9347 or 021 344 125.

FEATURES: Cedar-clad seaside house with unobstructed views to Great and Little Barrier islands and beyond. Open the gate at the bottom of the lawn and low-maintenance garden and walk on to the waterfront reserve, fish off the rocks or swim or kayak from the cove.

Fairies at the bottom of the garden are one thing, but most of us would gladly swap them for a garden gate that opens to a waterfront reserve where you can swim, fish off the rocks or launch a kayak.

And that was the main attraction for Marie Duncan and Rae Varcoe when they found their Leigh house.

"We were trying to find a tiny bach with sea views but once we saw this place, the tiny bach didn't get a look-in," Marie says. "You walk into this house and the sea is all right there in front of you."

The views are to Great and Little Barrier islands and beyond, and they open up as soon as you come down the drive to the cedar-clad house. Frequently, orca and dolphins are part of the view.

Large expanses of glass, broad decks and sea views lend a whole new meaning to the expression "indoor-outdoor flow" - even the three double bedrooms have their own decks and sea views. The fourth bedroom, designed to appeal to kids, has built-in bunks.

The house was built in the 1980s and the design and craftsmanship have stood the test of time. The building hugs the contour of the land and both the design and the materials allow it to fit inobtrusively into its coastal environment.

It was seven years ago that Marie and Rae started looking for a holiday home close to Matheson Bay. They love the coastal lifestyle and enjoy their swimming, fishing, walking and kayaking, so proximity to the area was essential. They're just a mile from the Bay, and there's also Goat Island for snorkelling, and Patiki Beach to the north.

Although the coastal environment was the main attraction, the house itself was also perfect for them. Marie describes it as both elegant and casual, and it's ideally set up for entertaining. The living area opens on to decks in three places, and the kitchen is just what the keen cooks wanted. "It's an excellent design, it gets great views, and it's connected to the area where we gather.

"This is a lovely place to be with friends."

For those who stay longer than just an afternoon or evening, there's a guest area which is up a few stairs from the main level and virtually self-contained.

Marie and Rae are art enthusiasts so the light interior of the house provides an excellent backdrop for artworks.

And nearby Matakana is a happy hunting ground with its artistic community and galleries.

They frequently patronise the three theatres, which offer the type of movies they enjoy, and being keen readers, have great praise for the library service to Warkworth.

Marie and Rae are also very attached to the Sawmill Cafe - particularly Rae, who is a woodworker.

The pair are also keen gardeners and while the landscaping was all in place, they've extended some of the flat areas around the house and continued planting in a sub-tropical theme.

With more than 1700sq m of space, there's plenty of room to wander in privacy around the lawns and borders.

Now, however, they're going to exchange the sea for the mountains and return to the South Island.

Rae is originally from Dunedin and she's keen to get back in touch with the mountainous southern landscape.

The drawcard for Marie , who came from Wellington, is that she has grandchildren there, and the commute will be easier from Nelson, where they plan to live.