NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Property

Barriers on the horizon? No sweat in Leigh

By Leigh Bramwell
NZ Herald·
6 Jan, 2012 04:30 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

44 Barrier View Rd, Leigh. Photo / Supplied

44 Barrier View Rd, Leigh. Photo / Supplied

44 BARRIER VIEW RD, LEIGH
4
2
2
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.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

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.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"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.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

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.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Property

Property

Out-of-town buyers hot for deceased estate with $235,000 price tag

13 Jul 01:02 AM
Premium
Property

'Family endured difficult tenancy': Rental managers fined $9700

12 Jul 09:00 PM
Property

99% of people couldn't afford this: Massive South Island stations aim for $140m

12 Jul 07:33 PM

Audi offers a sporty spin on city driving with the A3 Sportback and S3 Sportback

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Property

Out-of-town buyers hot for deceased estate with $235,000 price tag

Out-of-town buyers hot for deceased estate with $235,000 price tag

13 Jul 01:02 AM

Investors flocking to West Coast for cheap homes.

Premium
'Family endured difficult tenancy': Rental managers fined $9700

'Family endured difficult tenancy': Rental managers fined $9700

12 Jul 09:00 PM
99% of people couldn't afford this: Massive South Island stations aim for $140m

99% of people couldn't afford this: Massive South Island stations aim for $140m

12 Jul 07:33 PM
Rotorua Barn house has shrine to Harry Potter under the stairs

Rotorua Barn house has shrine to Harry Potter under the stairs

12 Jul 07:10 PM
Gold demand soars amid global turmoil
sponsored

Gold demand soars amid global turmoil

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP