Riverside living has been a highlight of Chris and Amy Maclean's two years in Riverhead.
Chris takes daughter Eloise and son Edward kayaking on the Rangitopuni Stream in front of their home. They can head upstream to native bush or downstream towards the Riverhead Tavern.
Chris also paddle boards, and the family wakeboard and water-ski behind their boat further down the river.
In the summer, a favourite swimming spot is the Murray Jones Reserve across the road, where they also take Louis, the dog, for walks.
"It's a lifestyle block, but with the convenience of being urban," says Chris. "On our side of the river it's all rural zoned with urban zoning on the other, so you get the best of both worlds."
The property is now home to three generations of the Maclean family as Chris' parents live in the weatherboard GJ Gardner home they built in 2016 in the top paddock of their land that measures just shy of a hectare.
The children can walk the short distance to enjoy freshly baked muffins with those grandparents or bike to visit Amy's mum, who lives in a new subdivision nearby.
They describe their home as a modern country home. "We believe the original house was built in the 70s, with a big extension and addition of the rest of the house in 2010, which added three bedrooms, a rumpus room and the double garage," says Chris.
The exterior is weatherboard with Colorsteel roof and the interior is mainly greys and whites.
Renovations mean the dining, lounge and new kitchen area are now open plan. The big country kitchen is Amy's pride and joy with the Falcon freestanding oven, butler's sink, engineered stone benchtop, new F&P appliances, subway tiles splashback and industrial pendant lights.
There's bamboo flooring and new carpet, fireplace and heat pumps. They've painted inside and out, rewired, installed outdoor heating and roofing, added mains gas, replaced roof insulation with natural wool and added underfloor insulation.
969 Riverhead Highway. Photo / Supplied
Outside the property has new post and rail fencing and the concrete driveway is lined by mature oaks. They upgraded the water pump, connected an additional four water tanks, giving access to more than 100,000 litres of rainwater.
And for the kids, they provided a specially built trampoline area and a super-cool treehouse.
You come into the home's hallway that leads to the open-plan kitchen and downstairs living/dining/entertaining area, with access to the deck overlooking the river.
Further into the house are two double bedrooms, family bathroom, media room and laundry/toilet.
Upstairs are two more bedrooms with Juliet balconies, another bathroom, and the master suite with its high-vaulted ceilings, en suite and Juliet balcony.
969 Riverhead Highway. Photo / Supplied
Chris' parents' home also has open plan-living/dining/kitchen, master bedroom, guest room, internal access double garage and deck. Heating is a ducted heat pump system, and out the back is the vegetable and herb garden.
"My dad spent many painstaking hours perfecting the house and ensuring the things that were important to them were perfect," says Chris.
"The highlights are their full-size kitchen and the enormous deck, perfect for watching the sun going down with a gin and tonic."
Chris and Amy also enjoy entertaining at their home. "We have held many a party out here, overlooking the river," says Chris. "The great thing about being rural is that we have no close neighbours to complain about the noise. "
And the large shed has easily accommodated caravan, boat, ride-on mower and gym equipment plus a fully lined office, where Chris and his father can work from home.
969 Riverhead Highway. Photo / Supplied
Now they are selling as they have want "another project to get our teeth into".
Chris and Amy imagine their picturesque riverside property will appeal to a young family with active kids that need space to burn off energy, and in the second house possibly grandparents or older children saving for their first home.
"Or someone who wants to run a home business out of the shed and rent out the second house," says Chris.
As well as being handy to the Hallertau Brewery where they serve Chris' favourite beer, and the Riverhead Tavern, they are also close to Albany Village and Westfield, as well as the new Westgate shopping and restaurant precinct.
"Or for something a little smaller, the friendly Kumeu Village shops are just up the road," he says.
