Bucklands Beach

Surrounded on three sides by beaches and with a golf course, boat ramps and public parks, Bucklands Beach offers its residents the quintessential modern Auckland lifestyle.

This north-facing peninsula at the mouth of the Tamaki River encapsulates the best our city has to offer, including expansive sea views, recreational options and proximity to good schools and shopping. Not surprisingly, properties here are priced to match, with those in the most desirable streets reaching the multi-million-dollar bracket.

"The beaches are wonderful, the schools are all excellent and it's a nice, safe environment," enthuses Christine Fowler of Ray White, Bucklands Beach, who has lived in the suburb for years.

Strictly speaking, the area encompasses only the peninsula and Eastern Beach, although the boundaries are sometimes stretched to incorporate the nearby suburbs of Highland Park to the south and Mellons Bay to the east. But you can't fool the locals, who know the difference between the more desirable peninsula properties and the cheaper housing without sea views to the south.

Bucklands Beach is two different areas, really, says Wendy Cracroft of Bayleys Howick, who has lived on the peninsula for 17 years. "You can't create more land because you're surrounded by water. It's quite a desirable neck of the woods."

Bucklands Beach owes its name to auctioneer Alfred Buckland, who farmed the peninsula during the late 1800s. Although these days much of the suburb's charm lies in its easy access to water-based pursuits, it also has pleasant green spaces. About a third of the peninsula is occupied by the Howick Golf Club, with the Musick Point reserve at its tip.

Those who view shopping as a recreational pursuit are also well catered for, with the new Botany Town Centre only a 10-minute drive away, and the Howick Village, Highland Park and Pakuranga shopping centres all within easy driving distance.

Parts of this family suburb are serviced by Pakuranga College, while the peninsula and parts of Mellons Bay are in-zone for the well-regarded Macleans College. Check with the school before you buy because you'll pay a premium for the Macleans zone. Bucklands Beach Primary School is on the peninsula, and Macleans Primary, Pigeon Mountain Primary and Bucklands Beach Intermediate are to the south.

You'll need at least $300,000 in your pocket when you go shopping for a home here, and that'll only buy you a two-bedroom, one-bathroom townhouse or older home on a subdivided section in one of the less exclusive streets. In the top streets with harbour views, even older homes draw high prices - more often than not the purchasers plan to tear down anything more than 40 years old and rebuild in a more modern style.

What makes Bucklands Beach special?

You'd be hard-pressed to beat these panoramic views anywhere in the city. For spectacular sunsets and an ever-changing vista back towards the city, choose the western side of the peninsula. For expansive sea views and morning sun, head to the eastern coast. The area's safe beaches and network of walkways mean local residents can enjoy a holiday lifestyle all year around, without leaving home.

Watch out for ...

The 25km drive into the city can be fraught at peak times and the recent abandonment of plans for a full-scale Eastern Corridor means this is unlikely to change much in the near future. However, the regular ferry service from Half Moon Bay to the central city is a stress-free alternative and the area is well serviced by buses.

Need to know

Median 2004 house sale price - approximately $423,000

Driving time to city - off-peak: 30 minutes, peak: 45-60 minutes