The night after they first viewed the property, they didn't sleep. Within three days they bought it.
"It just all came together for us," says Cameron. "We just knew it was our house, and one way or another we were going to get it. We just loved the privacy, the space and the size - it had a wow factor. Properties like this are getting harder and harder to find."
Shortly after they took possession, their third child was born - into a family wonderland where the kids were free to safely explore, climb trees, spread out and use their imaginations.
With four north-facing bedrooms upstairs (the master with en suite) and another three downstairs, including a self-contained studio apartment, plus a rumpus room and two study nooks, the house had space for all the family and plenty of extras. Over the years they've accommodated homestay students, B&B guests and refugees from the Christchurch earthquakes, as well as friends and family.
Their daughter practically grew up in the swimming pool while their older son saw in his teenage years downstairs, where he reigned over his bedroom, a study nook and the rumpus room. Their younger son played hide and seek in the bush, jumped on the trampoline, played in the tree house and swung from the trees.
In summer, Cameron would come home from work, crack open a beer, crank up the barbie, and park up on the large sunny deck with Marie. Winters were spent around the large wood fire in the north-facing lounge. Only the odd siren would remind them that they lived in busy suburbia.
On the weekends, they transformed the "jungle" of a backyard into native gardens with roses, fruit trees and lawns that Cameron says are easy to maintain, despite the size of the property. They've also updated the house, though Cameron says it's solid and orientated for the sun so has needed little attention.
"It's built the way they used to build houses."
The family moved to Australia a few years ago to pursue a business venture, and since then relatives have been living in the house. Cameron has been commuting back and forth - staying in the self-contained flat on the lower level - but with their company taking off, they've reluctantly decided to give up their slice of paradise.
"It's time to move on," he says. "I don't really want to sell it, but it makes sense. I'll miss the quiet - you wouldn't think you were in Auckland. I love it here. It's been a darn privilege to own it. We've had a lot of fun, and it's given us a lot of good memories."
