Fancy jumping into the sea for a swim at the bottom of your own property? Charles and Jin MacCulloch's home has a gate at the bottom of the back yard leading down to platforms so they can do just that — or launch a kayak.
The couple have been wrestling with exactly why they have decided to move, given their perfect location looking across the water to Hobsonville Point.
They moved in 15 years ago, though this wasn't the house they were originally looking at.
That one, down the road, was going to auction and they wanted to live in Herald Island (connected to the mainland by a causeway) so much they sold their house overnight — but then the auction was cancelled.
They had both visited Herald Island before and wanted to live there. This house had the open space they were looking for — and the sea views.
"It probably made a much bigger impact because we knew what we'd deprived ourselves of for the previous three years," says Charles. "It just ticked the box."
It was a huge relief to buy the house, because not many homes come on the market in this area, says Jin. They can look across to Hobsonville and like the view because it is an active one but not intrusive. "There's always something going on," they say.
Charles has a dinghy and takes the couple's twin children out fishing— and sometimes dolphins come into the area.
The backyard also has a sleepout which Jin, who is a potter, has used for her studio but which could be used as a bedroom.
They love the community feel of the area and the fact they are near the shops and cafes at Hobsonville, Whenuapai and Westgate, plus the central city is only 20 minutes away.
They have bought a house in Milford which they intended to rent out, but as they have friends there and the house is close to a primary school, they have made the tough decision to move.
