Crest of the good life in Dairy Flat

28 Austin Rd, Dairy Flat, Auckland. Photo / Geoff Dale

28 AUSTIN RD, DAIRY FLAT

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SIZE: Land 3.378ha, house 333sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: CV $1.45 million. Auction Feb 6, 12pm on site.

INSPECT: Saturday and Sunday 2-3pm or by appointment.

ON THE WEB: www.harcourts.co.nz/WES101012

SCHOOL ZONES: Waitoki School and Orewa College.

CONTACT: Kim Robinson, Harcourts Westgate, ph 021 998 604.

FEATURES: Four-bedroom home with rural views. Features latest plaster technology with cavity system, cedar weatherboard details, copper flashing.

When Michelle and Mike Connor were house-hunting a few years ago they narrowed the search down to somewhere within easy reach of Albany, where they both work and where the children go to school.

The house they bought really stood out.

For a start, it was near the crest of the range of low hills that bound the Kaukapakapa valley, with wide views across the rolling rural landscape.

The clincher for Michelle was the layout of the upstairs area. "It really captured me. With three children, one of them being a teenage girl, the en suite for one of the bedrooms up there kept her happy. What worked so well for all of them was the room-sized toy storage. It goes off to one side of the living space and all the toys can be just bundled away for instant tidiness.

"They all use the living space up there for TV and computer stuff and having this central area, plus the big bathroom, makes for a really family-friendly layout."

Downstairs the house is as roomy inside as it appears from the outside. A huge light-filled double-height atrium behind the imposing front doors strikes a welcoming note and, leading from this, the living areas don't disappoint either. In what is fast becoming the norm in modern houses, the kitchen, family room and formal living and dining spaces are all linked and flow effortlessly to the outdoors.

French doors lead from the family room to the sheltered spa area, while two more sets give splendid vistas of the valley below. "I've never tired of it," says Michelle. "I can be busy in the kitchen and look up and there it is. There's always lots of sky."

At the far corner on the ground floor is the master bedroom with en suite and walk-in storage.

This was another thing that had appealed to Michelle right from her first visit. "We're actually directly under the biggest of the three upstairs bedrooms here and well away from the kitchen and family room.

"We all have our own spaces to live in.

"The family room is the place where we all get together before spreading out again.

"I love the way we can lie on the bed and watch the sun set."

She also likes the mudroom-sized utility area between the garage and the house. "Living in the country you are more exposed to the elements but no matter how muddy it is outside you can get rid of gumboots and coats here. The mess never has to come inside."

Outside, more than 3ha is half native bush and half pasture. The pasture is divided into four well-fenced paddocks with water for the troughs supplied from a pond at the bottom of the hill. Despite the drought last summer the water has never run low.

Michelle and Mike have enjoyed this big comfy home but they're on the move.

"Mike is really keen to build an eco type of home. Perhaps with less land, but plenty of room inside for the five of us," says Michelle.

"Whatever happens it won't be far from here. We love the whole neighbourhood and it is so handy for all of us and only 20 minutes to work in rush hour."