Sally Johnson loves how she could hear where her son was in the neighbourhood by the laughter coming from the various swimming pools.
This part of Greenhithe is definitely the best, she reckons.
The sense of community is wonderful and her solid brick house backs on to Lucas Creek so the outlook is lovely -- and the birdlife out across the mangroves is outstanding, she says.
They get everything, from Pharrell the happy pheasant to heron, tui, kereru, fantail, pukeko, kingfishers and more.
The deck, which surrounds her swimming pool and stretches along the house, also looks out to the mangroves and the large back lawn with a peek of the sea.
The house, which gets all-day sun, is divided into living areas and has a separate wing of bedrooms and a lounge for either the teenagers or for guests.
The degree of separation is great, Sally says, because the kids can be separate but you are also able to keep an eye on them.
There is a master bedroom with en suite and walk-in wardrobe, and a huge garage with a work space underneath.
This area has a wealth of possibilities. It could be converted into more accommodation, or used as a dance studio or for pilates or yoga.
Sally has lived here for 13 years since her son was five, and they only moved from the next street.
A lot of people move from within Greenhithe because they like the area so much, she says.
Image 1 of 8: Birdlife makes all the noise around this solid home that's semi-rural but well connected. Photos / David Rowland, Getty Images
"I'm a North Shore girl from years ago and you don't hear a lot about Greenhithe but once you come here it's like a village.
"It's a real community and once you're here you realise you're really well connected."
Motorways north and west are on the doorstep, so even though you feel almost semi-rural you're close to everything.
There are lots of parks and there's the pony club.
" You can hear the birds, we're on the water and it's got a lovely community feel."
This street has a lot of reserves, which creates the privacy. The houses have big sections and everybody's living is on the opposite side, "so when you walk around this property there's never windows looking at you."
The street is a ring road so is very safe and the children all know each other, and there is plenty to keep them occupied.
"They'd go from house to house and say, 'Come on, we're going to play flashlight' or they'd make huts in the reserve."
Sally is the third owner and when she bought the house, which was built in the late 70s, it had pink venetian blinds and textured ceilings and walls.
She has done "everything" to it but says someone could take it to the next level.
Houses in the street don't often come up for sale, but her son has now moved out and she is off to Hobsonville Point.
She will miss most the lovely neighbourhood, the privacy and the birdlife, and says that with the mangroves and the creek you can't get built out in Auckland's housing rush.
"It's an easy house to live in and it's sunny, and it's a warm house, it's not cold.
