Devonport

Residents of North Shore suburb Devonport don't mind being out on a limb. In fact, they revel in the fact that they live at the tip of a peninsula surrounded on three sides by the sparkling waters of the Waitemata. It means they have great beaches, wonderful views of Rangitoto or back to the city, and a pleasant degree of seclusion from the stresses of city life.

"It's a destination rather than a thoroughfare," says Lance Richardson of Ray White. "People only come here if they live here or to visit friends or just to enjoy the place. It really is a holiday in Auckland."

According to Joe Martin of Devonport Realty, people tend to fall in love with Devonport and stay. About 70 per cent of his sales are to those moving within the area, while a large percentage of the rest are to English or American families, or retirees or New Zealanders returning home after their OE.

Lance Richardson has lived in Devonport for almost 13 years but says he is still considered a newcomer by a lot of Devonportians. He describes it as very much a family area with a strong sense of community and great schools. "It's a very safe place, relatively speaking, and it still has a villagey feel."

The wider Devonport area, which takes in Cheltenham, Narrowneck, Stanley Bay, Bayswater and Belmont, offers an abundance of facilities, including spacious green zones on Mt Victoria and North Head (complete with tunnels to explore). There's also a plethora of cafes, shops and art galleries, a movie theatre, a golf course, cricket and rugby fields, monthly craft markets and annual food and wine and arts festivals.

Not surprisingly, a wide variety of people find this combination enticing, and Richardson lists actors and film people, lawyers and those from the computer and technology industry among the suburb's residents. Many naval personnel have also chosen to live near to the naval base at North Head.

Richardson says there is some state housing randomly scattered throughout wider Devonport, "but there are no real icky bits".

The area's popularity means you'd be hard-pressed to find a home in central Devonport for under half a million dollars. For $650,000 you could buy yourself a three-bedroom villa or bungalow on an average-size section, but many properties far exceed the $1 million mark.

What makes Devonport special?

Location, location, location. Close enough to the city to feel part of the action, yet far enough away to retain a distinct identity, Devonport offers its residents the best of both worlds. The heritage flavour of the area is guarded by stringent local body regulations protecting buildings constructed prior to 1930.

Watch out for ...

The very geography that makes living in Devonport such a delight also makes getting out of the place a struggle. There's only one main road in and out, Lake Rd, and it's notoriously slow at rush hour. If you're working in town your best option is to take the ferry across the harbour to Downtown. If you're planning to buy and renovate, check with the local council that your plans don't contravene the zoning restrictions.

Need to know

Median 2004 sale price: Approximately $613,000

Driving time to city: Off-peak 15-20 minutes, peak 30-40 minutes