189 Takahoa Drive, Takahoa Bay Estate, Kaiwaka. Photo / Supplied
On the third day of owning this holiday home at Takahoa Bay Estate near Kaiwaka, Carlton and Susan Morris, installed a wood burner.
"We bought it in July six years ago, it was winter and pretty cold," says Carlton.
"When I put the wood burner in, it made it a different place. It was warm, inviting, cosy and it was a place I wanted to be."
At weekends, the couple would make the 75-minute trip from Takapuna to the estate, regardless of the weather.
"We only stopped coming as often last year due to commitments in Auckland," he says.
"We have it set up as a second home. We turn the key and everything is ready to go. We leave here Sunday night, back on Friday.
The Morrises, originally from England, had been looking for sections when an online search threw up this home.
"We asked the agent how long it would take to get here, and we jumped in the car and came up to look at the house," says Carlton.
"We were sold on the view, the position and how solid the house was. Everyone was saying how good Lockwood homes are, that they are bombproof. And it is a safe place."
The home is part of Takahoa Bay Estate which encompasses 209ha on the Kaipara Harbour coastline with bush, a fresh water lake, and farmland. Residents have use of a tennis court, all-tide boat ramp, picnic tables, barbecue, walking tracks, olive grove and working farm.
"There are 50 lots, which means we own 2 per cent of the whole estate," says Carlton. "The resident farmer keeps the place immaculate. The minute you drive through the gates it is a pleasure to be here.
"There are about 15 permanent residents, and a couple of new builds on the way. The others are holiday makers."
The couple have extended the home and it now has 200sq m of radiata decks.
"When we bought it, it had only the top part of the Lockwood, built around 2004 or 2005.
We have converted the ground floor garage into a 70sq m rumpus room and built a separate one-bedroom unit with a kitchen, a lounge and a bathroom.
"We have put an outdoor kitchen in, a woodshed, a separate 60sq m garage.
"I have also put a pathway between the levels and out to the woodshed so that in winter you don't have to have to get your shoes dirty."
The home's exterior is powder-coated aluminium cladding in silver pearl. The roof is new denim Colorsteel, and, inside, it has the signature Lockwood warm timber walls and high ceilings.
The main home is upstairs, with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, two lounges and kitchen. Two of the bedrooms and the lounges open to the upstairs deck.
Downstairs, the rumpus room and one-bedroom unit with kitchenette and bathroom downstairs, also opens to a large deck. As well as the 1.2ha of lawn, they have a small garden and citrus trees.
And every time Carlton and Susan come here, they enjoy the harbour views over the Kaipara and amazing sunsets.
"We have a series of sunset pictures on our phones ... all different colours, it's incredibly pretty," says Carlton.
On their weekends here, the couple play tennis court, go fishing - "we go out in the boat and we have caught some big snapper off the beach too".
"We have a wine and a chit chat with some of the neighbours. We go out to the wineries, or Mangawhai to the Saturday market or often to events at the domain in Mangawhai.
"And there are four nature reserve walks on our subdivision."
The Morrises are selling because they have bought an apartment on Australia's Sunshine Coast.
"This home would be perfect for a couple who want a semi-retired existence and do a
bit of Airbnb with the bottom apartment; or it would be perfect for a family or extended family," says Carlton.
Be prepared to go remote and get creative.