Matakana: Sit bach and relax

A managed waterfront resort allows you to enjoy your bach without worrying about upkeep, or finding tenants.

Riverside Estate, 170 Green Road, Sandspit, Matakana.

All too often the family bach is an expensive luxury. Used for only a few weeks of the year, the rest of the time it offers mute reproach at its neglect, or ties up all the spare cash that could be spent doing other things.

But at the Riverside Estate, a new development of 17 houses about to be built waterside on a finger of the Matakana River near Warkworth, it can be different. Instead of spending all your hard-earned leisure time doing the lawns, at this managed resort all you will have to do is kick back and have your idea of fun.

This could be as peaceful as lying on the deck and looking at the views that go on forever. For those who fancy more physical activities, there are three nearby golf courses, and every boatie activity can be accessed from the private dock and pontoon on the site. For those that don't want to cook, there are fine restaurants and cafes within a few minutes' drive.

The Saturday Farmers Market at Matakana with its live jazz band and locally grown produce is a fine way to spend a morning.

Not only will bach owners have no maintenance worries, but they will also receive income from letting their bach when they don't need it - all organised by an on-site manager. The professionally managed vines and olive groves will be another source of income, although bach owners have first option to buy the crop for their own use. Whenever they want to use their bach it will be available to them and they can store, launch and retrieve their boat without having to tow it for miles as impatient traffic fumes behind.

Stylistically, these houses have their roots in the ground-breaking work of 50 years ago by the Group Architects. They have simple mono pitched roofs and ply cladding inside and out, and, like early Group houses, they reject suburban conventions in favour of a vigorous interaction with the environment.

Although this heritage is acknowledged by their architect, John Sinclair of award-winning practice Architectus, they are intellectually and aesthetically an extension of the Group's ideas.

Internal walls fold ingeniously in a variety of configurations to fit the needs of all users, decks on different sides allow outdoor use no matter the wind direction, and the highest quality materials and building techniques have been used.

Environmentally sustainable materials and techniques are employed to keep running costs to a minimum and to minimise the impact of the development on its pristine surroundings.

The bachs come complete with furniture, artwork and every chattel required for comfortable living and will celebrate the best of local and overseas design.

The extensive grounds are being landscape designed by Dennis Scott and will provide walkways to link all parts of the property, including a swimming pool and petanque courts.

Plantings that encourage bird life are already in the ground, and work to restore and improve existing ponds and water courses is in hand.

Five bachs are already sold and interest is running high in the remainder. Five more of these will be offered at an introductory price $100K cheaper than the rest. For those who want a hassle free holiday home and an investment, this is definitely worth a look.

Vital Statistics

BEDROOMS: 2

BATHROOMS: 2

GARAGE: 1

SIZE: Land 14.948ha, bach 111.5sq m.

PRICE: $650K for the next 5 sold, $750K thereafter.

INSPECT: By appointment.

CONTACT: Bruce Waterman or Michael Jesson, Barfoot & Thompson, ph 09 358 0989, Bruce ph 021 320 490, Michael 021 952 811.

FEATURES: Self-contained holiday resort with 17 holiday houses, each with state of the art design and finish by an award winning architectural practice, in a waterside setting 45 minutes north of Auckland.