Remuera: Positive outlook

The call of the sea has convinced a keen fisherman and his wife to sell a home with stunning views, writes Lucy Richmond.

37 Seaview Road, Remuera.

A longing to be closer to the water has led fishing fanatic Warwick Hunt and his wife Maria to sell their Remuera home.

To give up the jaw-dropping views from their elevated property, that desire must be a strong one. The whole house is designed around the vista, which almost has the composition of a picture. Bush sits to the left, while the garden falls away into the valley, which is dotted with the houses on nearby Hapua Street and Arney Road. In the distance is Hobson Bay and the harbour topped with a perfectly framed view of Rangitoto Island.

Even Warwick admits that he'll be shedding a tear when the time comes to hand over the keys.

Pointing to a pile of fishing gear in the garage, he says: "Fishing is the reason I came to New Zealand from South Africa - it's the best in the world here. The views from this place are going to be hard to leave behind, but the new house has water access, which is my dream."

Maria's favourite spot in her home is a little sunroom that's tacked onto the lounge.

"I sit here in the morning and watch the sun come up," she says. "I love that stage when the sky goes that lovely pinky orange - it's quite magical."

The couple and their daughters - Ashleigh, 12, and 10-year-old Saxon - moved to number 37 in 1999 from their home in St Heliers to be closer to the girls' school. In a secluded spot down a long driveway, all they know of the property's history is that it was one of the first homes to be built in the valley, in 1919, and it has been renovated twice - in 1958 and again in 1989.

Says Maria: "All we have done is finish off the flat in the basement, which had been started when we came. None of the walls were Gibbed or anything."

With two bedrooms, a kitchen and shower room, this is where family members visiting from overseas stay, sharing the space with a temperature-controlled, 600-bottle wine cellar.

"We had Warwick's 18-year-old nephew staying in the flat for a while, but we made sure we held onto the key to the cellar," laughs Maria.

The family kitchen is an area the new owner might want to modernise, says Warwick. It's perfectly adequate and it has Gaggenau appliances, but it was put in 15 years ago so has seen a bit of service.

Out to the deck area, and more of that view, and images of the home's big-time party potential begin to flash through the mind. And that's before Warwick mentions anything about the times he and his friends have launched themselves off the wall into the pool below - at 10pm after a few wines.

The garden works its way down to the boundary in neat terraces. "There's my favourite tree down there," says Warwick, pointing to a good-sized protea. "It was tiny when we moved in and now look at it. They grow so much better here than they do in South Africa." He'll be planting another one at his new place, he says.

The traditional-style interior is a mix of large formal rooms and cosy spaces. The grown-ups have their retreat in a little area off the impressive dining room, which has the biggest window in the house and a deck to make the most of those views. The girls have their den off the family dining area.

Upstairs, Maria and Warwick have set up their treadmill in the master bedroom so that they can appreciate a snapshot of Rangitoto during their workouts. "Well, if it was in the garage we'd never use it," says Maria. Their room also has a walk-through wardrobe and en suite.

Along with the girls' rooms and the family bathroom, Warwick also has his study up here.

Vital Statistics

SIZE: Land 1604sq m. House 464 sq m incl garage (approx).

PRICE INDICATION: $2-3 million.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 1-1.45pm.

CONTACT: Marnie Adams, Bayleys, ph 309 6020 bus, 021 867 750 mob.

FEATURES: Large, traditional family home in secluded setting with views, central heating, swimming pool, spa pool, great outdoor entertaining spaces, double garage with workshop and self-contained, two-bedroom flat with temperature-controlled wine cellar.