Gulf Harbour

By CHARLOTTE COSSAR

A resort-style community, one of a kind in New Zealand and comparable with the Gold Coast of Australia, Gulf Harbour offers exceptional marine living with all the extras.

The area was known for many years as Hobbs Bay, after the family who had lived on the land since the turn of the last century. The family sold the land in the early 1970s. This marked the beginning of the Gulf Harbour development, which has a marina, residential dwellings, a golf course and an hotel.

Located part way along the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, the area is accessed by sea or by one road making it fairly secure.

Just 40 minutes north of Auckland city, the bustling seaside community with its own town centre opens to the Hauraki Gulf and has one of the largest marinas, 969 existing berths and a further 25 super yacht berths, in Australasia.

AMENITIES

As well as the marina, there is a world-class golf course with commanding views over of the Hauraki Gulf. There is also a country club, which provides all the facilities needed for golfers and their guests, including a restaurant, library, squash courts, members' lounge, swimming pool and gym, as well as golf tuition and a pro shop.

Located next to the marina, the Gulf Harbour Marine Village is the perfect place to eat and shop.

Gulf Harbour is also on the doorstep of Shakespeare Regional Park, which is a great place to blow the cobwebs away with a brisk walk.

SCHOOLS

Wentworth College is a privately funded, independent, co-educational day college which opened in February 2003. The final capacity will be about 800 students from form 1 to 7. The full senior school will be established no later than 2005.

In addition to the academic programme, Wentworth specialises in sporting academies, including golf, tennis and sailing.

HOUSES

Whether you choose to live in a villa, townhouse or condominium in one of the village neighbourhoods, you will have the choice of being on the waterway edge only steps away from your boat, or in the town overlooking the harbour and town centre.

House prices range from $360,000 up to $500,000 for a three- to four-bedroom family home. Properties with sea views range from $500,000 to $930,000, and exclusive homes may be upward of $1,000,000. Apartments at the marina will cost from $395,000 (without a berth) to between $495,000 and $865,000 (with a berth). Condominiums located within a private community style are around $300,000 and houses in a similar complex cost around $400,000. And condominiums on the golf course cost about $795,000. Duplexes are available for $300,000, and sections range from $138,000 to $1,000,000.