Half Moon Bay

Including Farm Cove and Sunnyhills

Beautiful but not bland, Half Moon Bay has much to brag about - beaches, boat ramps and a marina, a large park and several great shopping centres close by. With its waterside areas and views along the Tamaki River and into the Hauraki Gulf, it typifies the modern Kiwi suburban dream.

Developed in the early 1970s, Half Moon Bay was soon joined by its neighbours Sunnyhills and Farm Cove. Unlike other newer eastern suburbs, the streetscapes are leafy and the houses fairly diverse and interesting, ranging from renovated original houses to some grand contemporary homes. The area attracts families mainly with school-age and teenage kids. Residents are very comfortable financially and own their own homes.

Once the kids have grown up, people tend to stay put, so there is a good mix of generations.

Locals are justifiably proud of the great schools at all levels.

St Kentigern College is a private school, originally only for boys but now co-ed.

There's no huge mall here, but you're never far from a shop in these suburbs - and there are the nearby shopping meccas such as Westfield at Pakuranga, The Hub or Botany Town Centre. The marina offers a surprising range of goods and services, including a pharmacy, doctor and hairdresser.

There are reserves and parks in every direction, and boat ramps at Bramley Drive Reserve in Farm Cove and at the Ara Tai Reserve in Half Moon Bay, as well as the 500-berth marina.

Sunnyhills has its own well-regarded tennis club, and there's another nearby in Pakuranga.

Lloyd Elsmore Park is an asset to all the eastern suburbs. Half Moon Bay residents wanting to dine out can catch the ferry to the CBD, or enjoy the international cuisine at neighbouring suburbs Pakuranga, Highland Park and Howick.

Trends

Half Moon Bay people love the fact that most sections in their area can't be subdivided, so the character of the place is guaranteed to remain similar. One area of major change is the former 6.5ha site of the Pakuranga Children's Health Camp, which has been subdivided into 64 sections and named Compass Point. Most of the houses have four, five or more bedrooms. Height restrictions are in force to protect the view as much as possible. An increase in interest in seaside property, and the high prices gained at Compass Point, gave Half Moon Bay a bigger boost than other areas.

Rental and investment

Rents here tend to keep pace with those in Howick and Mellons Bay.

Best streets

Takutai Avenue residences have an impressive view over Half Moon Bay and the Hauraki Gulf. In Farm Cove and Sunnyhills, desirable streets include Sanctuary Point, Bramley Drive and Fisher Parade.