Hobsonville

By ROBIN WELSH

Hobsonville has traditionally been associated with the Royal New Zealand Air Force Base, which is situated at the end of the peninsula.

Beyond the base's boundaries, there are a wide range of homes that are attracting families from across Auckland.

Much of the residential development of Hobsonville has taken place within the last 10 years, supplementing a wide range of older style housing and ranging in price from $200,000 to several million dollars.

One such development is Harbour Lights Close. The 400 sq m or 500 sq m sites have attracted young buyers who cannot afford to build a home in more expensive areas.

Meanwhile, Sunrise Manor has much larger properties priced from $450,000 to $1 million.

Views to the city and the upper harbour are a large part of Hobsonville's appeal, as is the rural lifestyle.

The area's waterfront land is being marketed for as much as $4 million, with buyers coming from Auckland's affluent central and eastern suburbs.

Much of the interest in buying this exclusive property stems from speculation about the future of the Royal New Zealand Air Force land.

According to real estate agents, eager buyers anticipate being able to sub-divide their 4 ha blocks should the land be developed for residential housing.