Country - Room to breathe

A couple began with a cottage and added land and buildings to create an idyllic family getaway.

60 & 62 Wairahi Rd, Langs Beach, Northland.

In recent times Langs Beach has become an increasingly popular holidaying spot for Aucklanders seeking somewhere within two hours' drive of the city.

But some people have been aware of its charms for a lot longer. After renting a place at Langs, John and Julie bought the holiday home next door when it came up for sale in 1978.

The purchase of what they call ``the cottage'' was the start of a love affair with Langs Beach that has grown over the years.

In 1985, they bought a similar bach next door at No. 62 and demolished that to make way for an architect-designed beach house that was built in 1987.

``The old place was probably built in that post-war period like the cottage next door and didn't have decent garaging, '' says John. ``It was time to put something new on the place and make better use of the section.

We knew what we wanted as a floorplan and they [the architects] put some flair into it. But it's still not a grand place; it's a beach house.''

And later they also bought the adjacent section at No. 60 ``to sort of protect what we had there''. With two homes and a grassed section, the new set-up was perfect for extended family use.

Over the years the section has served as a croquet lawn or as a site for holding social functions.

The elevated, east-facing home has views from the front deck out to the Hen and Chicken Islands framed by grand, weatherbeaten pohutukawa. The beach is a short walk away from the quiet, no-exit street.

The home itself is open plan with a dining room to the left as you come in the front door. Behind that is the kitchen which is surrounded by a counter.

On the opposite side of the ground floor is the lounge, which has an open fire and window seats with views over the water. The master bedroom has its own balcony and shares the upstairs with the second bathroom.

The double garage out the back comfortably accommodates a boat and tractor, and has a wash house and tool shed off it. The garage also has a loft which is used as a large bunkroom to accommodate guests.

John says while the grounds have been landscaped, ``it's not a heavily planted place - we've left it like a beach place''.

And without gardens to worry about that has left more time to enjoy the beach, fishing, golf at nearby Waipu, and tennis at the local courts. The cottage has been sold, and now it's the turn of the beach house and the section to be put up for sale.

John and Julie are moving on because they have bought another property in the area. With them will go the end of an era for their family.

VITAL STATISTICS

BEDROOMS: 2

BATHROOMS: 2

GARAGES: 2

SIZE: No. 62, land 809 sq m, house 120sq m (approx);
No. 60, land 1077sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: $1.25 million for No. 62; $1.05 million for section at No. 60.

INSPECT: By appointment.

ON THE WEB: www.bayleys.co.nz #311900

CONTACT: Christine Birss, Bayleys, ph 09 431 5415 bus, 027 235 4323 mob.

FEATURES : Architect-designed cedar beach house with open plan living. Double garage with laundry, tool shed and generous loft area for guests or teenagers. Adjacent large, flat section also for sale.