Hobsonville: Tropical hideaway

Who needs a vacation when you're nestled among lush plantings, have a sunny pool area and water views.

4 Courtneys, Hobsonville.

Mimi Lloyd never felt the need to book a tropical holiday when she lived in this West Harbour house.

With its lush tropical landscaping, sunny pool area and water views, it felt like she and husband Bill were in a resort all the time.

``There really is the sense of being on a self-contained island in this part of town and the house feels like a hotel,'' says Mimi.

But not a big, impersonal hotel - more of a stylish, boutique lodging. Although the house is large and elegant, it doesn't feel opulent or over-the-top.

``What I liked about this place when I first saw it was the fact that it was modern but not cold and unwelcoming. Yes, it's big and has some lovely features but it doesn't feel overwhelming. It's very comfortable and calming.''

The Meditteranean-style house was built in 1996 by a builder for his family and he spared no expense when it came to creating a first-class home.

When the Lloyds first saw it back in 2003 they were impressed by the quality of the fixtures and fittings and the thoughtful touches, like the underfloor heating, wine cellar under the stairs and curved walls of glass in the lounge and master bedroom.

The fact that the rooms are all large and there's abundant storage added to the appeal but it was the outdoors areas, with their mix of palms, agaves, grasses, bay and olive trees and bromeliads that really won Mimi over. ``Whoever did the landscaping was obviously a professional - they did a fantastic job.''

The entrance to the house is stunning: the double-height foyer features a grand curved staircase with a gallery that looks down over the ceramic-tiled floor.

The huge living/dining area is off the foyer, and leads to the designer kitchen and informal dining. Also off the foyer, with access to the kitchen, is another living area the Lloyds converted to a home theatre, complete with projector.

Also on the ground floor is the double garage, large bathroom, laundry and a room that could be either a bedroom or an office.

Doors open out from the home theatre and informal dining room to the very private garden, with its tiled patio, heated swimming pool and spa.

Upstairs, the master bedroom is huge, and has a walk-through dressing room and fully tiled en suite. There are four other bedrooms up here, and another large tiled bathroom.

The Lloyds loved the location of the house in Courtneys, an exclusive little enclave near Westpark Marina. Bill owns yacht-building company Sovereign Yachts which is nearby and it's just a 20-minute journey into town at off-peak times.

But last year the couple, who have a newfound passion for race horses, bought a home and land south of Auckland where they can keep horses. Their son and daughter-in-law have been living in the house but are about to go off travelling, so the home is on the market.

``It's a very easy place to live in,'' says Mimi. ``I think it's got a really nice feeling - to me it's always been a home, not just a house.''

VITAL STATISTICS

BEDROOMS: 6

BATHROOMS: 3

GARAGES: 2

SIZE: Land 720sq m, house 422sq m.

PRICE: CV (2005) $1.1m. Auction July 12.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 1-2pm.

ON THE WEB: www.bayleys.co.nz/171990.

CONTACT: Shona Jurlina, Bayleys, ph 417 0017 or 0275 997 022.

FEATURES: Luxury Mediterranean-style home with heated swimming pool and spa, tropical landscaping and home theatre.