Howick - an exclusive extract

Including Mellons Bay, Cockle Bay and Shelly Park.

Now a leafy, affluent seaside area, Howick was settled in the 1850s by Fencibles, retired British soldiers brought here to defend Auckland in return for land.

For the next 100 years the town was dominated by holiday homes and farms. The rural land was developed into residential during the 1950s and 1960s.

This area was popular with Dutch and English immigrants in the 1950s and 1960s, and it has long been more exotic than other, more staunchly Kiwi areas. Asian immigrants came in droves but now prefer the newer eastern suburbs of Dannemora and Cumbria Downs.

It's a great spot for sailors, and, as you'd expect, around the waterfront you'll find some folk with deep pockets.

Howick's gradual development has resulted in a vibrant mix of architectural styles. There are cottages and villas, but the majority are mid-20th-century brick-and-tile or weatherboard homes.

The influx of Asian buyers has meant that many homes built in the past decade have Botany Downs-style features such as double-height porticos and classical-style pillars. Large sections have succumbed to in-fill housing, particularly in the popular Macleans College zone.

Amenities
Howick is a high-decile area well served with quality schools for all ages.

Howick Village has a good range of shops, and the footpaths are wide, making this pleasant village-style mainstreet shopping for pedestrians.

The range of eateries reflects the ethnic diversity and the cosmopolitan nature of locals - there are Asian restaurants of many flavours, including Japanese, Vietnamese, Malay, Korean and Indian.

Beautiful beaches below pohutukawa-clad cliffs are a major drawcard for relaxing locals.

Howick Beach is a five-minute walk from the shops. There are numerous small coves accessed by steep pathways which only a few know about. The reserves are plentiful and beautiful here, too. The Mangemangeroa Reserve walkway from Somerville Rd to the Shelly Park Yacht Club, part-boardwalk over mangroves, part-beach walk and part-bush walk, is well worth the effort.

The number of moored yachts and boat ramps testify to the popularity of sailing. Howick also has sports clubs for cricket, netball, rugby league, squash and tennis, and Cockle Bay has a petanque court.

There is an active cultural scene, too, with Howick Little Theatre and the Howick Operatic Society. Howick Historic Village (physically in Pakuranga, but spiritually in Howick) is a fascinating showcase of olde worlde everyday life.

Trends
Prices have been steady during the past year with sales numbers buoyant. Some industry commentators say that satellite suburbs such as Howick are due for a slight recession. House-proud and spurred on by high real estate values, many Howickians are renovating their 1960s and 1970s era houses - often to the point where they are no longer recognisable. Most sections which can be subdivided, have been.

Best Streets
The north-facing slopes of Mellons and Cockle bays have sea views and therefore the best streets. In Howick, Island View Tce, Marine Pde, Seaview Tce, Bleakhouse Rd, Burford Pl, Seymour Rd and Pah Rd.