Matakana: Sheltered existence

Living in a small coastal community provides an idyllic lifestyle.

81 Clinton Road, Campbells Beach, Matakana.

Where Campbells Bay might have blackbirds sitting on the power-lines, Campbells Beach on Rodney's scenic Kowhai Coast has kereru preening plump and pretty in the winter sunshine.

``Name a bird, we have it,'' remarks Andy Dell. ``Even kaka nest in the council reserve beside us, and Pat and I heard a bellbird the other day.''

It is not only the birds that see this sheltered bowl of land, with its 3ha reserve of protected native bush and pretty coastal views, as an attractive place to set up house.

Increasing numbers of people do, too. When Andy and Pat bought their solid 1960s home with its wide views of Campbells Beach and the rolling green hills that surround the bay 14 years ago, they were two of only 23 permanent residents in the area.

``Now there are about a hundred, and others, even if they don't live here year-round, are renovating. It seems more and more are seeing it as somewhere to live, not just holiday.''

But Campbells Beach is destined to remain tiny. Lack of land means it will always retain its quaint old-world charm, no matter how improved the housing stock becomes.

Andy and Pat's house has three pleasant bedrooms, large living and dining spaces and a roomy kitchen. A wide sheltered terrace runs the length of the frontage, extending the living space and providing perfect lazing territory at the end of the day.

As Pat points out, ``This has been more than enough for us. We've never thought to extend it into the basement because we didn't have the need. That's just where Andy's bits and pieces live.''

But the undeveloped basement has views almost as good as the house itself. Because the way the house has been built to embrace the view and hug the steep hillside along its length at its rear, all the rooms along the front of the house have water views, or the potential for them.

Although the basement is supremely useful for storage, its potential to be included in the main house is obvious.

At present the three-car garage is tucked conveniently into one corner of the section, among the fruit and ornamental trees, but it could easily be moved to maximise views in that direction.

``We've never really had to do much in the way of improvements,'' Pat explains. ``It's pretty much as we bought it except for where we closed off the end of the hall to make a niche for the wood-burner. It warms the place from end to end, and can even be cooked on in an emergency.''

But in all the time they have lived there, the benign micro-climate of the area and the shelter provided by the hill at the rear of the property has meant that cooking on the wood stove has hardly ever been necessary.

``It's a bit funny really,'' laughs Andy. ``Here we are leaving here where it's so sunny and protected, and moving to just outside Geraldine in Canterbury.

We were down there just recently looking around and got snowed in for four days. But we've decided it's time to make a move, and down there is the closest to an English rural scene we've found since coming to New Zealand 30 years ago. It'll be a bit of a wrench leaving, but we're looking forward to the new adventure.''

VITAL STATISTICS

BEDROOMS: 3

BATHROOMS: 1+

GARAGES: 3

SIZE: Land 1970sq m, house 160sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: $815,000 negotiable.

INSPECT: By appointment.

ON THE WEB: www.harcourts.co.nz #ww060404

CONTACT: Margaret Olsen or Jeneen Binstead, Harcourts Warkworth, ph 09 425 7889 bus, 0274 787 132 (Margaret), 0275 367 107 (Jeneen).

FEATURES: 1960s home with water views toward Kawau Island. House and section have potential to improve further. Close to Matakana village and on the road to Tawharanui Regional Park.