Russell: Island life

This magnificent holiday home and estate - which has been in the same family for 30 years - is the definition of relaxed beach living in the Bay of Islands. By VICKI HOLDER.

Studded with 146 jewel-like green islands between vast expanses of blue, the Bay of Islands is New Zealand's gift to the world. With a warm subtropical climate, sailors meet in this maritime playground to enjoy sun-drenched summers and some of the best fishing and diving to be found.

One of their favourite anchorages lies in front of Jacks Bay where an Auckland family has owned a magnificent 4ha estate for 30 years. With 140m of private beachfront and riparian rights, this idyllic property is the dream of many a Kiwi. The sheltered, north-facing site is exceptionally private yet the views, especially from the front of the house across the water to the islands, are huge.

One of the owners, whose parents bought the property when she was just five, says: "The view takes your breath away. You never take it for granted. How may properties look out to the Gateway to the Bay of Islands!"

She recalls travelling to the little one-room bach, the family's original dwelling on the beach, when she was a child. So, too, does her husband, who was her brother's mate back then. The Bach, as it is affectionately known, is just 4m from the water and is now set up as studio-style accommodation.

"Standing inside with a drink in hand, there's a special energy about it."

Although the bach was charming, it was very small. To better accommodate family and friends, the family built a Lockwood home in the '70s. Then in 1988, they removed the Lockwood to make way for a much larger family holiday home designed to fit into the landscape and blend harmoniously with its bush surrounds.

On two levels, the home provides spacious, open-plan living extending to expansive decking in front. Bedrooms and bathrooms flank the living areas and there's even more self-contained living downstairs so family or guests can enjoy their own separate space.

The owner says it is "an absolutely fantastic bach, fairly modern and soundly constructed with a great flow for entertaining". Only about 200m from the water, the house is approached from the road at Jacks Bay. Security gates lead through to a sealed and landscaped driveway, which runs through the property and down towards the beach.

Extensively landscaped grounds feature native plantings, such as rimu, kauri and pohutukawa, and the call of sea birds during the day and the flightless kiwi at night may still be heard nearby.

At the bottom of the property an all-tide boat ramp makes it simple for one person to put a 22ft boat into the water with an automatic power winch. A selection of five moorings in the bay accommodate the owners' visitors, who arrive on runabouts and large pleasure craft.

"Everything about the property was easy. Dad was very particular and did everything properly. For example, there are water bores, so when everybody else in the area ran out of water in summer, we never did." Water is stored in a 5000 gallon tank and fed from a second 5000 gallon tank to each dwelling.

Over the years, the property became a toy haven "and it had the space to store everything - lasers, kayaks and so on. And the fact you can drive up to the property, park and unload is quite unusual in the Bay of Islands. So many houses are on islands and you have to go there by boat".

The property is a 15-minute leisurely drive by sealed road from the tourist village of Russell with all its old-world charm and a mix of upmarket restaurants, cafes and shops.

Above the house, another elevated building site is available nestled among native trees with a stunning vista. A building consent is in place ready for building to start. It is one of the few properties given consent for another dwelling without sacrificing riparian rights.

"Everyone who had an association with our family has come to love this property as much as we have. It's a real gathering place - a wonderful place for a family to come together - it's such a beautiful property."

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: Kempthorne Rd, Jacks Bay, Russell.

FEATURES: North-facing holiday home on large, waterfront estate overlooking Jacks Bay; impressive island and water views; small self-contained bach at water's edge; large two-level main house with four bedrooms and three bathrooms; extensive decking; 12m x 8m boatshed on boat ramp with auto-power winch for easy launching; five moorings; power and phone; bore water; building resource in place for another home on an elevated site.

SIZE: Main home floor area approx 300sq m; land area 4ha.

TENDER CLOSES: 4pm, February 27.

AGENTS: Irene Bremner and Bradley Morrison, Bayleys Northstyle Real Estate, Paihia. Ph 09 402 8398 bus; Irene 027 296 9222 mob; Bradley 021 943 484 mob.