Isle be the one you remember on Waiheke

22 Arran Bay Rd, Waiheke Island. Photo / Supplied

22 ARRAN BAY RD WAIHEKE

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SIZE: Land 2443sq m, house approx 180sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: CV $1.87 million. Auction February 9.

INSPECTION TIMES: Viewing by appointment.

ON THE WEB: kellands.co.nz/29783

SCHOOL ZONES: Te Huruhi Primary, Waiheke High School.

CONTACT: Charles Collins, ph 021 376 095, Martin Dobson, ph 021 376 952, Kellands.

FEATURES: Beachfront property with renovated Lockwood home on three levels. Private and safe location with locked gateway to shared access road for Arran Bay property owners. Boat shed, two moorings and views out to Pakatoa, Rotoroa and Ponui islands.

Summer holidays, school holidays and at least once a month for the rest of the year, Bronwen Klippel and Stefan Goldwater load up their launch or car and head to the eastern end of Waiheke Island to their patch of paradise at Arran Bay. That's where their holiday home is, about 10km by road from Onetangi. It's a remodelled Lockwood home on prime land beside a beautiful secluded beach with views across the water to Pakatoa, Rotoroa and Ponui islands.

Bronwen and Stefan have been bringing their children, Saatchi, now 21, Reuben, 20 and Siena, 18, here since they bought the house some 14 years ago. Stefan's family has had a long association with the island and thought Arran Bay would make a perfect family holiday spot when he saw a small ad in the Herald for this property.

"The kids were little and it was perfect for us," says Bronwen. "This is a striking part of the island, it's a little bit further away but the bonus is you don't have that frenetic feeling you have in other parts of the island during the busy season."

They used the Lockwood as they found it for nine years before giving it a facelift. The first change they made was to add extra space below the existing house, using this for a TV/lounge and a large bunk room with ranchsliders to a deck area.

On the ground level is the main open-plan living with lounge and kitchen, plus two bedrooms and a bathroom. They extended and widened the deck with its frameless glass panels, added a window seat to look out to the deck and the water, and installed a new kitchen and bathroom. "We love the window seat, for sitting and relaxing," says Bronwen. "And I love the way the kitchen connects with it all because it's open-plan."

Throughout, they painted over the wooden interior walls, giving it more of an open feeling in a contemporary white finish, as well as whitewashing the wooden floors and using carpet for the bedrooms.

On the upper level is a lounge on the landing and the large master bedroom and bathroom.

The renovations have given a lighter feel to the whole home, explains Bronwen. "Everyone who comes here says how lovely and fresh the house feels."

With the large bunkroom, they can accommodate up to 14 people in the home, handy when the children were growing up and invited friends along on holiday. "I have two girls and a boy and whoever has their friends over tends to sleep in the bunkroom. The house can cope with large numbers and we're not on top of each other.

"Arran Bay is a great place, it's safe and we never had to worry about the children, they would roam between houses and do things they can't do in the city, like building play houses or playing bull rush."

The bay has about 15 houses, which makes for a close-knit holiday community. Each New Year's Eve, families gather for a bonfire on the beach; on Labour Day they have a barbecue at "unofficial mayor" Bob Gray's place; and in January there is the annual regatta between Orapiu and Arran Bay ,plus a fishing competition.

The boatshed beside the beach stores a speedboat, windsurfer, Laser and kayak. They also have two moorings, one a deepwater and the other closer into shore. "It's a boaties' paradise," says Bronwen. "When we are here we walk, sail, fish, kayak and windsurf. It is quite social in the bay but you can see as much or as little of the people as you want. You have Passage Rock and Poderi Crisci near enough and there are the vineyards like Man of War."

Why are they selling? "The home has been in the family 14 years, the children are older and they are not using it as much," says Bronwen.

"We want to do other things and Stefan is keen to do some sailing in the Pacific. It's just that we want a change, really. It would be lovely for another family to use it."