Whangaparaoa: The power of two

Two stunning sea views are not the only options in this luxury cliff-top townhouse, as Sharon Newey discovers.

This house is a study in the power of choices. Not only do you have the choice of two stunning sea views but you have a choice of which outdoor space to relax in, which living area to use, which bathroom of three to pamper yourself in - even whether you want to cook with gas, electricity or steam!

Set on a ridge in Little Manly on the Whangaparaoa peninsula, one end of the house looks north across Big Manly and Swan Beach to the foreshore at Orewa. At the other end, the sea stretches out from beneath your feet and merges with the vastness of the Hauraki Gulf. To the right, the lights of Auckland twinkle at night, Rangitoto Island sits on the horizon, and the masts of the yachts at Gulf Harbour gleam to the left.

It's a view that makes you seem blissfully isolated - which is a change of pace for owner Moneuan Ryan, who used to live in Ponsonby. "It's sophistication but at the beach. It's town but it's country. It's peaceful but we can still walk to the local village and have a good restaurant meal or have a drink at the bar and listen to live music. But best of all we can walk the dog down to Tindalls Bay and feel like we're on holiday."

The solid masonry house, designed by architect Philip Jones, has a common wall with its luxury townhouse neighbour. Entrance is beneath a chunky macrocarpa pergola, past a subtropical garden and the double garage door. Up the timber stairs, a hall acts as the spine to the house, off which various rooms flow.

At the front, the formal living room has windows front and back, and is bathed in all-day sun. To the north is the view, and on the other side, the internal courtyard is accessed through oversized sliding doors. Sandstone paving flows around a lap pool, which at one end is more than 2m deep. On the other side of the courtyard, a third bedroom or study captures the northern sun.

At the other end of the house, a living space includes the gourmet kitchen and opens to a cliff-edge deck and garden. A deck spans the end of the section at the cliff's edge and is fenced with an almost invisible glass balustrade.

Back inside, the sleek kitchen, is "the best I've ever worked in", says the owner, who vows she will replicate it in her next house. A deep island bench is an alternative eating space to the dining table beyond. At one end of the room, an open gas fire becomes the focal point of a sitting area which looks both out to sea and back to the pool.

Off the hallway, a large cupboard could be used as a wine cellar. Next to it, one of the three bathrooms has an almost eastern influence with its simple French oak vanity and white tiles. In fact, throughout the house, a restful palette of soft browns and creams ensures the interiors don't fight with the permanent artwork beyond the windows - the views.

The second floor has two bedrooms, both with sea views. The master bedroom has a balcony, full en suite and walk-in wardrobe - that's if you can tear yourself away from the comfort of your bed and that stunning sea view.

Vital Statsitics

ADDRESS: 1/59 Tiri Rd, Little Manly, Whangaparaoa.

FEATURES: Solid masonry cliff-top townhouse with stunning sea views on both sides; three bedrooms; three bathrooms; walk-in wardrobe; wine cellar; formal living; casual living plus dining; internal courtyard with lap pool; cliff-top garden and deck; gas fireplace; double garage; security system; in-built sound system.

SIZE: Land 693sq m; floor area 254sq m.

PRICE: By negotiation (guide $1.1 million plus).

AGENT: Sharon Deaker, Premium Real Estate, Takapuna. Ph 486 1727 bus; 021 427 783 mob.