'Just one look was needed'

26 Puriri Place, Sandspit.

26 PURIRI PLACE, SANDSPIT

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SIZE: Land 6475sq m, house 612sq m

PRICE INDICATION: Expected above CV of $3.25 million

INSPECT: By appointment. Sale date April 24

ON THE WEB: bayleys.co.nz/189033

SCHOOL ZONES: Snells Beach School, Mahurangi College

CONTACT: Nola and Ben Kloppers, ph 021 425 597, 021 425 599

Even before he drove through the gates of the clifftop property at Sandspit, Geoff Taylor was sure it was the place for him. From the road, the expanse of turquoise ocean was jaw-dropping.

After splitting his life between his native England and New Zealand, Geoff was looking for a permanent Kiwi home. He'd been living half the year in an apartment in Stanmore Bay on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, but with a toddler son on his hands, he was keen to secure more space while still living by the sea.

With the clifftops getting crowded closer to the city, he began to look further north. One day an agent gave him a heads-up on a property that was coming on the market at Brick Bay, around the coast from Sandspit. Geoff had no idea where that was - but he was open to finding out.

The agent hadn't even seen the property when he and Geoff drove through the gates and coasted down a tree-lined driveway to a resort-style home on one-and-a-half acres of lawn and native bush, with kauri-framed views across Kawau Bay to Kawau Island.

The 1980s house was evidently inspired by Pacific Islands architecture, with soaring vaulted ceilings in the enormous open-plan living room and the formal lounge. The master suite opened up to a spa pool that soaked up the sea views, while the living areas, a home office and a three-bedroom wing wrapped around a pool area.

He wouldn't want for space - even the five-car garage was the size of a small house.

It promised the kind of lifestyle Geoff could have only dreamed about in England, and an ideal environment for his son. As well as having the heated pool and plenty of flat lawn for soccer, the gentle (and usually deserted) Brick Bay beach was a 30-second walk away, down a private walkway.

"One look was all I needed," says Geoff. "It just grabbed me. It was so peaceful here and really private - it was amazing to think you could have all of this and yet Auckland City was just a 45-minute drive away."

That was 10 years ago. Geoff's son has had an idyllic upbringing there - mostly in the pool - along with the three daughters of Geoff's partner, Rebecca Erskine.

Image 1 of 8: 26 Puriri Place, Sandspit.

They haven't felt the need to improve greatly on their paradise. They've added a walk-in wardrobe off the master bedroom that Geoff reckons is a contender for the largest dressing room in New Zealand, and built a deck on the clifftop that catches the morning and evening sun - perfect for reading or relaxing with a wine.

"You feel like you're on a perpetual holiday," says Rebecca. "It's great for the kids - they just go between the pool and the beach."

With the kids growing older and attending school and uni in Auckland, the family have reluctantly decided to move. "It's a difficult call to sell," says Geoff. "However, sometimes you can't allow your heart to rule your head."