Kumeu

CHARLOTTE COSSAR checks out this semi-rural region rich in culture and tradition.

If you are looking for semi-rural living less than 30 minutes from the city, Kumeu is a good place to start looking. Not only are there suburban-like streets and homes, there are lifestyle blocks, which range from 1ha to 40ha in size.

However, these properties are in high demand so you have to be quick. The largest blocks of fertile land, often referred to as hobby farms, are very popular, especially with expatriate Kiwis and overseas buyers.

First settled by European migrants, who helped to make West Auckland famous for its vineyards and orchards, the area is rich in culture and tradition and many of the original families still live in the area.

Kumeu offers a peaceful lifestyle. However, for those wanting a bit more than relaxing on the deck enjoying the fine local wine, Woodhill Forest offers horse-riding, mountain biking, motorcycling, four-wheel-driving, dog sledding and great walk tracks. And if you want a refreshing dip after all this activity, Muriwai Beach, suitable for surfing, swimming and fishing, is only a short drive away. The Muriwai gannet colony is also a popular destination.

Closer to Kumeu's centre are the village shops and craft houses, which cater for most needs, but for your weekly shopping requirements the Westgate shopping centre is just down the road.

Every year, Kumeu hosts the two-day A&P show, one of the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere, where Aucklanders flock to see the animals and exhibits.

Buyers attracted to Kumeu tend to be people looking for a bit of land and a slower lifestyle, generally not your first-home buyers. They are a cross-section of people from the city, West Auckland and overseas who are looking for the country estate or lifestyle block for their children's pony.

Other people attracted to the area include those with an interest in market gardening and horticulture. Often they want to trade up or move from similarly priced homes in the suburbs.

Weatherboard properties on the 1012sq m sites sell for about $200,000, with small lifestyle blocks ranging from $300,000 to $600,000, depending on the quality and style of the house.

The greatest demand is in the $450,000 to $500,000 bracket. Larger 40ha blocks range from $400,000 to $1 million, while the vast 80ha farms range from $800,000 to $1.5 million. Coastal properties with views near Muriwai are often snapped up quickly and a bach here will cost about $500,000.

This popular area, where there is always a high demand for properties (so register your interest with a real estate agent), offers residents the best of all worlds. You are close enough to the city to commute comfortably but you can still enjoy the bush, sea and a semi-rural lifestyle.