Kumeu/Huapai

Including Waimauku, Taupaki, Riverhead, Coatesville and Dairy Flat

Beneath the sleepy and bucolic romanticism of this semi-rural part of Auckland lies a veritable hotbed of property price increases. The area supports everyone from horticulturists and viticulturists to hobby farmers and serious lifestylers.

Part of the appeal is that suburban-style sections have hit the market so you can have the country lifestyle without having to feed livestock.

The landscape is increasingly dotted with palatial executive homes on big blocks of land. Coatesville hasn't been dubbed "rural Remuera" for nothing.

Well-established professionals are significant buyers, arriving in shiny four-wheel-drives with their young children, and a passion for the lifestyle rather than the land's productive appeal.

Among the older housing stock, there are original farmhouses and small cottages, plus villas relocated from the city.

The best homes include tennis courts, pools and stables.

Amenities

Here you'll rediscover everything that's great about rural schools, including ag days when children show off their pets and produce. There are four primary schools but older children have to travel to Takapuna or Henderson for secondary schooling.

There's energetic commercial and retail expansion going on in Kumeu. Huapai and Kumeu each have their own shopping areas with plenty of parking.

There's a library at Huapai and Plunket rooms at Kumeu. For more shopping, the Westgate shopping centre is about 10 minutes' drive away.

Woodhill and Riverhead forests offer ideal terrain for motorcycling, orienteering and horse riding. Rimmers Road, near Muriwai Beach has motorcycle tracks. In Kumeu/Huapai proper, sporting facilities include golf, squash and tennis courts and a driving range. For moviegoers, there are theatres at Westgate.

Real estate

Trends

A shortage of properties and abundance of inquiries are keeping prices buoyant. There's continued strong interest from overseas, including British and South African migrants although most of the buyers are local, including those trading up and down within the Kumeu/Huapai area, and those preferring a move into town from their large farm holdings.

Rental and investment

Demand for rental property comes from families waiting to buy or in the process of building homes. Riverhead is popular with those trying out real rural living.

Best streets

Matua Road and Sunny Crescent in Huapai; Pomona Rd in Kumeu; Solan Estate, Freshfields and Cloverfields in Waimauku.