'Lost' between two volcanoes

1 Beaconsfield Street, Devonport. Photo / Ted Baghurst

1 BEACONSFIELD ST, DEVONPORT

4

3

3*

SIZE: Land 481sq m, house around 260sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: CV $1.825 million. Tender closes at 4pm on November 27, unless sold prior.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 12-12.45pm, twilight viewing Weds 6-7pm, or by appointment.

ON THE WEB: barfoot.co.nz/510337

SCHOOL ZONES: In zone: Vauxhall Primary, Devonport Primary, Belmont Intermediate, Takapuna Grammar. Non-zoned nearby: St Leos Catholic, Stanley Bay Primary, Bayswater Primary.

CONTACT: Sue Harrison, ph 021 909 549, Toni Gregory, 021 044 3663, Barfoot & Thompson..

FEATURES: A short stroll to Cheltenham Beach and North Head, this generously proportioned two-storey villa has formal and informal living spaces and a large, modern kitchen with flow to a private pool and garden. *plus carport

Kevin Miles is so enthusiastic about where he lives - between two volcanoes in Devonport - it's a surprise to hear he's leaving.

But then he admits he and his family will not be going far. Once you've lived in this suburb between Mt Victoria on one side and North Head on the other, you tend not to leave it, he says.

Kevin and his wife Tammy bought their big old villa in Beaconsfield St 10 years ago before their two children came along. Though they have loved living here, Kevin says the two-storey house is so big the four of them can get lost in it.

So they are downsizing but will look for somewhere else in the neighbourhood.

The home has three reception areas and a study and, as Kevin sits in one of the reception areas, a lovely formal room painted blue, he confesses he sits in it maybe only twice a year.

At one point the house, built in the early 1900s, was called The Ascot, though Kevin's not sure if it was a hotel or a B&B, and at some stage it was split into three flats then put back together.

It features high ceilings upstairs and down and he and Tammy have decorated throughout. There is a new roof and kitchen and the house exterior is freshly painted.

Though the house has many selling points, Kevin soon goes back to the location.

"This is an absolutely unique part of Auckland. There is this tiny area of land, you know, it's maybe 30 streets, that sits between these two volcanoes."

He can drag his kayaks to two beaches from here - Cheltenham and Torpedo Bay - but says there are five beaches within an easy walk, including Narrowneck.

"Again, walking distance from here: golf club, two sailing clubs, two cricket clubs, a rugby club, tennis, squash, two bowls, croquet and two gyms."

Kevin and Tammy are English. One of his colleagues, who lived in Devonport, told him to come and have a look. "They thought it was the best area in Auckland and I came across and I walked around and it was just like, 'Wow, this is just incredible, it's such a beautiful suburb'."

Kevin points out the front door opens into what he calls "a whole Downton Abbey reception area" where the family sets up their Christmas tree.

Upstairs, past one of many stained glass windows, are four bedrooms.

His son's room has a separate room attached for toys and his daughter's room has a balcony.

Image 1 of 7: 1 Beaconsfield Street, Devonport. Photo / Ted Baghurst

Downstairs, the new kitchen opens out into a large informal dining and lounge.

Out back is a lawn with a deck and a pool and out front, Bruno, the free-range guinea pig suns himself.

"I've been lucky enough to live in London, New York, Sydney and here and, really, as far as Auckland is concerned, I only want to live between here and here (North Head)," he says, pointing to Mt Victoria and North Head.