KEY POINTS:
PHOENIX GARDENS,
135 GRAFTON ROAD,
GRAFTON.
When Jeannie and Brett Wilson started thinking about living in an apartment, they approached it in a measured way.
"We thought if we found the right place, it would be a good idea," says Brett. "We had been living in Herne Bay in a big rambling bungalow. But with our children leaving home and us spending more time at our place in the Coromandel, plus playing golf, we decided to look at apartment living."
They rented first one, then another apartment at The Pines in Epsom over the course of a year, and were soon converts to the lifestyle. They just had to decide where they would live.
As fate would have it, Jeannie was invited to see the apartment a friend had bought off the plans in Grafton's Phoenix Gardens, completed in 1999. "I thought it was lovely; so we bought here, too."
Brett reckons the 74 Phoenix Gardens apartments are some of the best in Auckland. "The quality of the building was very good and it's well maintained and well presented. Everyone seems to be house-proud."
Security is another bonus, adds Jeannie. "I feel so safe here. And when we want to go away, we just lock the doors and leave. We put our pot plants outside on the deck."
Being maintenance-free gives them more time for golf and weekends at their beach home. Yet they still enjoy all of Phoenix Gardens' facilities, including gardens and lawns, tennis court, swimming pool, spa and golf-driving range.
The Wilsons have hosted several functions in the shared pavilion, by the tennis court and pool. Another bonus is the residents' shared library, just off the main entry.
Jeannie and Brett's spacious apartment is on the fifth level of the 12-storey building, with a view across Grafton out to the Hauraki Gulf, Mt Hobson and Mt Eden.
Walking into the apartment's hallway, the immaculate kitchen and generous living area are off to the right.
Beside the living room is an office, which can be closed off and used as an extra bedroom if needed.
Ranchsliders from the living room open on to a balcony and barbecue area - a perfect place to enjoy a good steak and the great views.
Next to the office are the two bedrooms, which open on to a second balcony. On the other side of the hallway are the laundry and second bathroom. The master bedroom has an en suite with bath and shower and a walk-in wardrobe.
In fact, there is an abundance of storage throughout the apartment, with cupboards in the laundry, foyer, office and lounge, as well as more lock-up storage in the carparking area.
It all makes for easy-care, comfortable, city living.
Jeannie says: "You can enjoy what Auckland has to offer. You can walk to Christmas in the Park, Symphony in the Park, the Chinese lantern festival. And the Link bus circles the city."
The Wilsons are selling the apartment as they have decided embark on a new adventure - "an adult OE" to visit family living in the United Kingdom, especially their two young granddaughters.
"We have the opportunity to go to the UK and live cheaply and work there if we want," say Brett.
"And when we come back, we will live in Whangamata. But if we came back to Auckland, we would definitely live in an apartment again."
