More than you could imagine

4/20 Wallace St, Herne Bay. Photo/Fiona Goodall

4/20, WALLACE ST, HERNE BAY

4

2

2*

SIZE: Land share of 1317sq m, house 199sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: CV $1.07 million.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 12-12.30pm or by appointment.

ON THE WEB: barfoot.co.nz/549487

SCHOOL ZONES: Bayfield Primary, Ponsonby Intermediate, Western Springs College.

CONTACT: Felicity Scott, Barfoot & Thompson, 0274 522241

AUCTION: August 5.

*Tandem parking:

From the outside, this 1970s solid brick unit in Herne Bay doesn't give much away.

Only inside does the space and outlook of the private hideaway reveal itself.

"With all the others you get quite a good idea of how much is there, but this one, no," says owner Michelle Wishart.

In fact, there are four bedrooms and two living areas, one up and one down, plus a large brick-paved, private courtyard.

It's the sun-soaked upstairs lounge which Michelle loves the most. From here there is a peek across the harbour to the North Shore and the outlook is leafy.

"It's so big and warm and with views and lots of sun, masses of sun. There's a lot to it, more than you would ever imagine."

People who visit often say the home has a nice feel, she says.

Right next door is Salisbury Reserve, which has direct access through a door in the fenced courtyard below. Michelle used to keep an eye on daughter Ella from a strategic sofa by the window while Ella played in the park.

Husband Guy says his mum, Isabel, who lived here, used to love the courtyard, which is a shady haven when the sun is beating down.

Isabel died a few years ago but the unit has been in the family since 1989.

Guy's sister bought the unit, along with Isabel, so that their doctor mum could live with family.

The arrangement worked well, with Mum downstairs in her own living space, including a kitchenette.

Image 1 of 11: Living areas on both levels of this sunny, spacious townhouse offer many options

When Guy's sister found herself based more in London, Guy and Michelle first rented then bought the unit from her.

He and Michelle are both teachers, though Guy is also a musician, and Michelle used to teach at Bayview School, which is nearby.

The family enjoyed being part of the community and the location is magic, they say, with the Herne Bay and Ponsonby shops and cafes a short walk away, and Herne Bay beach just down the road.

Guy says in summer you often see people with towels coming up the road.

"There's a little pier at the end of the road here and a beach, so they go down and sunbathe or go fishing down the end of the pier, or go swimming, and there's also the kayaking that goes on as well."

Michelle says when Ella was younger the family would have regular fish and chips on the beach, along with other families doing the same: "It's fantastic for kids."

The couple lived in Asia for about four years and she says one of the things they both missed were places to walk.

"When we used to come back here for the holidays you'd realise being able to walk down to the beach, walk around Westhaven, walk up to Ponsonby Rd, is just such an asset."

Though the home dates from the 1970s, it is in great shape and everything is liveable as is.

There is a warm quirkiness to the property and though Michelle says the upstairs kitchen, for example, is ripe for a redo, it is an original, high-spec kitchen from the 1980s: "It was like a $30,000 kitchen and very, very state of the art."

The family has decided to sell because they have moved to Kumeu, but the decision was a bit of a wrestle for Guy who loves all that living in the city has to offer.

The property is unique in the area, he thinks.

There aren't many townhouses of its era and because the property predates the leaky building phase there have never been any issues.