On the waterfront on Herald Island

6 Twin Wharf Road, Herald Island. Photo / Ted Baghurst

6 TWIN WHARF RD HERALD ISLAND

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SIZE: Land 1406sq m, house 380sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: CV $1.45 million (July 2011). Auction on site, 2pm December 3 (unless sold prior).

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 11am-12pm.

ON THE WEB: bayleys.co.nz/150639

SCHOOL ZONES: Whenuapai School, Massey High School.

CONTACT: Sandy Anderson, Bayleys Northwest, ph 417 0262 or mob 027 268 4322.

FEATURES: Large, architecturally designed contemporary home with the sea at the bottom of the garden. Includes multiple living areas, wide views, heated pool and spa and gate to the sea.

The lifestyle offered by a Herald Island site with the sea lapping at its feet was so enticing that Anne and Fred Day were prepared to wait half a decade to make it theirs.

Anne recalls, "We watched this site for five years before we were able to buy it. We loved its closeness to the water."

The couple were living in Hobsonville and were so bewitched by this waterfront land that they waited until it came up for auction in 1993.

Walking into their large architect-designed home through the double front doors, it's instantly apparent what the fuss was all about. You look straight through the home and out another pair of doors to the waters of the upper harbour immediately fronting their yard. "You couldn't be a whole lot closer," Fred grins.

They'd admired homes by award-winning architect Geoff Richards and chose him to design a contemporary two-storey home. In December 1994, they moved in with three sons and a daughter, making good use of the space from day one.

Anne comments, "The lifestyle we've had living right on the water has been amazing". Kayaking, yachting and wake-boarding were on tap and when the children were young they'd all nip out from their backyard in the family dinghy to hook snapper. "The setting makes it like being on holiday," says Fred.

The house is on the bus-route for daughter Sophie's school, Kristin, and its spaces are brilliant for entertaining, as evidenced when they hosted her recent pre-ball. The family can get to central Auckland in under 30 minutes.

About eight cars fit on the concrete apron leading to the internal-access double garage. The home is plaster and there's a recent building report available for buyers to peruse.

Immediately off the entry foyer are stairs up to a loft room which used to be a games room but one of the boys is using as a sixth bedroom. The living room, with wood-burning Jetmaster open fireplace, includes a formal dining area and bifold doors out to the deck and level lawn. Anne and Fred reckon it provides a nice haven if the kids are getting noisy elsewhere.

Anne knows the kitchen is perfectly placed to cook, enjoy the sea view and keep an eye on children in the heated swimming pool (with spa alongside). Impressive matai floors spread out in the family room which boasts a casual dining space, enclosed wood burner and more bifolds opening to covered outdoor entertaining and the sprawling deck. Fred says the deck is his favourite summertime spot.

"You get some incredible sunsets here; fantastic with the red glow and the clouds." They've seen the odd pod of dolphins off their land.

The lower level is rounded out by two bedrooms, a smart family bathroom, separate toilet and laundry, which is so big that one end is used as an additional study.

The upstairs master suite has a glorious view, so you can sip a cup of tea in bed and marvel at the dedication of early-morning rowers. This floor has two more bedrooms and a study opposite a kids' TV lounge. This level's family bathroom has been renovated in the past year along with the downstairs one and the house repainted inside and out.

The level waterside lawn is private, thanks to subtropical planting, and there's a gate for dinghy access to the sea in the middle of the front perimeter's rock wall.

The wall only rises about half a metre above their lawn but a drop to the foreshore means privacy from passersby.

The Days are looking to downsize given they'll soon have only one child living at home.