42A Tindalls Bay Rd, Tindall's Bay. Photo / Supplied
The prospect of giving up their family's much-loved Hibiscus Coast lifestyle prompted the O'Shea family to buy a Tindalls Bay home.
Lisa and Denis O'Shea previously lived in Army Bay at the end of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula with their three children Nicole (who is now 15), Conor (13) and Tara (10).
Lisa says: "The older two go to Carmel College and Rosmini College on the North Shore and before they started we looked at moving to Devonport to be closer to their schools."
However, exploring that area made them realise just how reluctant they were to forfeit their relaxed, outdoorsy lifestyle. So, in 2012, they bought a contemporary Tindalls Bay home, which has been a superb base for a beachy way of life.
Lisa says: "Tindalls Bay is a gorgeous little bay on the coast with quite a boutique feeling.
"It feels safe and friendly. Everyone knows everyone, there's a lot of socialising and the kids are able to go off and spend time with their friends outdoors.
"They catch the bus to school from the end of the road. And when they get home they can get off a stuffy bus and wander barefoot down to the beach for a swim."
Boating, fishing and water-skiing are family favourites, or the kids and their friends might play spotlight in the neighbouring reserve while parents socialise over freshly caught scallops.
Lisa says: "This house was five years old when we bought it and the builder who built it, who lives in the house in front, won a Gold Master Builders regional award for it.
"It's a beautiful house with lots of attention to detail. It's low-maintenance and lock-up-and-leave.
"The kitchen and living on the ground floor open straight out to the outdoors, which is great for entertaining. Last winter we put in a massive five-tonne concrete outdoor fireplace that we can cook on too, and that's been wonderful."
Their north-facing concrete home is about 50 metres back from the beach. It has a nice sense of seclusion being slightly elevated, away from road noise and next to the open space of a quiet reserve.
"We haven't owned a lawnmower since we've been here; we don't have lawn and the reserve acts as the kids' extended backyard."
The home is down its own driveway with parking for the family's five-metre boat as well as an internal-access double garage with attic storage space. The entry foyer features an up-lit double-height granite water feature.
Lisa says: "It has a real 'wow factor'."
A family-dining space able to be opened up wide with glass bifolds is open-plan, with a polished entertainers' kitchen featuring granite benches, big storage, breakfast bar and second convection oven.
The O'Sheas call a side lounge with gas fireplace 'the quiet room' as it's able to be closed off by glass doors and has been designated their technology-free living space.
Two bedrooms, a bathroom and separate laundry complete downstairs, from where you can see part of Manly Beach.
Upstairs opens to a wide glass-fronted balcony overlooking the bay. There is also a view from the master suite, which has an en suite and walk-in-wardrobe.
The third living space, an upstairs lounge with American oak flooring, a projector and screen, neighbours the third bathroom and fourth bedroom.
They're 10 minutes walk to Manly Village. Denis can take a 45-minute ferry ride from Gulf Harbour into the Queen St office of their company, which provides mobile solutions for large enterprise and government organisations.
The family is selling as work opportunities beckon them overseas.