Remuera

CHARLOTTE COSSAR checks out one of Auckland's most desirable destinations.

One of the most well-known suburbs in New Zealand, Remuera is no longer characterised by homesteads on large pieces of land.

In the past 10 years, contemporary, minimalist designer homes and luxury high-rise apart-ments have taken pride of place on the north-facing slopes.

Bordered by Newmarket, Orakei, Meadowbank and Epsom, Remuera is home to a golf course, private hospitals and medical specialists and numerous parks and reserves. Its popular strip, also the main thoroughfare which often has bumper-to-bumper traffic, is dominated by banks, antique shops, real estate agents, boutique clothes stores and cafes.

Further down the road is Remuera village, where there are door-to-door restaurants. This part of Remuera, which slopes down to Orakei Basin, is a popular destination for coffee drinkers in the weekends.

With most of the area being in the Grammar zones, properties are sought-after and command high prices. At the moment you would be hard pushed to buy any house, apartment or townhouse for less than $500,000. However, recently there have been ex-State houses that need a lot of work for sale on the southern slopes for $350,000. Also, if you look hard enough, there is always a bargain to be found. At the other end of the market, exclusive residences can sell for millions, especially if they are on Victoria Ave or in and around Arney Rd. Here you will find large three- to four-storey homes on sizeable sections.

Remuera attracts a lot of young families who want to be within walking distance of private and public schools, close to the shops in Newmarket and only a 10-minute drive from the waterfront. Being on major bus routes and close to motorway access, it's also a handy location for commuters.

The suburb has a mix of new and old architecture. Nearly every pocket of land has been filled, with a lot of the older-style homes being relocated to make way for new developments.

This has changed the traditional make-up of Remuera's population. No longer are there generations of the same family settling within a few streets of each other. However, many people who grew up in this famous suburb return with family in tow. It is estimated that this new breed of Remuerans upgrade their houses every three years and generally stay within the suburb's boundaries.

This undulating area of Auckland means that views of the city, Rangitoto and One Tree Hill are common.

Handy to the city and Mission Bay, Remuera is still living up to its reputation as one of the most sought-after Auckland suburbs to live in.