SCHOOL ZONES:
Gulf Harbour Primary, Wentworth College.
CONTACT:
Janne Adams, 021 508 098, Bayleys.
AUCTION:
September 8.
Johnny and Leonie Dee love their house on the hill looking out across Gulf Harbour.
While the view of the sea is around the corner, their kitchen and living area takes in the golf course and spans some of the new homes Johnny calls "noddy" houses.The elevation means they can't be built out and the "noddy" houses make the landscape an interesting one.
Johnny has lived here for about 10 years and bought the house new.
"It was built by a spec builder who did all the retaining and stuff, that was his job, and when it was quiet he'd do spec houses."
Johnny is used to doing up old homes and says it was lovely not having to worry about doing anything at all to this one.
He works for North Beach, his family's company, which sells surf gear, and Leonie has lived on the peninsula all her life.
"It's lovely. It's really, really nice," Johnny says.
"Initially Gulf Harbour had this sort of I don't know, stigma, like, with all the noddy houses -- when they did that development people weren't overly impressed."
But the area is such a great one to live in, he says.
You get a lot of house for your money and there are parks and walks all around, plus it is close to a boat ramp, which is important to Johnny because he loves his boating and fishing.
The ferry to town leaves from down the road and is a popular way for people to get to work.
Johnny and Leonie were married in February and have a little boy, and Johnny raised his two older children here.
Image 1 of 6: If you want a home that's close to a boat ramp, then this might be the one. Photos / David Rowland, Getty Images
He loves the elevation and the high stud sloping ceilings because of the sense of spaciousness they bring.
He also says that the four bedrooms are all roomy and the family has had the space to grow here.
Downstairs is a double garage plus a storage room/gym and a laundry. Upstairs are long, open-plan living areas with a galley-type kitchen in the middle taking advantage of the view.
Two bedrooms have en suites and concertina windows pull back from the lounge onto the front deck, which is a nice spot for a glass of wine.
At the back is a patio area and backyard with olive trees and other plantings beginning to get established.
Says Johnny: "You've got decks both sides so in the morning this is really nice, especially in summer.
"You get all the morning sun there and then in the afternoon around the other side it's a little bit more private so it's a good place to have barbies."
They love their neighbours and say the kids roam from one house to the next.
Leonie says when she met Johnny she was a bit apprehensive about moving to Gulf Harbour because it's further along the coast, but when she got here she found a lovely, friendly community and says she always feels safe when Johnny is away for work or off on his boat -- when they got married all the neighbours came to the wedding.
You are spoilt for beaches, and nearby Shakespeare Park at the end of the peninsula is predator-free and has kiwi.
The couple joke that they are only moving so they can be nearer to Johnny's launch. When a house came up unexpectedly in Arkles Bay, which is where he keeps his boat, they were delighted to be able to buy it but say they will miss their house on the hill.
