Surf and turf in Piha

180 Marine Parade North, Piha. Photo / Maurice Mitchell.

180 MARINE PDE NORTH, PIHA

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SIZE: Land 880sq m, house 190sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: $1.5975 million asking price.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 2pm-3pm or by appointment.

ON THE WEB: www.piharealestate.co.nz

SCHOOL ZONES: Oratia District School, Henderson High School.

CONTACT: Jim Trubuhovich, ph 812 8646 or 021 979 404, Marie Trubuhovich 021 814 198, Piha Real Estate.

FEATURES: Solid cedar, two-storey, four-bedroom beachside home. First-storey decks and flat roof access give excellent unobstructed views of scenery and surf. Privately located self-contained ground floor accommodation for extended family and friends.

If beachside properties with unobstructed access and views to sand, water, sky and jaw-dropping views are rare beasts anywhere in the real-estate world, then Maurice Mitchell's home of 15 years on the absolute edge of North Piha's dramatic sands is a find indeed. So close to the panorama of surf and scenery that a moment's walk across the small marine reserve in front lands you in the centre of it. This is a house that feels as embedded in the landscape as is possible for any structure.

When Maurice decided to build his retirement home here he was determined that while he was building in typical bach territory, he wasn't going to build a bach. Rather, he wanted a home with solid roots and good construction, with enough nooks and crannies in it to make it useful for a multitude of uses. "I think it's pretty unique in this sort of location," he comments. "It has the bach attributes of views and proximity to the beach, but it's big enough to have a flexible layout. You can have an office downstairs or either it can be overflow sleeping. Same as downstairs. It's completely private but it's still part of the house."

But while the ground floor is useful with its covered areas, sheds and decks all being functional and flexible, it's upstairs that Maurice's house comes into its own. Once up the flight of polished timber stairs that leads the eye upwards from the front door, the sky opens out in front of you. To the left are the crouching silhouettes of Camel, Nun and Lion rocks. Directly in front is the wide expanse of sand and sky, and of course the breakers that surfers come from across the world to experience.

Not long ago, when the World Junior Surfing Championships were held at Piha, Maurice rented his home out as the headquarters for the Quiksilver team.

He laughs as he remembers how the surfers loved to loll around on the deck and watch what the waves were doing. "You can see the rips, the wind directions, everything, without even needing to go out the door. It's pretty special."

But if this is pretty special, the 360-degree views from the flat roof above are spectacular. Up a narrow loft ladder and on to the large flat roof the world opens up around you.

The house has four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Three of these bedrooms, plus two of the bathrooms, are upstairs and form the main part of the house. The remaining bedroom, bathroom plus another living area are on the ground floor and provide overflow accommodation for friends and family.

Maurice lives upstairs where the outdoors comes in through four sets of French doors and over the decks that surround them.

In case the wind is onshore he has another sunny deck leading from the two bedrooms on the other side of the house. Maurice has decided to move from his beachside home to closer to the city, nearer to family and friends.

"I love it here. The house and the setting, but it's time for me to go. Someone else can enjoy it like I have."