Takapuna

By CHARLOTTE COSSAR.

As a unique and exclusive North Shore suburb, Takapuna is bordered by the sea and Lake Pupuke. Where else in Auckland can you find exclusive sea-front properties, but only a few blocks back from the beach, gorgeous lakefront homes as well?

Although the homes on the edge of the beach fetch higher prices - it's hard to pick up much for less than $3 million to $4 million - properties fronting onto the lake don't sell for much less.

With houses reaching these prices, Takapuna is one of the city's most sought-after suburbs, and it is definitely threatening some of the eastern suburbs for possessing street names that are among the most expensive in the city.

Before we move away from the famous Takapuna Beach, which provides safe swimming and is shaded by large pohutukawa, we must not forget the popular boat ramp. Utilised by locals, who are very fond of their recreational water toys, and others who like the easy sea access, the boat ramp is heavily used all year around. But renowned for their laid-back air, Takapuna folk normally exchange friendly banter while awaiting their turn.

Just a stone's throw back from the beach is Takapuna's popular strip, which is full to capacity with restaurants, cafes and boutique shops.

The area is more cosmopolitan than its historic neighbours, Belmont, Bayswater and Devonport, which tend to have more period bungalows and villas, and it mainly hosts contemporary architecture. This is what attracts many families with teenage children looking for a suburb with easy-care sections and good schools.

A townhouse a few of streets back from the beach will range from $450,000 to $900,000, with the newer ones starting from $550,000. Units are generally on the market from $250,000.

It is genuinely a suburb that people aspire to, and once there they tend not to leave, making the area very settled. Residents tend to upgrade and move closer to the water's edge, either the lake or the sea.

Most of the sections are a half share of between 900sq m and 1000sq m, due to the old quarter-acre block that was common before the suburb was made more accessible when the Auckland Harbour Bridge was built. The bridge and motorway make Takapuna very handy to the city, Albany and beyond. It takes about 10 minutes (off peak) to whizz across the bridge into town.

The suburb is home to a hospital, a well-patronised and popular shopping complex, movie theatres, the Pump House theatre and a public swimming pool. It is near three university campuses (AUT, Auckland University and Massey University) and two mega-store centres.

If you're up for a long, peaceful stroll, you can meander your way around the bays - which is a pleasant way to while away the afternoon.