SCHOOL ZONES:
Te Huruhi and Waiheke primaries, Waiheke High School.
CONTACT:
Jane Scarles, Harcourts, 022 021 4383.
AUCTION:
Sept 24.
From the mountains of Wanaka to the shores of Waiheke Island takes the Lucas family just four and a half hours.
"We can leave our doorstep at 8.30am and be here at 1pm," says Lucy Lucas.
She and Ben, plus three-and-a-bit-year-old daughter Sophie, bought the concrete and timber home, which sits up the hill from the Orapiu wharf, in February 2014.
They wanted a contrast from Central Otago -- an escape from their busy working lives in Wanaka. And they also like their homes to be in remote areas -- and on Waiheke Island that meant away from busier areas such as Onetangi and Oneroa.
They are only the second owners of the weatherboard house that was built in the 1970s and sold when the original owners left the island.
Originally Ben had thought they might buy in the Marlborough Sounds, but Lucy reasoned they had never been there, whereas they had visited Waiheke when they stayed with friends on the island. Reasoning extended to the logic that time in the Marlborough Sounds would be limited to boating and fishing whereas Waiheke had all that and more to offer the family.
"Orapiu is fantastic for Sophie to swim," says Ben. "We can kayak, jet ski and fish. We love exploring the different places on the island. We usually can find a nice beach all to ourselves and we will pull up the boat and have some lunch"
They enjoy the wineries -- particularly Man O' War Bay where they park up and have lunch, and Lucy thinks the art scene on the island is thriving. There's golf, mini golf, walking and hiking.
"And the view from this house is absolutely spectacular," says Lucy. That vista looks out over the shore to the water between Orapiu and Ponui Island, and further across to the mainland.
"There is a great fishing spot just out there on the peninsula," says Ben.
Image 1 of 7: This uncomplicated but versatile home sits in an idyllic and quiet spot
It's an uncomplicated layout with the main part of the home given over to the living area, which opens to the front deck. This living space has lounge with a woodburner, dining and kitchen.
Two bedrooms are on the side as you come in off the front deck and a third, with en suite, is at the back of the house. There is a second bathroom near the kitchen. At the back of the house is another sheltered deck and lawn and then a sleepout is attached to the garage (one of two garages, the other is under the house.)
In total the house and sleepout have beds for 13 people, another key consideration when the couple bought the home.
"For us it was the space, and being able to sleep so many people, which is great when friends come up to stay." Says Ben. "And it's an easy house to keep clean."
Over Christmas and New Year, this part of the island swells with holidaymakers and on New Year's Eve Lucy and Ben join their neighbours to watch nearby firework displays.
"But I think that person is thinking about doing a laser show this year," says Ben.
On New Year's Day Orapiu and Arran Bay residents and holidaymakers have competitions -- gumboot throwing, kayaking out to the buoy and tugs of war.
"It is a great way for the locals to get to know each other and pretty much everyone from this end of the island turns up," says Lucy.
"We didn't want anywhere we had to fuss about; here we just clean the whole house in an hour and turn off the lights and leave."
They are selling as they want to buy a farm in Central Otago. They think their holiday spot in this idyllic part of the world will appeal to someone who wants it as a holiday home or even to permanent residents, perhaps commuters or a retired couple.
"I think a family could club together to buy it as a holiday place. You have the lawn and the bay, it would be perfect for someone with school-aged children. Or a retired couple living here; it is so relaxing," says Lucy.
"But we will miss everything. We do love it, it's so peaceful. When we get here, we totally unwind because it is hectic where we live in Wanaka. I actually like the fact that we don't know a lot of people here. We can do the supermarket shopping in a flash. But I imagine Waiheke is a bit like Wanaka, a small town where you get to know people quickly."
