The Hunt family were such entrenched "townies" that friends were mortified to hear they were heading to a Stillwater lifestyle property, despite it having facilities worthy of the nickname "The Resort".
Greg Hunt says: "We'd been in Mt Eden for 15 years and were real townies, right down to my wife Susan's taste for designer shoes.
"Some of her friends said, 'You can't move up there; you'll never last'."
But that was 14 years ago and they're only now looking to move on from their country spread with stellar views, heated pool and floodlit tennis court because it's downsizing time.
Back in 2002, Sue, a director and consultant, and videography-drone company director Greg started thinking about farewelling suburbia so their two young sons could grow up with more space.
Friends had built this two-storey cedar home, designed by Architectus, around 1992 and the Hunts had visited them there. When their friends decided to sell, the Hunts eyed the property anew from a buyers' perspective.
Greg says: "We came out, took one look and were totally sold. I can remember our eldest son, who was 9 at the time, tugging on me as we walked around excitedly asking, 'Dad, dad, can we do it?'"
Image 1 of 7: 182 Spur Road, Stillwater, Rodney
Moving in they were struck by the sensation of big skies, no longer feeling hemmed in.
"It's very beautiful and peaceful, very much like the countryside with no sense of neighbours because the land around us drops away.
"But the brilliant thing is you're virtually in Auckland. Being halfway between Stillwater and Silverdale you're five minutes drive from the new Silverdale shopping centre. You're 15 minutes from Albany and 30 minutes, off-peak, from Auckland CBD."
First-time visitors are captivated by the view, says Greg, explaining how a leafy approach introduces the home, which sits on the highest point of Spur Rd and only reveals its superb vista on entry. The home's north face has floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows maximising views across countryside to the Gulf, Kawau, Little Barrier, Great Barrier and Whangaparaoa. Greg particularly likes how the abundance of glass makes him feel connected with the outdoors from within the main big living area with open fireplace, dual seating areas, dining and new granite-bench kitchen.
Outside, the property's wide covered patio, heated 12-metre swimming pool, spa, floodlit all-weather tennis court and fruit and nut orchard entice. Overlay this with Greg and Sue's subtropical planting and you get the idea why the nickname "The Resort" seems appropriate.
Completing downstairs are a powder room, laundry and double garage.
Son Will (16) favours the upstairs media room despite this part of the home having an office plus three bedrooms and two bathrooms with great views. Sue, who travels regularly for work, appreciates the retreat-like master bedroom with its superb outlook, dressing room and en suite. Friend Liz Cotton of Vermilion Design advised on interior colours and the kitchen. And spazioCasa Albany helped them luxuriously reinvent all three bathrooms.
Friends are keen to visit, often staying over in a largely self-contained area adjoining the main house via a walkway. Its lounge, bathroom and two bedrooms also suit teens or grandparents.
Other features include a big barn, solar heating and the overflow capacity offered by a walk-in fridge the original owners hung meat in.
Son Ben (23) has left home and Will isn't far off. It seems "The Resort" has converted their formerly townie parents for good as they plan to downsize to Matakana with Charlie the border terrier in tow.
