Watch the world go by in St Heliers

1 Hanene St, St Heliers, Auckland. Photo / Geoff Dale

1 HANENE ST ST HELIERS

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SIZE: Land 809sq m, house 212sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: CV $2.67 million. Tender closes May 26.

INSPECT: Saturdays and Sundays 11-11.30am.

ON THE WEB: barfoot.co.nz/454365

SCHOOL ZONES: Glendowie College, Kohimarama School, St Ignatius School

CONTACT: Karin Cooper, Barfoot & Thompson, ph 027 491 2158 or 575 9079.

FEATURES: Light-filled, concrete block, low-maintenance home with spectacular beach views, in sought-after street, close to popular St Heliers Bay village.

Light, space and views - that's what strikes you when you walk into this three-bedroom St Heliers home.

Perched on a corner section on one of the well-heeled streets running up off Tamaki Dr in St Heliers Bay, this simple, concrete-block home feels more like a spacious, elevated apartment than a house.

The added bonus is that when you are not gazing out at the spectacular views over St Heliers Bay, you can wander out on to a private back courtyard or generous front garden that overlooks the waterfront.

Sisters Billie and Jill's parents bought the property 35 years ago. It was the perfect "empty nesters"' down-sizing solution for the St Heliers Bay couple after Billie and Jill had left the larger family home they'd grown up in nearby Maskell St.

Billie's husband, Ray Barker, who has visited his mother-in-law's home for more than three decades with his wife, children and grandchildren, says because of its location it has been a perfect home for entertaining generations of family members.

"There is always so much activity in St Heliers.

"The first thing I do whenever I come here is wander over to the front windows and look at the view. You can sit here for hours looking at the windsurfers, the parasailing and everything else that's going on down at the beach," says Ray.

Hanene St is also just a stone's throw away from Vellenoweth Green, more commonly known as St Heliers Bay Reserve, which has bowling, tennis and croquet clubs and is bustling with people when it hosts sporting events, like the Weet-Bix Tryathlon, each year.

Despite all of the activity, and the house's proximity to Tamaki Dr, Ray says it is surprisingly quiet, even when peak-hour traffic is flowing along the waterfront.

The square, flat-roofed house - which features large picture windows and Fisher ranch sliders throughout - would have been a state-of-the-art design when it was built in the 1960s. Half a century later, it retains its contemporary feel.

One large open-plan living space encompassing the dining room and lounge stretches along the front of the single-level home and opens on to a covered east-facing patio that is a perfect, sunny breakfast spot.

Also at the front of the house is the master bedroom and original walk-in, his-and-hers wardrobes that lead to the tiled en suite. Picture windows in this room provide great sea views.

Behind the lounge, large north- and west-facing windows in the kitchen - which was revamped in the late 70s and is spacious and functional - make the most of the light and connect this space to the garden.

From the kitchen it is an easy walk out to the west-facing, paved courtyard, which is set up for afternoon and evening entertaining.

A separate laundry and small bedroom - or office space - are on the south side of the house, and a double bedroom has views out to the courtyard.

Tucked behind this outdoor space is a two-vehicle carport, with easy access to the street.

There is also a third parking space on the same side of the house, which could be developed into more garden or used to extend the house.

Billie says her mother lived alone in the house after she was widowed in 1980.

"She loved every minute of her time here and said there was nothing she would change as the house is so comfortable and easy to work in. She loved the great feeling of space and light and the very special views out over the bay. She said she never felt lonely."