"We get visited by tui. When it's windy they do acrobatics in front of the house."Ross and Julie Pratt's decision to give their kids a country lifestyle but not forfeit sea views lead them to a Waiwera property that "out-lifestyles" standard offerings.
Imagine a rural lifestyle block, blessed with commanding Wenderholm and Hauraki Gulf views. Then add in the benefits of waterfront access to the kayak-friendly Puhoi River and your land adjoining Wenderholm Regional Park's recreational facilities and you're starting to get the picture.
"Look at those views," Julie sighs.
Ross chips in: "And they're always changing with lots of activity out on the river and yachts on the gulf."
Hankering to allow their children to mature in a relaxed rural setting, the couple were loathe to farewell coastal views from their previous Army Bay home nearly nine years ago. Then they found these mega-views from a location allowing Ross to be at Westhaven to race boats within 35 minutes and their children to subsequently commute to Auckland University. Waiwera, Orewa, Silverdale, Puhoi and motorway access are handy.
The previous builder-owner crafted their 80s brick-and-cedar house for functionality; however, they've enhanced the decor, added the pool and barn and landscaped.
Their long, curved entrance driveway positions the house well back from the road; its turn-around encircling a magnolia tree. Visitors can park under the drive-through portico entrance. Other vehicles are well catered for with off-street parking, an internal-access double garage with separate workshop and an 88sq m barn for a boat, motor home, farm machinery and more.
Ross says: "We've got bush on both sides so we get visited by lots of wood pigeons and tui. When it's windy they do acrobatics in front of the house. But because the property is sunk down behind the hill here it's like a little microclimate and southerly winds just go right over the top of us."
The entrance foyer features Douglas fir sarked ceilings, also found in several key rooms. A compact telephone room off the foyer helped previous owners run this as a B&B. Says Ross: "When we redecorated we painted most walls white, which really made the timber 'pop'."
The layout and big sunny decks worship sun and views. The dining area steps down to the main lounge, with angular timber ceiling, freestanding fireplace and dreamy coast, river and country outlook. Julie says: "I love sitting in the lounge in the afternoon sun. But we get sun in this house from first thing in the morning, all day long."
The smart kitchen, with clear turquoise splashbacks, high-gloss cabinetry and engineered stone benchtop, is also a spot for sea-gazing. So is the roomy third living space/media room -- a social hub for the kids and their mates during teenage years.
The salt-water pool with water feature nearby is also a superb entertainer. Julie says: "It's so sunny we use it a lot. We're in there October through to April."
The single-level floorplan arranged around two main wings thoughtfully locates the younger generation's living at the opposite end from the master bedroom. The master restfully admires the panorama beyond a 200-year-old pohutukawa and has a walk-through wardrobe to an en suite with bath. The master wing also offers a guest bedroom plus a bathroom and separate toilet.
The other wing is rounded out by two deckside bedrooms, a hobbies/sewing room and another bedroom (alternately an office) bringing the bedroom tally up to five.
The Pratts have chooks and run 10 head of cattle on their fenced land, aided by a cattle race, a small calving shed and the barn. They have a kayak shelter on their 100m of river frontage.
The couple bought here to enhance a stage of their kids' lives but now they've left home, the house over-delivers for the couple, Cavoodle pooch Rosie and Siamese cat Bayley.
