Wide angle in Glendowie

505 Riddell Rd, Glendowie, Auckland. Photo / Supplied

505 RIDDELL RD GLENDOWIE

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SIZE: Land 1444sq m; house 224sq m (approx).

PRICE INDICATION: Offers expected in excess of $2.5 million. Tender closes November 4.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 11-11.45am; Wed 12.15-1pm.

ON THE WEB: www.barfoot.co.nz/462878

SCHOOL ZONES: Churchill Park Primary, Glendowie College.

CONTACT: Bob Gordon, Barfoot & Thompson St Heliers, ph 575 9079 or 0274 759 025.

FEATURES: 1980s cedar home with big decks and panoramic island and harbour views from almost every room. Privately set with paths through native garden (and unformed reserve and paper road) down to private beach.

Memories of this idyllic beachside family home with glorious views prompted Vicki Rumsey to buy it five years ago - despite living nowhere near it. The 1980s cedar board-and-batten two-storey home is where she spent her teenage years, revelling in a blissful mix of views, a beach with privacy, and water sports on tap. Buoyed by those balmy memories, she bought her late parents' property when the opportunity arose five years ago, when she was living in Nelson.

The home and its expansive decks were built to embrace a wide view encompassing the Hauraki Gulf and its islands. "It's a bit extra-special, really," Vicki says. "When anyone came to visit they'd always say, 'Wow, what truly amazing views'.

"Every evening we'd go down and have a twilight swim and meet up with most of the neighbours. I basically grew up windsurfing and sailing around Browns Island. And I caught lots of snapper with my Dad in the dinghy off the point just out from the house."

Her parents, Bill and Yvonne, bought the architect-designed home 26 years ago. Vicki recalls that she and her siblings had lived in a few houses before that, as former real estate agent Yvonne enjoyed buying and selling them. But this special spot changed all that.

"Mum and Dad just had such a passion for the sea. And they loved the way this property was uniquely built for captivating sea views.

"Practically every room has a fantastic sea view. Once Dad moved in he said, 'Right, I'm never moving again'."

It's the most seaward property on one side of a long right-of-way. Substantial off-street parking bolsters the internal-access double garage. The combination of palms and aged cedar make the approach to the house strongly reminiscent of Titirangi.

Because the section slopes, the front door opens to the upper level. This level is mostly devoted to living, opening to front decks with glass balustrades. The substantial kitchen-dining room was renovated about a decade ago. Its sarked wooden ceilings reign over pale green timber cabinetry and there are two ovens, a dishwasher, a gas hob with barbecue grill and a pop-up extractor fan. There's more dining space on the deck.

The neighbouring lounge with wood-burner is a relaxed family space, good for watching passing yachts and ferries. The carpet was specially dyed to bring the sea's tone inside. The sole bedroom on this level is off the lounge and has grandstand views. Nearby is the family bathroom and separate toilet.

Downstairs are two big bedroom suites. The northernmost of these was a family room until Vicki's father converted it to the master suite, incorporating a wide glass frontage to make the most of the view. It has a walk-in wardrobe and, rather than shutting its en suite off from the vista, it is semi open-plan with the bedroom. The second bedroom suite has an en suite and a long walk-through wardrobe. Both suites open to decks, one of which leads to the laundry.

Vicki's father planted many of the natives in the garden, part of which is terraced. Paths lead down through it and a paper reserve and paper road to a white sandy beach below the southern end of Karaka Bay. While it isn't private in the strict sense of the word, its seclusion means it's used only by a few locals.

Vicki rented the property, keen to keep it in case she and her children returned to Auckland. But she has married again and is now firmly settled in Nelson.