Photos: Super 14 kicks offKEY POINTS:
The view from Raewyn and Graham Henry's balcony goes on forever - from the Skytower and city sunsets on one side to the Gulf islands on the other.
It is this view, and other special spaces in the St Heliers clifftop house, which the couple will miss when the property goes to auction on March 5.
The All Blacks coach and his wife Raewyn built the house three years ago after admiring the work of Hamilton-based architect Peter Chibnall and asking him to design them a home on the Cliff Rd site they had just bought. Chibnall designed a four-bedroom, four bathroom home with indoor/outdoor living spaces to make the most of the grandstand position perched above St Heliers beach.
One of Graham's favourite views in the house is from his office desk where he can glance up and look out to sea. Above, tower lofty oak shelves, accessed by a sliding ladder, which reach up to the second storey roof. High above, an internal window looks down to the office from a hallway outside the master bedroom.
Graham jokes that Raewyn calls down instructions from this alcove.
"More like the other way around," she retorts.
Upstairs the view from the master bedroom balcony sweeps from the city to the west, across to the North Shore and on to Rangitoto and, through the giant pohutukawas clinging to the cliff across the road, Motutapu and Browns Island.
Nearby up the road is Archilles Pt, where tourists drive to get a grandstand view of the Gulf islands. But thanks to a high wall shielding the pool and patio, the Henrys have been able to host barbecues for family and friends in privacy.
Inside, the decor is minimalist with a few tasteful pieces of contemporary art and coloured glass dotted about above dark-polished American oak floors and immaculate carpets.
Downstairs, a large multi-purpose room, linked to the rest of the three-level house by an elevator, is designed as guest accommodation with its own kitchen, bathroom and a separate entrance.
It's a space which has been put to good use during their time.
Nearby is a walk-in, temperature-controlled wine room, built 18 months ago. Its lattice work of oak shelving and Raewyn's grandmother's antique cabinet hold dozens of bottles of wine including a few memorable favourites.
Now it is time to downsize their town home, and buy a bach on Waiheke Island.
With their first grandchild on the scene, the Henrys hope Waiheke will become a gathering place for the extended family in future years and give them more opportunity to get out in their sea kayaks.
No price has been indicated for the Henry home, but two Cliff Rd properties with old houses on them recently sold for their land values of $4 million.
