Both owners of this coastal home, having spent time in beautiful and iconic destinations worldwide, saw its outlook and decided “this is the most beautiful place we’ve ever seen”.
Marion leads one of the world’s leading strategy, branding and interior design practices for luxury hospitality, while her husband Mike is a businessman and Kiwi Olympic-class sailor.
Her global work has taken her to destinations including the Maldives, Costa Rica, Bora Bora, Italy and Belize. “I saw this property and said, ‘I can’t believe we could live here’.”
They call themselves a “Covid couple”, their relationship beginning when then New York-based Marion was visiting Auckland for business and cemented during New Zealand’s first lockdown.
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They went on to marry and welcomed their son, and in early 2022 began searching for a home together, conscious Mike would love to live close to the sea.
After being encouraged by a well-known New Zealand sailor friend to explore the Whangaparāoa Peninsula, they visited this home overlooking Matakatia Bay, near Manly.
“We fell in love with everything about it, the ever-changing light, the shifting views with the tides and weather, and the easy walks to nearby beaches. It’s a unique feeling being on the narrow part of the peninsula, where several of the region’s most beautiful beaches are just minutes away via lush, bush-lined paths.”
They liked the two-storey home’s layout and could see potential to add value. The northeast-facing home captures expansive sea views from its position toward the front of its 1265sqm coastal grounds, well back from the cliff above the bay.
“The view is just magic and our position means it’s very sheltered from prevailing winds.”
“The view is just magic and our position means it’s very sheltered from prevailing winds,” says one of the homeowners. Photo / Supplied
A considered renovation enhanced the home throughout, including a striking curved staircase with a sculptural white concrete balustrade. Photo / Supplied
The main living, dining and kitchen area is upstairs, complete with an enclosed fireplace. Photo / Supplied
A considered renovation has enhanced the home throughout, including a striking curved staircase with a sculptural white concrete balustrade, engineered timber flooring, and a reworked kitchen that forms the heart of the home, alongside broader upgrades to lighting, finishes and systems.
Marion likes that the two levels can function independently, giving families separation during extended stays, while also being ideal for couples with visiting children and grandchildren.
Eight specimen-sized dracaena draco plants introduce the property, which features relatively low-maintenance gardens and a rear lawn. An internal-access double garage is complemented by off-street parking, with space for the 8m rigid inflatable boat they’ve used to explore the coastline on their doorstep.
An impressive double-height foyer sets the tone on entry. Two ground floor bedrooms and a lounge with kitchenette open to the lower deck, accompanied by a bathroom, powder room and separate laundry.
Upstairs, the main living, dining and kitchen area, complete with enclosed fireplace, flows easily to a partially covered upper deck with a superb outlook.
The northeast-facing home captures expansive sea views. Photo / Supplied
The 320sqm home has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, garaging for two vehicles and multiple living areas enjoying fantastic sea views. Photo / Supplied
For Marion, whose career has included time working across Gordon Ramsay’s businesses, the custom kitchen reflects her passion for food and entertaining.
Her innate sense of hospitality has seen them host memorable gatherings, most notably their annual seafood boil on the deck overlooking the water.
She often takes conference calls from the window seat in the primary bedroom, which features a luxurious ensuite, his-and-hers wardrobes and direct access to the deck. A generous rumpus room and an office complete the layout.
Now, with Marion’s work taking them overseas for the next few years, they are reluctantly selling a home that has meant so much to them.
Harcourts agent Ben Gibson says: “This stretch of Whangaparāoa, opposite Tindalls Beach, is a bit of a secret. Homes in positions like this, with these views, are tightly held.”
95 Tiri Road in Tindalls Bay, Rodney, is for sale by auction, to be held on May 28.
- Sponsored by Harcourts
