When property auctioneer Andrew North heard his wife wanted to move to the country in Albany to be near her sister around 11 years ago, he was conflicted.
The thought of peacefulness and privacy appealed.
“But I’ve never been keen on all the work I associate with living on a property in the countryside. If you look at my hands, these are not the hands of a capable man.”
Ōkura Country Estate was the solution. Its 38 properties set within about 76ha of rolling countryside and native bush enjoy a sense of country calm without the labour typically associated with a significant land holding.
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“When the subdivision was done the minimum you could subdivide was five acres (two hectares) but you only have one acre (about 4000sqm) to look after yourself. The balance is communal land maintained for you.
“It’s a neat set-up as the communal land has walking tracks and communal facilities including a clubhouse, tennis court and bowling green. We’ve made the land we do look after as low maintenance as possible. I even have a little robot that mows the lawns.”
The location is convenient, only about seven minutes from their previous Torbay property, a little over 10 minutes’ drive from Westfield Albany and East Coast beaches and 23km from Auckland’s CBD.
When Andrew and wife Suzette bought this circa-2009 home in the friendly gated community their children were primary school age, later going on to attend Kristin School. “Over the years we’ve pretty much redone everything bar one bathroom.”
The 450sqm home has five bedrooms, three bathrooms and multiple living zones. Photo / Supplied
The renovated kitchen by Celia Visser Design includes a marble island, a closable dark-stained veneer drinks and coffee zone along one side, integrated Miele appliances and the scullery. Photo / Supplied
Their re-concreted driveway incorporating open-air parking culminates in an internal-access triple garage. The single-level, circa 448sqm home has schist veneer on the front and cedar elsewhere. The foyer houses a glass-fronted wine cellar and opens into the spacious central living-dining-kitchen-scullery flowing out to the pool area.
“After the first house we bought faced the wrong way and was cold I’d never buy a house that doesn’t have a north north-west orientation. Everything about this house is perfectly positioned for all-day sun, it just streams in and the pool gets the last drop of sun around 7pm in summer.”
The atmosphere is relaxed but luxurious with dark American oak flooring and a contemporary chandelier. The renovated kitchen by Celia Visser Design includes a marble island, a closable dark-stained veneer drinks and coffee zone along one side, integrated Miele appliances and the scullery. It sits between a media-music room and the accommodation wing.
They extended the latter by 48sqm, adding an ensuited guest bedroom with walk-in wardrobe and enlarging two of the four other bedrooms. You wake to a restful view over their rear lawn towards rolling hills in the ensuited primary bedroom with office and walk-in wardrobe. There’s also a family bathroom.
The outdoor room with Louvretec roof, side blinds that come down and a schist outdoor fireplace is a favourite place for one of the vendors. Photo / Supplied
The atmosphere is relaxed but luxurious with dark American oak flooring and a contemporary chandelier. Photo / Supplied
The northern side of the house, where there’s a children’s flying fox, opens to a generous patio and the heated salt-water swimming pool they installed. At the intersection of these is one of Andrew’s favourite places, effectively an outdoor room with Louvretec roof, side blinds that come down and a schist outdoor fireplace.
“I love sitting there with the fire going, watching rugby on the outdoor TV and we’ve also had some great family movie nights there.” The open-plan area and its alfresco counterpart have been brilliant for entertaining and parties.
With both children about to move overseas, Andrew and wife will downsize.
Harcourts agent Jo Glancy says: “It’s a home nurtured by family and friends who cherish the beautiful quiet, calm surroundings yet love being so close to every amenity you need. The best of both worlds.”
19 Kahia Lane in Albany, North Shore, Auckland, is for sale by auction on December 11.
- Sponsored by Harcourts
