The rare combination of private, scenic serenity and proximity to Auckland’s CBD attracted a couple familiar with the special, given their CVs include running Sir Richard Branson’s exclusive Noosa retreat.
Owners Paul Jobin, a landscaper, food consultant and chef, and businesswoman Lyndsay Jobin bought 29 Hebe Place in Birkenhead, Auckland, in 2017, shortly after managing Queensland’s Makepeace Island retreat owned by Sir Richard.
“In the past we’ve run luxury lodges in amazingly private and special locations so we wanted to find somewhere private peaceful with the ‘wow’ factor,” Lyndsay says.
“This property is definitely a unicorn, as few people realise you can get such a serene location with gorgeous bush and sea views yet still be only 10 minutes’ drive from Auckland’s CBD.
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“The lifestyle here is fantastic, enjoying dinner on the deck with tuis and kakas eating theirs a couple of metres away walking the paths through our surrounding Kauri Park Reserves.”
While you're enjoying dinner on the deck, the tuis and kakas are eating theirs a few metres away. Photo / Supplied
Lyndsay has a passion for architecture and interior design and the couple have renovated this expansive 316sqm home inside and out, opting for simple but elegant, quality choices.
The previous owners lived here for about 20 years, substantially extending the two-storey home in 2000.
This address is at the end of a cul-de-sac, secreted away off Kauri Road, about 20 minutes’ walk from Birkenhead Village.
The home faces north-west, enjoying spectacular sunsets and sea views future-proofed by the bush reserve, looking out over Soldiers Bay to Te Atatu Peninsula and West Harbour Marina.
The couple’s improvements outside include painting all exteriors around the predominantly cedar home and enhancing its subtropical, relatively low-maintenance, landscaped grounds.
The kitchen’s pitched roof enhances the spaciousness of the house. Photo / Supplied
They love entertaining so appreciate the home flowing out to its three separate decks incorporating adjustable LouvreTec-topped areas, plus the sheltered courtyard near the entrance.
Inside, a light-filled double-height entry atrium showcases the tasteful modern flooring product they chose which emulates blonded American oak. This leads to the open-plan kitchen-dining room neighbouring a living room and additional sunroom flowing out to decks.
“Paul’s experience as a chef saw us create a wonderful ‘chef’s own’ kitchen with Smeg appliances including a caterer’s stove.
“I love sitting at the island with a glass of wine chatting, as he creates wonderful meals,” Lyndsay says.
The kitchen’s pitched roof enhances spaciousness, as do cathedral ceilings in upstairs’ bedrooms.
The owners are selling 29 Hebe Place because they are relocating. Photo / Supplied
“I also love the sunroom, which gets flooded in afternoon sun and feels like you’re sitting outdoors when you open up all the joinery around it,” says Lyndsay.
A powder room, laundry, substantial storage and triple garaging supplemented by off-street parking complete this level. Upstairs spreads out in two wings. The master wing is expansive with its bedroom, lounge-kitchenette, balcony, walk-in-wardrobe and luxurious ensuite.
There’s plenty of room for family or guests with three other bedrooms, one of which has an ensuite, plus there’s a family bathroom and a study.
Having now renovated top-to-toe, the couple are selling to relocate.
Hebe Place in Birkenhead is a hidden gem on the North Shore, say the agents marketing this property. Photo / Supplied
Ray White agents Ali Hellesoe and Sydnee Wallace, who are marketing the property, say, “Hebe Place truly is a hidden gem on the North Shore, surrounded by nature, breathtaking sunsets and expansive sea views, it is very seldom a property of this calibre comes to the market, just minutes from the city.
“It is a privilege to market a simply sensational home.”
29 Hebe Place in Birkenhead, Auckland will be sold at auction on February 13.
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