Coastal living, city convenience.
After years in the city, Angela Ackroyd knew she wanted something more for her family: more space, more safety, and a stronger sense of community.
“I used to live in another area where I wouldn’t let my daughter go beyond the end of our cul-de-sac,” she says. “When we moved to Beachlands, I told her she could go anywhere in the area and her exact words were: ‘It feels like I’m free.’”
Thirteen years on, Ackroyd is preparing to move just down the road into her second Fletcher Living home. It’s a new standalone four-bedroom-plus-study, bought off the plans and now under construction. It will give her family a low-maintenance lifestyle and extra space for her teenage son, university-aged daughter, and Luca the Schnoodle.
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She says the quality and ease of her first Fletcher Living townhouse made the decision simple. “I trust Fletcher to get it right. I’ve done it before and would do it again.”
Her new place, which is set to be completed by Christmas, is just minutes from the beach, close to friends, and a daily ferry ride to her job at a telco in the CBD.
“That’s the other beauty of it. The ferry takes 35 minutes and it’s just so peaceful. I arrive at work calm, having had a coffee,” says Ackroyd. “You don’t feel like you’re in Auckland here. You’re surrounded by water. It’s like coming home to a holiday.”
That sense of escape is part of the appeal, says Wayne Taylor, Fletcher Living’s Regional Manager - Auckland South/East. “When you drive into Beachlands and walk around the neighbourhood centre, it feels like a beachside community.”
Ackroyd sees it in her day-to-day life. “My son can head out to play rugby with his mates, and I don’t have to hover or worry. There’s a real sense of freedom and safety here.”
The laid-back lifestyle is drawing a mix of buyers from upgraders to couples taking their first step on to the ladder. First-home buyers Mark Sy and Shany Rotenberg are moving into a two-bedroom townhouse.
“We swim every day in summer,” says Rotenberg, a physiotherapist. “It’s such a relaxed, friendly place. Everyone knows everyone. It’s like a village.” Sy, a teacher, adds: “We work here, we live here, and we love the community. The townhouse is perfect for us and we’re the only two-bedroom one on our street, which makes it feel really unique.”
Fletcher Living’s Beachlands neighbourhood is a master-planned community set across more than 13ha, with up to 210 homes planned. Every property comes with landscaping and fencing included from the start.
“The great thing with being able to master plan a development is that you can actually put in some additional amenity,” Taylor says. “This one is literally across the road from Woolworths and the neighbourhood centre cafés and shops. Within the development there is a fairly large outdoor wetland and green space, plus a walkway that connects this development to the southern and northern parts of existing Beachlands.”
The plan also extends beyond the new neighbourhood itself, with walkways east and west linking old Beachlands to the town centre, and a completed north–south recreational path connecting playgrounds, the pump track and open spaces.
Homes range from two to five bedrooms, with two-bedroom terraces starting at around $759,000. Moving further into the development, away from the town centre, sections become larger and the architecture remains deliberately varied throughout.
“We really liked that the homes didn’t all look the same,” says Rotenberg. “It makes the street feel more personal and the house feel more like ours.”
The couple say the buying experience was smooth and surprisingly warm. “Fletcher Living made us feel looked after from the start,” Mark says. “It never felt like it was just about the sale. They were patient, answered all our questions, even helped with our parents who had lots of queries. We couldn’t believe how easy it was.”
From its beaches, marina and clifftop walks to its village markets and family-friendly amenities, Beachlands is an example of how the best of Auckland isn’t all in its centre.
To celebrate the neighbourhood launch, Fletcher Living is hosting a free Big Dig community event at the Fletcher Living Development on Beachlands Rd on Saturday, October 11. There will be spot prizes, free coffee, ice cream and entertainment. It’s on between 10am and 2pm and is suitable for family members of all ages.
Visitors can also drop into Fletcher Living’s new sales suite at 1 Kakahi Rd to explore the masterplan.
More information: Beachlands new houses for sale.
