LIFESTYLE COMES FIRST
If you’re looking for resort-style living, you’ll find this luxurious Omaha property hard-to-beat, discovers SANDRA GOODWIN
Lawyers Greg Webster and Jules McClain bought this impressive Omaha home knowing it would deliver a lifestyle for them to enjoy the things they love to do outside work, including surfing, golf and boating.
They were previously based in Bayswater, moving here in early 2017 so their family could immerse themselves in the relaxed beachy lifestyle Greg had loved growing up nearby on Takatu Peninsula.
Greg says: “It’s a proper, extensive home in a lifestyle beach setting so you’re not living with any compromises, and there’s plenty of room for everybody.”
The substantial circa 2013 cedar home on Omaha’s golf course is a short walk to the beach, near tennis courts and alongside a little-used reserve that Greg says “gives us an extended lawn we don’t have to mow”.
He says: “When we’ve occasionally lent this place to friends, they’ve rung after arriving to say, ‘You didn’t say it was a mansion’.”
The 361sq m home on its 965sq m site happily accommodates the couple who sometimes work from home, their 4-year-old son and Greg’s two teenagers, with them every second week.
“Our lockdown was no hassle; we spent it in the pool, at the beach and watching films in the home theatre.”
The family often launch their jetski from the Omaha boat ramp and the internal-access double garage, bolstered by offstreet parking, has plentiful storage for sporting toys.
Downstairs, the office and two bedrooms accompany a bathroom, laundry and powder room.
Plus there’s a study nook adjoining the much-loved media room.
The family sometimes barbecue alongside the heated pool. Greg reckons the nearby covered loggia with gas fireplace is a lovely place to sit.
Upstairs, dual decks facing Little Barrier Island to the east and the pool and golf course to the west, flank the open-plan living-kitchen-dining with scullery.
Jules enjoys sitting out on the west-facing deck admiring the sunsets.
Greg says: “We’ve made a lot of friends in Omaha and we entertain a lot, everyone enjoying the relaxed holiday-type lifestyle, often gathered around the big kitchen island.
“When we’re at home in Omaha we always feel like we’re on holiday, 10 minutes’ drive from Matakana Market and a short walk down a path to the beach and the surf.”
Greg can drive to his Smales Farm office within 45 minutes to an hour when timed right.
Upstairs, the master bedroom overlooking Omaha Bay, opens to decks and has an en suite and walk-in-wardrobe. Two more bedrooms accompany a family bathroom.
They refreshed the decor and still adore the property. But their previous pattern of alternating with winters in Queenstown won’t work once their 4-year-old reaches school age, so they’re moving to Queenstown permanently.
Agent Victoria Turner says: “With a noticeable increase of couples and families looking for a lifestyle move from the city to the beach, this property will have strong appeal due to its ‘resort type’ living, abundance of space and work-from-home options.”
Sale: Auction July 22
Contact: Victoria Turner, Bayleys, 021 795 099; Joneen Smith, 021 464 557; Paul Elsden, 021 936 011
“It’s a proper, extensive home in a lifestyle beach setting so you’re not living with any compromises, and there’s plenty of room for everybody.”