GREAT EXPECTATIONS

A Bay of Islands home met a daunting list of requirements for owners who had been searching for two years, writes LEIGH BRAMWELL.

Lot 3 / 127 Rangitane Road 5 4 4

In his mind, the current owner of a spectacular coastal home and land holding in the Bay of Islands bought the property the minute he saw it.

He’d been looking for two years for something that met his very tight criteria, and this was, quite possibly, the only one in New Zealand that did.

It had to be waterfront, north-facing, private, within 10 minutes’ drive of Kerikeri village, on a tarsealed road, with a sealed driveway and have driving access to the waterfront.

Lot 3/127 Rangitane Road in Kerikeri - listed for $3,950,000 delivered all that and more.

In addition to its own 4.8ha site with panoramic views over the Te Puna Inlet, it has an additional 27ha also on the waterfront which is for sale separately. And not only is the public road sealed, but the 2km driveway to the house is concreted. At its end is a majestic five-bedroom, fourbathroom home with an expansive kitchen, large dining, casual sitting room, formal lounge and billiard room.

Upstairs the master bedroom has floor-to-ceiling sliders opening to a balcony from which to appreciate the sea view, a sarked ceiling and a fully-tiled bathroom with a freestanding bath.

The property ticked all the boxes, although over time the owners added a spa, sauna and an infinity pool with a guest cabana alongside.

Despite the distraction of extraordinary sea views, the kitchen is a chef’s dream with a double oven, additional single oven, triple sinks and a gas hob set in a wide island bench.

Tiled benchtops and floors and timber joinery provide easy-care surfaces and there is storage space to spare.

The living areas all overlook the infinity pool and the sea.

The low maintenance garden comprises smooth, sweeping lawns, mature trees and impressive stands of native bush running down to the water’s edge.

Below the house there are two drivable tracks to the water’s edge. One leads to a beautiful swimming beach the other is ideal for boat launching.

Three car garaging and a one-car implement shed provide ample accommodation for cars, boats and machinery.

Next to the house is the additional 27ha holding currently leased out for beef. It’s rolling country, all fenced, with a spring-fed lake providing water. There are three access points to the land, and access to the water.

“When this property came up for sale it was the biggest coastal holding on the market,” says the owner, who cites the privacy afforded by the size of the block and its coastal location as the biggest drawcard.

After 20 years living here that feeling has never worn off, and neither has the appreciation of the panoramic coastal views.

“When you arrive here and step out of your car there’s such a peaceful feeling. You feel like you own the whole bay. And you can go fishing from the beach without even getting your feet wet.”

Sale: Asking price $3.95 million Contact: David Baguley, Bayleys, 021 831440