When former dairy farmers, Graham and Tracey attended an open home in popular semi-rural Awanui Rise, near Ardmore airport in 2005, they knew immediately that this was the right property for them.
“We can go into Auckland for the rugby or to have dinner and see a show, then come back to the wonderful peace and quiet,” says Graham.
The property is generous, with a 342sqm cedar home set on 1.5 hectares, complete with native bush which brings plentiful birdlife, and an orchard with lemon, lime, olive and guava trees, as well as park-like lawns.
The bush on the northern boundary is covenanted and there’s New Zealand military land on the eastern boundary, so there’s no chance of new houses obscuring the views.
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Graham says that the lawns are easily maintained with an auto-mower, leaving his weekends free for fishing.
The house itself was solidly built, using quality materials, in the 1990s, and Graham and Tracey have upgraded it.
“We renovated the lounge area and the kitchen, where we added big windows that work like mini ranch sliders so that the fantastic views weren’t interrupted,” says Graham.
“We’ve also painted and recarpeted.”
The open-plan dining and family room in the “main house”.
The house was solidly built in the 1990s, and the current vendors have upgraded it since buying it in 2005.
With lots of friends and extended family, the couple often have guests to stay, and Graham says that the house is very well-designed for this purpose, boasting a semi-separate wing that includes a bedroom, bathroom and lounge, with its own entrance.
In what Graham describes as the “main house”, in addition to the kitchen, is an open-plan dining and family room as well as a formal lounge, a bathroom, separate laundry, and another bedroom. The covered patio is ideal for a morning coffee or evening drink.
Upstairs are two further bedrooms, a smart contemporary bathroom and a handy home office. Along with a double garage on the ground level the home also enjoys extensive decking for catching the sun and dining alfresco.
“We’ve had lots of great parties here – there’s always plenty of space for a crowd,” says Graham.
Another huge bonus is the giant shed which is used as a workshop and has doors at both ends offering easy access and egress for boats or camper vans.
“We renovated the lounge area and the kitchen, where we added big windows that work like mini ranch sliders so that the fantastic views weren’t interrupted,” says one of the homeowners.
The wraparound vista includes views from coast to coast as well as to Auckland Airport, the harbour, the city, Waiheke and beyond.
He and Tracey are moving to Brisbane and will really miss their country hideaway with its wraparound vista which includes views from coast to coast as well as to Auckland Airport, the harbour, the city, Waiheke and beyond – towards the Coromandel.
Graham says that airshows over nearby Ardmore Airport are always a thrill.
“Anybody looking for a wonderful lifestyle should definitely come and have a look because it’s the kind of place you really need to experience, and I think they’ll fall in love with it like we did.”
Luke Jupp, from Barfoot & Thompson, Pukekohe, says this is an awesome neighbourhood and the house is ideal for extended family with its two wings.
“There is potential there to have really good separation, and the large shed makes a very decent man cave.”
58 Awanui Rise in Ardmore, Papakura, Auckland, is on the market for sale by negotiation.
- Sponsored by Barfoot & Thompson
