As the roads clog up for Easter and the last hurrah break before winter, it’s not too late to dream about getting yourself that holiday place by the water. That way, every weekend becomes a holiday weekend.
If luxury and spectacle is your thing
There’s the Kiwi dream of a wee run-down bach, thrown together post-war with whatever was at hand, when there were no building regulations and few neighbours to complain.
At the other end of the scale are some of the country’s best architectural gems, carefully crafted and blessed with words that pay homage to that traditional bach. This timber beauty by Stevens Lawson Architects deservedly won the New Zealand Institute of Architecture national award in 2007 and has a CV of more than $2.5m.
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It has the mono-pitch roof, the cladding and large verandahs, sitting over the dunes at Hot Water Beach of an old-school bach but that’s where the resemblance ends. The size, layout and materials are a step up from old school - Tasmanian oak floors, cedar exterior, beautifully crafted kitchen - but there are playful references to boats (portholes, curved hull-like walls), the landscaping is carefully crafted to look natural. Elevated beach living.
By negotiation. Marketed by Ollie Wall and Graham Wall, Graham Wall Real Estate.
>>> Go straight to the listing.
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Or go bush
At the other end of the scale, and around the bay from historic Russell town, is a bush haven of late 1960s to early 1970s architecture, all pitched rooves, multi-level living and charming decks and terrace nooks. The house, which has a CV of $395,000, blends into the trees, there are raked wooden ceilings, old brick fireplace, eccentric nooks and crannies. There’s a track winding through bush to lawn on the water edge, room for the kayak or fishing dinghy or watching dolphins and orca in the bay out front. This is a get away from the get away, on 961 square metres of land but only 15 minutes from Russell town.
By negotiation. Marketed by Terry Reed, Mike Pero Real Estate, Kerikeri
>>> Go straight to the listing.
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Dive in
Waterfront Matapouri is pretty much every boaty/diver/fisher’s dream. A two-storey 1990s place with a spanking new kitchen right on the beach has the benefit of a two-bedroom self-contained flat downstairs for the summer rental income (or overflow family), four bedrooms, storage for two boats. It has a 2018 CV of just under $500,000 and views of the Poor Knights that people pay millions for.
By negotiation. Marketed by Pam Johnson, Tait Real Estate, Whangarei.
>>> Go straight to the listing.
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Or two blocks away around Matapouri beach is a newer build, two levels of cedar built in 2007 over 200 sure metres, four bedrooms. More sea views across the reserve to the beach, a room 610 square metres for the boats and tents.
By negotiation. Marketed by Lyn Cochrane, Eves Whangarei.
>>> Go straight to the listing.
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... And then there’s the Coromandel
Whangapoua Beach is one of those beauties locals would prefer to keep secret, preferring the glitzy money huddle 20 minutes around the coast at Matarangi. There’s still the architecture, but it is understated like this one - cedar exterior, plywood-meets-Pasifika inside, breezeways of glass for winter warmth and summer breezes. Try 246 square metres on over 800 square metres of land, five huge bedrooms, open plan living and garaging for all the beach toys (plus clever sheds for bikes and surf boards). Its major drawback - the downer of having to leave at the end of the holidays.
By negotiation. Marketed by Alana Baker, Bayleys Whitianga.
>>> Go straight to the listing.
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Kuaotunu and Otama are more of the last of the spectacular north eastern corners of the Coromandel. Otama is tiny, tightly held and pure gold, but near enough to Kuaotunu to get to the coast’s famous pizzaria and cafe. The 2013 house combines grunty urban architecture - concrete floors, walls of glass, seriously impressive kitchen - meets beachside living - protected decks, outdoor dining and barbecue area with your own pizza oven, tucked in beside the dunes. There’s even a wee cabin for the kids (or the creative project) Cross the lawns to the beach.
By negotiation. Marketed by Kylie Pullen and Belinda Sammons, Bayleys Whitianga.
>>> Go straight to the listing.
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Matarangi, sort of the Omaha of the Coromandel, is awash with amazing architecture. This nearly new one takes the cake - beachfront, cool boat-shed design in nautical whites, with four spacious bedrooms and a loft for the extra crowds, spread over nearly 300 square metres. The kitchen has enviable Gaggenau appliances, the decks and courtyards mean there’s somewhere sheltered whatever the beach breezes bring (an outdoor fireplace helps). Beach dreams.
By negotiation. Marketed by Louise Bradley, Ray White Whitianga.
>>> Go straight to the listing.
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Whangamata - like Whitianga - still has some of the old beach house vibe that’s fast disappearing closer to Auckland. This townhouse, the end of one of three, is begging for a makeover to match those of the two neighbouring townhouses (hint: one was voted Bachcare’s 2017 supreme Bach of the Year, won gold for setting). But its slightly retro kitchen and bathrooms, three bedrooms are fine for now on a comfortable 93 square metres. It’s the over 300 square metres of land to play with, and the beach, right on the door-step, that makes this worth every penny.
$1.6 million. Marketed by Andrew McGee, Ray White Whangamata.
>>> Go straight to the listing.
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Up the Peninsula at Cooks Beach is another 1960s family gem right on the Marine Parade. Sand is right there, as is the reserve. It has the classic Kiwi family set up - a ground floor garage/rec room/two bedrooms for the kids to make their mess and noise. Upstairs are more bedrooms and the open plan kitchen and living rooms. Then the decks, wrapping around the house. heaven, the requisite outdoor shower, fish filleting and smoking bench and water bore. Cooks Beach is cute, and if you need more excitement, take the ferry across to Whitianga.
$1.395 million. Marketed by Belinda Sammons and Kyle Pullen, Bayleys Whitianga
>>> Go straight to the listing.
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Point Wells is the seriously pretty counterpoint to Omaha, with its serene views of the harbour. Owners are now asking for cheeky offers for their crisp white beauty with lawns, gates, white shutters, and seriously generous living spaces indoors and out. Three beds, two baths, two garages, loads of lawns and trees. This could just about be the commuter solution (it’s ten minutes from Matakana, 50 minutes off peak from Albany).
By negotiation. Marketed by Ben Kloppers and Jane Hulme, Remax, Warkworth.
>>> Go straight to the listing.
