When the owners bought their fabulous semi-rural property 13 years ago, they had no idea that it was perfectly positioned to reduce the force of any prevailing winds – something they were thrilled to discover.
“We overlook the golf course and sometimes we see the flags waving while we’re sitting here in the sun and it’s utterly still,” says Fiona.
During their time in residence at 59D Western Avenue in Omokoroa, she and her husband Andrew have done various things to further improve the impressive masonry, plaster and cedar executive-style home, which was built in 2008.
The house is extremely large at 770sqm, but it still feels warm and friendly – especially as the property has its own warm water bore, along with double glazing.
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“We have underfloor heating, almost everywhere, which comes from the bore, and that even includes the garage and the outdoor room, so we can keep the temperature at 22 degrees throughout, during winter,” says Fiona.
To the left, upstairs, is a guest wing with a bedroom, bathroom, and media room while five bedrooms and three further bathrooms (including the master ensuite) lie to the right.
Downstairs are an open plan kitchen, living and dining area, plus a semi-separate, more formal lounge, and Andrew’s den.
The house is 770sqm in size, with decking and a pergola, swimming pool, spa, tennis court, and a lot of fruit and nut trees. Photo / Supplied
Fiona says that adding the self-contained games pavilion with its own bathroom, plus a covered pergola was one of the best things she and Andrew have done.
“In summer we spend so much time out there – and especially on the floodlit court, because we’re all very keen on tennis.”
The couple added extra decking around the pool area and there is a spa pool, fountain – and a pizza oven, which can be negotiated with the sale.
Fiona adds that the pavilion was designed with reinforced concrete flooring which means it could potentially be converted to an extra garage if a new owner was inclined.
The property is very secure and fitted with alarms and cameras both inside and out and the huge park-like grounds are easy to keep tidy.
From the front deck at 59D Western Avenue in Omokoroa, you look out to the golf course and the water. Photo / Supplied
During lockdown in 2020, the owners hosted their grown-up children who returned from overseas. Photo / Supplied
Omokoroa, which has grown significantly in the past decade or so, now has some lovely restaurants, cafes and shops.
Andrew and Fiona’s grown-up children came back from overseas in 2020, to ride out the first pandemic lockdown, and she says that it was lots of fun, but their children have now bought their own homes elsewhere.
“We already knew we could accommodate a crowd after having more than 20 guests staying the night after previous family parties,” she adds.
“My nephew had tears in his eyes when he was here recently and said, ‘Aunty Fiona, I really don’t want you to sell your house,’ which was really sweet.
“Some of the things I’ll miss most are the fruit and nut trees, including apples, plums, oranges, lemons, avocado and macadamias.
The property has six bedrooms and seven bathrooms, and multiple indoor living spaces. Photo / Supplied
Brent Trueman of Bayleys, Tauranga, knows the original owner who built the house, and says that the cost of producing something to this premium standard today would be enormous.
“Plus, the outlook over the waterfront golf course is fantastic and Omokoroa is the place to be these days,” Trueman says. He is marketing the property with Rhys Trueman.
59D Western Avenue in Omokoroa, Western Bay of Plenty, is for sale by negotiation.
- Sponsored by Bayleys
