With its lush native bush outlook and sense of total peace and privacy, 3 Coroglen Avenue feels more tranquil Titirangi than busy Birkenhead.

“It’s like you could be somewhere else entirely. But then you walk across the road and there’s the bus stop to Britomart, which is also just a $20 Uber ride away,” says owner Tracy.

“That’s the beauty of it – it looks and feels so peaceful but then you go out the gate and are reminded that ‘ah, I’m in the middle of the Shore’.”

Tracy and husband Chris bought the 1012sqm property two years ago, when they lived just 150m around the corner on Birkenhead Ave. A chance viewing saw them fall in love with the renovated 1920s bungalow’s setting, character and space.

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The major renovation project was undertaken by the then-owner, an architect who had lived there for 30 years. “It’s so beautifully refurbished. Then we met Michael [the owner] and his family and understood why they spent so much time and care and effort on the little details.”

The top floor remains the classic original bungalow layout with three bedrooms, a bathroom and light-filled living and kitchen zones, while the lower level has been expanded to offer another lounge, bathroom and two more bedrooms, including a lovely master with walk-through wardrobe.

This very generous and flexible layout offers ample space for large, blended and extended families, or working from home. Both levels also enjoy extensive decks, from which to enjoy the bush views, birdlife and dazzling sunsets. Interiors are tasteful and timeless.

“The heart rimu wooden floors are stunning and everything is neutral, so people can add their own colour. There are still some original leadlight windows, which are beautiful when the sun hits them, and the lounge upstairs is always bathed in sun and warm.”

Tracy says that being an older house, the storage is also superb. “There’s heaps of overhead storage upstairs in the bedrooms, plus plenty of room in the garage.”

3 Coroglen Avenue in Birkenhead, North Shore

One of the homeowners says: “The heart rimu wooden floors are stunning and everything is neutral, so people can add their own colour.”

3 Coroglen Avenue in Birkenhead, North Shore

The top floor remains the classic original bungalow layout with three bedrooms, a bathroom and light-filled living and kitchen zones.

The couple has added some of their own touches to further elevate the comfort and functionality of the home and grounds. “We gave it a new roof and modern things like a full alarm system with cameras.”

This is in conjunction with 21 solar panels, a Tesla Powerwall 2, an 8kw Fronius inverter, a Tesla Gateway system and ducted air conditioning. They installed a cedar hot tub beneath the large kauri tree outside.

“The tub is staying. We put it in because it’s just so peaceful there – you just jump in and again, you could be in the middle of the Coromandel.”

The outdoor studio also provides plenty of options. “It was an office but we turned it into a gym – it fits a rower and a treadmill as well as weights. When kids come over and are swimming in the tub, it’s a great little changing room as well, so no one has to run through the house.”

Tracy says that this is a special house that has brought people together.

“Every so often I text Michael to show him little things we’ve done around the house, knowing that he’d be very picky about what we did and how we did it. He did a fabulous job refurbishing it and we’ve tried to keep it in as good a condition as how he left it.”

3 Coroglen Avenue in Birkenhead, North Shore

Both levels also enjoy extensive decks, from which to enjoy the bush views, birdlife and dazzling sunsets.

3 Coroglen Avenue in Birkenhead, North Shore

The current owners have added some of their own touches to further elevate the comfort and functionality of the home and grounds.

The couple also formed an unexpected friendship with Tanya and Taylor, the real estate agents who sold them the property.

“We have gotten to know them really well – we’ve been on holiday together. We really hit it off after buying Coroglen and did a girls trip to Hawaii. Now they come for drinks and will be coming to Cambridge to stay for a night or two.”

A Sunday drive on a whim saw the couple fall in love with a property in the Waikato, which they have subsequently purchased and moved into.

Ray White agent Tanya Kwasza is selling the property with colleague Bryan Santos and Taylor Parbery from Whitefox and says that Tracy and Chris have created a secluded resort here with great CBD access.

“It’s great for teenagers and working from home, there’s plenty of room for a pool and it backs onto a reserve, so is very private.”

She also cites the historical significance.

“It was one of the original bungalows of the area and a horse resting stop before the Harbour Bridge was built. Horseshoes have been discovered [and left] on the property, as well as a large number of early 1900s bottles from various places around NZ, which suggests people passing through.”

3 Coroglen Avenue in Birkenhead, North Shore, is for sale by auction on February 2. The five-bedroom, two-bathroom property has a 2021 RV of $1.925 million and, according to OneRoof data, last changed hands in 2022 for $2.375m.

- Sponsored by Ray White