The beautiful ocean views and plum location of this Leigh property have seen its current owners hold onto it for 24 years, transforming it from a basic bach to a large and attractive home.
Noelene, who owns this property with husband Allan, says, “It’s an absolutely beautiful spot. I’m sitting here in our lounge and I can see the waves coming in and the ripples on the sea. We look out over the ocean to Coromandel, watching yachts and ships go past and we see migrating humpback whales each year.”
The couple became familiar with this area when they lived in West Auckland but holidayed with their family for a decade at their permanent caravan at the Pakiri Beach Holiday Camp.
They sold the caravan and bought 12 Penguin Street in Leigh, Rodney in the mid-1990s, with Noelene commuting to work in New Lynn for more than a decade.
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Their street is named for the little blue penguins (kororā) which nest in the penguin boxes dotted around it. They’ve loved the scenic seaside lifestyle on offer here at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac.
Noelene doesn’t want to drop names but Penguin Street has become highly sought, with some discerning high-profile folk most New Zealanders would have heard of amongst its owners.
The property on Penguin Street in Leigh has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a double and single garage. Photo / Supplied
“Allan’s always had boats and loved fishing and diving and this property is such a great base for doing that.”
There’s a short walkway near their property to the cliff-side reserve, from where some hardy locals have been known to make their way down in goat-like fashion to the sea.
This now-retired couple are fonder of driving four minutes to idyllic Mathesons Bay. It’s two minutes’ drive to the Leigh fish’n’chip shop and 15 minutes’ drive to Makakana.
Their 1206sqm property with koru-shaped front lawn has a secure single carport where they’ve kept a pop-top camper, plentiful off-street parking and an internal-access double garage under the house.
The sleepout at the rear faces the vegetable garden and is perfect as accommodation for visiting family members. Photo / Supplied
The main living-dining-kitchen expanse on the top level is tiled with underfloor heating. Photo / Supplied
They’ve majorly renovated and extended the home since buying it, back in the days when its downstairs’ highlight was a rudimentary shower over dirt.
“Much of the front of the house is now glass, to make the most of the view,” Noelene says.
The main living-dining-kitchen expanse on the top level is tiled with underfloor heating. It flows out to a sun-drenched deck, as does the ensuited master bedroom and another bedroom opposite the family bathroom.
The contour of their land allows upstairs to open out at rear to a conservatory-like Fresco outdoor room, where Noelene loves reading. This sits to one side of their rear vegetable gardens, with overflow sleepout accommodation for visiting family on the other side.
The sun-drenched deck looks out to the sea and the homeowners have enjoyed the seaside and fishing lifestyle. Photo / Supplied
As well as a sizeable entry foyer, downstairs offers three further bedrooms, a bathroom, powder room, laundry and additional living area opening to the lower front deck. The couple have rented out a portion of this on Airbnb.
Noelene recognises they’ve decided to sell just as the much-publicised $1 billion Puhoi-to-Warkworth SH1 motorway extension nears completion. But with their own family grown it’s time to downsize from this home, which could be a family home, holiday home or retirement option.
Harcourts agent Jodene Mildon, who is marketing the property with Matthew Iliffe, says: “Penguin Street is known to be one of the most desirable streets in this area and the owners of this beautiful home are motivated to sell and have packed their bags.”
12 Penguin Street in Leigh, Rodney will be sold at auction on May 28.
- Sponsored by Harcourts
