For the couple who own this sizeable subdividable Sandspit property with intoxicating views, their journey towards buying it kicked off with a fairly random encounter.
Retired builder Graham was looking for a more modest property to buy when he spotted a former joinery rep-turned-real estate agent putting a flag up outside this address at 32 Arabella Lane in Snells Beach, Rodney. Stopping to chat, he went through the property to be sociable.
His partner Valerie, who already owned in the area, only heard about it when Graham got an agent call-back.
Valerie says: “I said ‘what’s this property you’ve been looking at; I’d like to see it’. When I walked in and looked at the view, which I’d never seen anything like it in my then 35 years as a real estate, I knew I wanted to live here.”
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Valerie sold her property and they bought here in 2015 when the single-level Hebel concrete and weatherboard home was two years old.
According to OneRoof records, the house last changed hands in 2015 for $1.2 million. Today, 32 Arabella Lane is on the market for sale by way of auction on February 18. It has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and garaging for four vehicles.
She says: “The panoramic unobstructed views over Kawau Bay and Kawau Island are wonderful.”
The home has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and garaging for four vehicles. Photo / Supplied
Their 5405sqm of land, five minutes’ walk from the beach, includes some covenanted native bush on the southern boundary which is a magnet for birdlife. They’ve improved the property with a conservatory, second garage-workshop and raised vege beds. They’re on city water but a second water tank upped capacity for watering gardens including their mini-orchard.
Valerie says: “People walk in and see the view, sit on the deck with a glass of wine and say ‘ohhh, you feel like you’re on holiday’.”
Graham says: “We’ve just sold our runabout but there are probably more tractors up here launching their boats than almost anywhere else in New Zealand. We watch lots of boats out on the water and on windier days there can be 30 windsurfers out there.”
The open-plan kitchen-living-dining area revels in the outlook, as does the nautically-themed deck area it flows out to and the ensuited master suite with walk-in wardrobe. Keen cook Valerie finds the entertainer’s kitchen ideal.
32 Arabella Lane is just minutes from the beach with 5405sqm of land that includes some covenanted native bush on the southern boundary. Photo / Supplied
From the home you have unobstructed views over Kawau Bay and Kawau Island. Photo / Supplied
Graham assisted Louvretech installing a 20sqm conservatory adjoining the home, where Valerie enjoys painting or reading. It has wide opening glass panels along two sides and a rain sensor-activated adjustable roof.
Three more bedrooms, a bathroom, powder room and internal-access double garage complete the layout. Graham also built a separate double garage-workshop with roller doors on each end and boat storage ability.
The busy retired couple, who love ballroom dancing, croquet, walking their dog, entertaining and much more, highly rate their location 10 minutes’ drive from Warkworth township and Matakana. Once they realised subdivision was a possibility, they went well down the track before deciding it was ultimately time for them to sell this property and downsize.
Council had issued a Resource Subdivision Consent 4a for a separate 1180sqm section with its own entrance to be subdivided off the front of this land if desired, which would still require 223, 224c and titles to be issued. Full house plans for a 290sqm family home designed by Sanctuary Homes and geotech, landscape and engineering reports are available.
Harcourts agent Jodene Mildon, who is marketing 32 Arabella Lane with Matthew Iliffe, says: “This property epitomises relaxed coastal living with its stunning views and huge land parcel with approved resource consent to subdivide.”
