Some homes are built near the sea. This one has always been part of it.
Its story starts with the British naval dockyard. Later it became the treasured home of a boat builder, a man who knew the tides of Matakaraka Bay ("orange face") better than anyone. Today his house is ready for its next chapter, and the sea is still right there.
Mornings begin with the sun rising over the bay. The house faces north-east, so the first golden light spills across the water, onto the deck and into the open-plan kitchen and dining area. Take your coffee outside, and there it is: your boat, resting on its own mooring and waiting for the day ahead.
With approximately 50 metres of waterfront boundary access, the bay feels like part of your own backyard. A well-worn path leads across the reserve to the water's edge. You can swim before breakfast, launch a paddleboard as the bay goes glassy, or simply row out to your boat. There are no trailers, no ramp queues and no fuss, just you, the beach and the open water.
Back inside, the home is cosy, full of character and charmingly quirky. Downstairs, the sunny lounge flows out to the deck, and there's also a bedroom, a bathroom, a study and a laundry. Upstairs, a light-filled bridge links a second bedroom and guest toilet to a separate lounge. Glass balustrades keep every space bright and open, and from the bedroom's private balcony the bay stretches out below you like a painting.
When friends come over, open the barn door beside the kitchen and move outside to the covered entertaining area, sheltered whatever the weather. Below the house you'll find plenty of storage, a quiet yoga nook and an outdoor bath and shower. After an evening swim, there are few better places to soak under the stars.
Native bush wraps around the property, and the garden is full of fruit: plums, apples, feijoas, persimmons, lemons, mandarins, guava and banana. When night falls, you can hear kiwi calling close by.
Parking is easy, with a single garage at street level, a solid double carport above the home and a newly concreted driveway.
Golden sunrises. Your own mooring. Approximately 50 metres of waterfront boundary access. And a story that runs as deep as the bay itself.
Come and see it, and start your own chapter here.
