QUICK LOOK

The sign at the side of the front door tells you that you have arrived at Seven Heaven, and there’s a lot here at 7 McFarlane St in Oakura to justify that name.

It’s a reference, of course to being in seventh heaven, defined by dictionaries as a state of intense happiness; the highest heaven where God and the angels dwell.

That’s not immediately obvious as you arrive at the gate; the tall boundary growth masks the house here from passers-by, providing the owners with pleasing privacy. The established trees, palms and shrubs also offer an appealing driveway transition from the street, down through a shaded green arch of branches and foliage, past the lower level of lawn and gardens and into the sunny open space of the parking area below the house.

It’s a surprising and delightful welcome; lush plantings and gently waving palms create a tropical feeling for the setting, with the house elevated above.

The appeal of that elevation was emphasised just recently when owners Michael and Jutta took time out from preparing their property for sale to relax above the front steps. It was a pleasant variation on seeing their gardens from the living areas inside.

This outlook is also a great alternative to the inside view to the waves along Oakura Beach that they reveal on a tour of this property.

Germans Michael and Jutta bought this half-acre property almost four years ago after deciding to make New Zealand their home in retirement. The decision was well informed; the couple had been holidaying in this country for 10 years and had fallen in love with it.

They had travelled extensively through New Zealand; Taranaki was the last region on their list and the region that finally captured them.

They knew this property well, having booked it on BachBreak and stayed several times. When its owner told them it was going to be sold, Michael and Jutta made an easy decision to buy it and live on as owners themselves.

A tour through reveals its appeal. the split-level house

The open-plan living areas in the upper north-facing level are filled with the sun’s light and warmth. It pours in through the wealth of glass in the conservatory-style end of the home; so much so that the couple installed an electronically controlled extendable awning inside to let them control it. It has remote-control convenience, as Michael demonstrates with a simple click of a button.

This northerly aspect provides the sea view, across the lower lawn of a neighbouring home and over seafront Messenger Terrace to the blue water and white-capped waves of the Tasman Sea. You can enjoy the inside view from both the open-plan kitchen-dining-family area and the adjacent lounge, with an alfresco appreciation from the wide expanse of deck outside the living areas.

That sea view tells you the beach is not far away; you can walk about 200m to the sand via a walkway down from Messenger Terrace. Oakura shops and cafes are also a comfortable walk away.

The kitchen is a generously sized space with plenty of bench space for meal preparation, Jutta points out. A box window over the sink bench lets in plenty of natural light.

The laundry is located in the hallway behind the kitchen. From here, the back door opens to a paved courtyard which offers a sheltered option for summer barbecues.

The split-level design gives the living

WHERE: 7 and 9 McFarlane St, Oakura.

HOW BIG: Approximately 2020sqm in land on two titles; about 225sqm in home.

HOW MUCH: Best offers in by 4.00pm, Thursday, January 23, 2020 (unless sold prior).

WHAT YOU GET: Secluded, sheltered garden property in a sought-after Oakura address just a stroll from the beach. Family space with four bedrooms and two living areas, and a large sunsoaked deck with views across the neighbourhood to the sea. Beautiful, established gardens have a semi-tropical feel with palms and lush plantings. Double garaging in the house is complemented by a separate double garage and workshop.

MARKETED BY: Anjie Cook at McDonald Real Estate – 06 752 1340 or

027 555 4736.

ONLINE: eieio.co.nz/listing/OA00283

SEE IT: Open homes Sunday, December

15, 1pm till 1.30pm; Thursday, December

19, 5.30pm till 6pm; Saturday, December

21, 1pm till 1.30pm.

areas the high ceilings that create an extra sense of space. In the lounge, there’s a special feature of a raised fireplace with a woodburner insert and an exposed chimney rising up the full height of the interior wall. A fan suspended from the ceiling pushes the warmth down in winter, and helps move cooling air around in summer. That fan isn’t needed often in summer, Jutta says, as a sea breeze can offer a soothing alternative by opening all the doors.

The view down into the garden is not the only visual appeal in the lounge. A window beside the fireplace perfectly frames Mt Taranaki on a clear day.

From the foyer, a short flight of steps take you to the hallway where you find two of the home’s four bedrooms, a second lounge space, and the family bathroom with its corner spa bath. This lower lounge area has its own view out into the gardens, as does one of the bedrooms where there’s a window seat to appreciate the green outlook.

Another flight of steps leads down from the foyer area to the basement level where there are two more bedrooms, an office and the spacious double garage with internal firewood storage.

There are more garage options in the separate double garage and workshop down at the lawn level of the property. This garage has recently been reroofed. The house has been painted and its decor updated, with new carpet and vinyl laid throughout. New owners can just move in and relax in comfort.

The gardens here are actually on a separate title, 9 McFarlane St, which gives new owners potential for development.