Stand-out design, with sea views

It's clear from the minute you turn into the wide concrete driveway that this three-bedroom, two-bathroom house is something special. The striking cedar-clad exterior is complemented by outstanding design throughout. High ceilings, large picture windows, European-style tiled floors and beautifully crafted woodwork combine to create a sense of space, style and sophistication here. At the heart of the home is its large, light-filled open-plan living and dining area. This opens onto a sheltered deck and courtyard featuring a superb fireplace and chimney that ensures you and your guests can dine alfresco and stay cosy late into the night.

The timber flooring that leads from the living/dining creates a wonderful window seat area where you catch your first glimpse of the view over Sandy Bay. It's here that you also find a recessed cosy lounge with its own wood burner. The excellent master bedroom with a large ensuite opens onto the deck and courtyard on this level too. Upstairs the front bedroom and balcony take in more of those sea views, while bespoke carpentry creates a clever ledge for the beds in the room opposite. As well as encapsulating a unique character and charm, this house also makes enjoying life on Waiheke easy.

It's a very short distance to the beach, where you can launch the boat safely. There's even a footpath alongside the main driveway that runs all the way up from the beach to the house, and features a rack for your sea toys. There's lots of room for your vehicles here too. There's space to make a U-turn easily and an extensive carport to park in. And when you do jump in the car, you find that both Oneroa Village, with its cafés, restaurants and shops and the ferry terminal are only a short drive away. This is a distinctive architect-designed property whose value would only be increased if you decided to update its décor in the future.