Featured Property

7 unusual homes for sale from across the North Island

Article by Property Press

If you’re on the hunt for a home and consider yourself a creative buyer, these unique buildings for sale will let you live a life less ordinary

7 unusual homes for sale from across the North Island

Among the usual property offerings of predictable family-style houses, there are some places for sale that are distinctly different and offer all sorts of opportunities for buyers who are looking for something special. Some are buildings that have been re-purposed from earlier incarnations, other are the result of owners feeling confident enough to build something that reflects their unique lifestyle choices. Here is a selection of properties for sale that redefine what a home can be.

1. On the water

There’s waterfront living and then there’s living over the water and this little beauty in Whangarei is a yachtie’s dream. This boathouse at Kissing Point has a roomy loft-style living space on the second floor with a bathroom and basic kitchen facilities.

Down below there’s space for your boat – the current owners moor their 1919 48-ft kauri boat there (which is also for sale). The boatshed is a recent build, designed to fit in perfectly with the row of other original boathouses.

Relish the sunsets and water life around you while you’re on land, then pop below to board your boat for another adventure.

2. Holiday with a difference

These two black boxes known as ‘The Pods’ offer a distinctive, creative answer to flexible holiday living in Mangawhai. The sophisticated design and alcove picture window seats highlight the views over two ponds and the water reserve beyond.

Each pod has a separate living area, bathroom and upstairs bedroom that open up multiple options for configuring your holiday stay.

Top-of-the-range finishes include black Portuguese cork wall tiles, motorised blinds, LED lighting and solar operated skylights in the bedrooms. This really is holidaying in style with a difference!

3. One and only

You probably have never seen a house quite like this before and that’s because there isn’t another. The present owner built this Anawhata home himself in the 1980s and crafted the sensually curving ceilings that are a striking feature of the large, open plan living space and loft-style sleeping area.

Handmade windows open the house up to the bush and there are two decks that make the most of the special outlook. There’s a workshop to die for with a mechanic’s pit – perfect for the hobbyist, handyman or mechanic, with sliding doors that allow a car to driven into it.

Lots of eco features and a vegie garden complete the picture. A nearby track leads down to the spectacular isolation of Anawhata beach.

4. Sensational living

This Welcome Bay home really is one out of the box. Although it has only one bedroom, the huge open-plan living area is exceptional with soaring wooden ceilings, adobe timbercrete block walls, custom-made timber window frames and a chef’s kitchen.

This is a one-off design with so much charm and personality that is complimented by the extraordinary panoramic views over the Waitoa valley. The solar panels and a gas and battery bank for power complete the eco-aware picture.

An outbuilding and generous garage offer possibilities for expansion within the existing footprint. With 4.95ha of bush surrounding the house it has all that’s needed to indulge in a life of harmony with nature.

5. One bedder opportunity

This little one-bedder in the heart of historic Mangaweka village has had a creative makeover. The original shop front opens to a generous living and dining area that has been newly wallpapered and carpeted and the kitchen at the back of the property has been totally updated.

It has a family area that opens through French doors outside so you can enjoy al fresco dining in the courtyard and covered patio. The luxurious bedroom comes complete with chandeliers and an inviting bathtub for some serious ‘me’ time.

This would make a perfect weekender with its closeness to ski fields and the hunting and fishing for which the area is famous.

6. Lots of options

This project is not for the faint hearted but offers plenty of scope for those looking for something outside the square. St Albans Church in Dannevirke with its beautiful lofty wooden ceiling and stained glass windows could be converted into a stunning living space.

Then there’s the generous church hall that could be used as extra accommodation, studio space or a home business premises.

With 1619m2 of level freehold land there’s a lot of homework that needs to be done to determine the best way to make the most of this unusual offering.

7. Beach magic

Calling all dreamers and lovers of the wild west coast. This is an incredibly rare offering – Kinnoull Station is a 5.3ha coastal block, with 12 privately owned batches with licences to occupy.

There is direct road access to the property and your own stretch of beach in a sheltered bay so you can enjoy the great fishing and diving along the coast.