Rural countryside still surrounds the beautiful northern East Coast Bays, although with development gathering pace from all directions, this might not be the case for much longer. What will remain is the coastal scenery and lifestyle. Beach after white sand beach, headland after picturesque craggy headland, pohutukawa after blooming pohutukawa… This is a family-oriented area; often those who grew up here will return when they become parents themselves, because of the unbeatable lifestyle and surroundings.The schools are highly regarded and house prices are reasonable because it’s a longer commute to the CBD. Okura is probably best known for the huge and peaceful bush reserve of the same name: that’s on the northern bank of the Okura River, while on the southern bank there are luxury lifestyle properties tucked in amongst rolling hills and native bush.
Who Lives There?
A couple of local events say it all: in March, there’s the African street festival dubbed From Cairo to Cape Town and the Best of British Day is held in June. South Africans and Brits happily decamp here from their home countries for the schooling, the kinship and holiday-style living.
There’s a wide cross-section of ages – including retirees attracted to the area – but it’s a strong young family area (as evidenced by the budding gymnasts who whirl about the boat-shaped playground by the beach). Those concerned about schooling will settle for any style of house in the desired zone. Browns Bay rivals Albany as the second-most significant town centre in North Shore (Takapuna being the undisputed top dog) and appeals to those working in the Albany basin.
Typical Homes
Sea views are the big focus of all the homes built anywhere along the bays. The large numbers of 1970s architecturally-designed family homes give the area a sense of individuality that is lacking in some parts of Torbay/Glenvar, where streets were defined by the housing development company of the day. Pinehill has big new homes popular with Asian buyers.
Browns Bay’s village now includes several apartment developments that have brought 300 more permanent residents into the thriving retail centre. At the other extreme are the lifestyle blocks of Okura at the northern edge of the area for those preferring wide, open spaces.
That was Upper East Coast Bays in brief.
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