40 Collier Avenue Karori, Wellington City

If you ever wanted your own little slice of Zealandia, this is the family haven you've been waiting for. For sale for the first time in over 20 years, it combines a four-bedroom, two bathroom home with 952sqm of privacy and splendour, where rustic stone paths and native trees teeming with birdlife abound. Many of these were planted by a previous owner, who was a botanist, and include kowhai and kawakawa.
As well as being a magnet for kaka, tui and wax eyes, the sublime setting is an al fresco showcase for family living and entertaining. Here you can relax with friends on the wraparound decking and enjoy spectacular sunsets over Makara Peak, where at dusk the lights of mountain bikers can be seen snaking down the trails, while the kids have fun on the big flat lawn.

The property is safely set back from the street, with drive-on to a ply-lined double-garage with new garage doors due for install, windows for natural light and a huge storeroom underneath that could be converted into recreation space or a workshop.

There's also easy walk-down access to a deck that links to the garage to the weatherboard house and a sheltered, secluded patio that affords delightful leafy views from the stylishly modernised kitchen.

Here, polished concrete flooring and granite benchtops echo the garden's grandeur while anchoring the sophistication of stainless steel, premium Miele and Smeg appliances, soft- close drawers, a deep pantry and Hamptons style shutters.

The improvements don't end there. As well as carpet recently laid with extra-thick underlay, there's double-glazing throughout (except in the vestibule), the living/dining room has both a heat pump and a Kent woodburner to supplement the DVS system, the full bathroom and separate toilet have new vinyl flooring, the laundry's been refurbished, and the smart-lock front door has both fingerprint and PIN technology.

The light-filled living/dining room also opens to a covered al fresco space, with cafe blinds and power for lighting or external heating, and faces west for ultra-late sun - as do two of the three double-bedrooms on this level.

Such is the versatility of the downstairs master bedroom suite that it could be used to work from home or to accommodate extended family, teenagers or guests.

It includes a bathroom and full-height stacker doors that open up to let the outside in, whether to greet the dawn chorus or to soak up scented summer nights.

So if you crave your own private playground, where you can barely see the neighbours for the trees, that's as practical as it is picturesque and peaceful, this is the retreat to beat!

Buyer information
Additional bonus floor space of 65sqm (garage and workshop space) as per floor plan shown in photo reel. The owner also has drawings for converting to self contained accommodation.
LIM is available and building report will become available