heBannistersareno
strangerstolifestyle
changes– thisis
theirthirdtimein
thepagesofYour
HomeandGardenin
threeyears!Wefirst
mettheminWest
Aucklandata bright
andcolourfulnew-
build.However,withworkcommitmentsinthe
eastofthecity,theythentookadvantageof
anopportunitytoliveina small cottage on the
groundsofAdam’swork.
“Wewerelovinglivingintheeastern
suburbs;it wasa wholenewsideofthecity
toexploreandwereallyenjoyedtheproximity
tocentralAuckland,”remembersDawn.
Whilethere,theBannistersoftenexploredthe
beautifulPōhutukawaCoastsoutheastofthe
citycentre.Swimming,walksandvisitsto
localmarketsreconnectedthefamilywiththe
Beachlandsarea,whereDawn’sparentsused to
moortheirboata fewdecadesearlier.
“Drivingalongthecoastroadandthroughthe
countryvillages,wealwayshada realsenseof
departurefromthebusynessof life,”saysDawn.
Whatsurprisedthefamilywasthateven
withtherecentboomindevelopmentthathas
seenmanyAucklandersmovingawayfromthe
centralcitytooutlyingspots,thecoastaltown
of Beachlandshadretaineditscalm holiday vibe
andstrongsenseof community.
“Whenwelearnedtheareaaroundthemarina
wastobedeveloped,wedecidedtomakethe
move,”saysDawn.“Wepickedourplot,butover
thenextcoupleof yearstheprojectwaspassed
fromonecompanytoanotherwithoutever
breakingground,so we decided to walk away
fromtheidea.”
Instead,theylookedintogettingan
investmentpropertyinthesamearea,eventually
purchasinga two-leveltownhousepre-build.
Butduetoa rapidchangeincircumstances,the
familydecidedtomoveinthemselves, and are
lovingtheirnewhome.
“Themarinahasa veryrelaxedandsocial
vibewithmarketsandrestaurants,”saysDawn.
“It’sa veryfamily-friendlyplaceandwealways
meetsomeonetohavea drink and chat with
while the kids play.”
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