33 Nihinihi Avenue, Raglan, Waikato, Waikato

Longtime local vet Shane Massey reckons lounging in the spa pool with a beer at his water's edge Raglan West home, and looking out across the estuary to the bar, is hard to beat. He'll miss the peace and quiet of his Nihinihi Ave property too, he says, but after 22 years there and now with some health issues Shane's decided it's time to move on. So he's reluctantly selling up - and with it passing on a bit of history, some photos that only recently came his way when a previous occupant called by unexpectedly on a nostalgia trip and shared some memories of when it was a family bach back in the 40s and 50s. That original bach has long gone, replaced by the old Hartstones' fisheries office in Bankart St which was moved on site during the 1980s and transformed into a modest two-bedroom home. Shane's 885 sq m section enjoys direct access to the water for swimming, boating and fishing. He's invested a lot of time and effort into the idyllic property, planting trees and crafting a series of stone steps down to a landing at the water's edge where kayaks, paddleboards or a small boat can be launched. "The easy water access has been a winner and it has the best views up Pokohui estuary and out to the harbour. It's a magic spot." Shane is resigned to the fact it's time for someone else to enjoy his sanctuary. He fell in love with Raglan nearly 30 years ago - "as soon as I crested the hill" - coming straight from university to his first job at the local vet clinic, where he's been ever since. Although forced to cut back hours recently for health reasons, and currently working just one day a week, Shane reckons he's the only one of his year's graduates to have remained at the same job for the entire three decades.