Original Kiwi bach from the ‘30s has been a family haven

It’s a common story for bach owners - the kids grow up and the family gets spread around the world, which lessens the demand for the family bolthole.

And that can be sad for some, but the owners of this wee gem close to the beach in Piha also own the bach next door, so they’re going nowhere. They still have a place for the children and grandchilden to come on holiday - they just don’t need both properties.

Margaret and Stephen Gilbert bought this 1930s bach at 20 Garden Rd 15 years ago, for the “overflow”, and say it has been wonderful for family gatherings to be able to spread across both properties. “We have four children, and it was a bit like glamping in those early days,” Margaret Gilbert says.

In fact, she says she prefers it to number 18, which they have owned since 1987. “In my opinion it [number 20] has the better view.” But the bach they’re keeping is newer and more luxurious.

However, the listed bach has a plenty going for it, starting with the location. Gilbert says it is believed to have been built by a company, possibly for staff use. Some time later they put on a “lovely little addition” that maximises views of the pōhutukawa in one direction and Lion Rock in the other.

But most of the wooden bach is original - the kitchen still features the wooden benchtop, sink and painted cabinetry. There’s even a little wooden safe with mesh that pops out the shady side of the house - that’s where food was kept cool before refrigeration.

“There’s no washing machine or dryer in there, because we just used the ones in our existing bach,” Gilbert says. “But it would be easy enough for someone to put those in.”

There are two bedrooms and one bathroom in the 70m² cottage - bunk beds in the second bedroom maximise the accommodation.

Much of the living takes place on the large deck, and it’s the direct connection with the landscape that sets this bach apart from many others in Piha. You don’t look down on the view from way up high; you are an integral part of it.

“It’s that [close-up] communication you have with the land, the beach and the sea that makes this special,” Gilbert says. “And if the wind is coming off the sea, you can sit out the back and be sheltered.”

She says a lot of the predators in the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park have been eliminated, so there are no more rabbits hopping across the front of the section. “And the opossums seem fairly well under control. They no longer hop onto the roof or come inside the house, and we do have a new roof.”

Another major benefit for the family has been the proximity to the city, especially when family members are “on call” with their jobs. And when there are weekend sporting activities, they can come and go easily without sacrificing too much time at the bach.

The 1012m² property is listed with Libby Jarvis and Karen Moore of NZ Sotheby’s Real Estate Remuera, and is for sale by tender with a closing date of February 18, 2026. It has an RV of $2.575 million.