Sunrises Over the Maunga: An Oasis in Central Auckland

Live the city life with a country feel at 82 Mount Albert Road, Auckland City—your rural escape without the commute.

For Suzanne and Ian, the past 26 years in this home have flown by. As nearly empty nesters, they plan to rewild some land up north, making way for a new chapter for someone else in this beautiful oasis.

“The house was built by the Mount Albert Borough engineer,” Suzanne shares. “He constructed it near Mt Albert Grammar School farm and lived here with his family from 1949 to 1999—then it was us.”

Having always lived in Grey Lynn and Ponsonby, the young couple was initially a bit squeamish about moving further out. “The thought of moving so far to Mount Albert was quite horrifying. Which seems ridiculous these days.”

With Suzanne pregnant and Ian already having two children, the blended family needed at least four bedrooms. A real estate agent suggested a six-bedroom property that had, shall we say, potential.

“I was adamant about not living on Mount Albert Road—too much noise and not safe for kids and dogs,” Suzanne recalls, but the agent convinced her to take a look.

“We walked in, and the house was set back from the road, surrounded by a jungle of acanthus—a lush but invasive Mediterranean plant. Camellia trees crowded the outdoor space, and there was paint flaking and gutters falling off. It needed a complete renovation.”

But then she entered the lounge room and was captivated by the huge picture window showcasing the farm view. “I thought, this is really quite special. It's a unique view in Auckland.”

Over the years, they added two large decks, extended the kitchen, and created a flexible layout that separates social spaces for kids and adults. They installed double glazing throughout most of the house and built a generous swimming pool.

“It’s a 9.5m by 4.5m pool perched on the edge, offering elevated views of the farm, giving it the feel of an infinity pool.”