Nestled into a sheltered and sunny rear site in sought after Hauraki Corner, this substantial home offers lots of choice for your active, growing family. With a separate, self-contained suite and large interconnecting living rooms, teenagers and extended family can all have their own space. Large windows and French doors ensure a light-filled interior and easy flow from ground floor living to level gardens and patio. This peaceful spot is rich with birdlife and there’s plenty of space for the trampoline and the ball games. Popular Hauraki Primary is just around the corner, along with an excellent cafe, while a supermarket, comprehensive medical centre and gorgeous Takapuna Beach are an easy walk away.

Auction on site 16 October @ 4pm. Call Tony 0800 61 8888

With the French rugby team staying at the Spencer on Byron Hotel for the duration of the World Cup, Takapuna is the official host of the French team, so there’s no end of excitement and plenty of events planned to celebrate the occasion.

Frog in a Barrel (our fabulous French wineshop in Milford) is hosting a very special culinary event at the Spencer on Byron on 25 September, kicking off at 5:30pm. A Taste of France in Kiwiland promises to be a fabulous evening of superb French wines, champagne and gourmet treats, while mingling with star rugby players. Numbers are limited so order yours today! Phone 486 1977 or 021 201 2026. This is a charity event (Child Cancer) and well worth supporting.

Takapuna’s first night market begins on 8 September at the Hurstmere Green and will be held every Thursday 5 – 9pm. This promises to be a fun-filled evening with loads of stalls and entertainment planned.

Rugby matches at North Harbour Stadium:

France v Japan September 10
Australia v Italy 11 September
Sth Africa v Namibia 22 September
Sth Africa v Samoa 30 September

Preparing the perfect coffee at Toasted Espresso

When I simply want a great coffee, Toasted Espresso is probably my favourite spot. These guys are seriously good baristas and Toasted Espresso consistently produces award winning roasts. Their beans are used by a lot of local cafes and restaurants.

Toasted Espresso started life a bit further down Barry’s Pt Road Takapuna, but they moved into their current premises at number 42 a few years ago and have recently extended the cafe. I guess it’s more evidence of their success as a great local business that’s stuck to its core values. You can get a bite to eat – there’s a variety of sweet and savoury counter foods – but this place is really about drinking damn fine coffee. They sell coffe machines and all sorts of coffee paraphernalia.

The interior design is loungey, with collections of retro chairs and couches and the odd table. There’s usually some good local art work on display, good magazines to read, and the music is always groovy. Oh, and you can buy your beans here, too.

Visit Frank Sargeson’s cottage at 14A Esmonde Road Takapuna where the renowned writer lived from 1931 until he died in 1982. It’s a simple fibrolite bach which retains some remnants of the life he led there, often entertaining and mentoring other local writers such as Janet Frame. As a child, I often saw Sargeson (black beret on his head and a sack thrown over his shoulder) walking between his home and the shops at Takapuna. Young as I was, I was completely unaware there was anything significant about this odd little man yet I grew up to love and admire his writing. The house is opened on certain occasions (like the North Shore Heritage Festival in September each year), or you can arrange a private viewing through the Takapuna library in The Strand, Takapuna.

Busy lunch crowd at Jam Organic Cafe

I reckon if I were to open a cafe in Takapuna, it would just about look like Jam Organic Cafe in Hurstmere Road (behind Movenpick). We’ve had to follow owner Jules from her previous cafe in Milford, but it didn’t take long to find her, and her trademark blackboard menu, big pitchers of water brimming with chunks of seasonal fruit, and some of the best looking cafe food you’ll find on the Shore continue to draw a loyal following. Jam’s MO is to use organic and locally sourced produce where possible, and they don’t compromise on quantity, either. The Jam burger is massive (I could probably manage a half), packed with avocado, beef patty, bacon, lettuce, horseradish sauce, tomato, aioli (I think I got it all) – I’d defy anyone to get their gob around one of these monsters – Knife and fork required!

Jam has a liquor license and a fairly comprehensive range of wines (including some organic wine) and beer. The coffee roast is one of the best around (Toasted Espresso) and they have baristas that know how to do a good extraction. I have yet to be disappointed with a coffee from Jam.

This place is well patronised, especially by the road biking fraternity in the mornings. There’s plenty of seating, inside and out, including a big communal dining table with arty/foodie books to browse. Lots of fun, quirky details that will amuse, like getting a jar of jam to identify your table order, rather than a predicable old number.

Tony and I have kayaked to Rangitoto on 2 occasions – once in tandem kayaks  and then in our own individual kayaks, and I can really recommend it for a great day’s outing. If you’re not feeling super energetic, then grab a mate and go tandem. It’ll take roughly 45 minutes to get across to Rangitoto (watch out for big boats as you cross the channel). While it’s great to do this during the summer months, and have a swim when you get to the island, the winter days are often sunny and settled, and the trip can be just as satisfying.

You must take a picnic lunch and plenty of water with you, and relax on the beach when you get to Rangitoto (there are no shops!) We generally walk to the top and enjoy the views over the Hauraki Gulf. It’s a pleasant walk and can round off the day very nicely.

If you’re new to kayaking, and you don’t own one, you can hire a kayak from Canoe and Kayak North Shore (based in Constellation Drive) and you can even take kayaking lessons from them if you want to build up some confidence first.

Passion Cafe

Passion by name, passion by nature. Owner Julene Payne has plenty of it and it shows in her cafe. The food is cooked onsite – all the old favourites, presented with flair, like cheese scones, sweet and savoury muffins, friands, brioche, club sandwiches and pies, as well as daily specials like mince on toast and quiche. Every time I’ve eaten here, the food has been delicious. The coffee is also superb – supplied by local roastery Planet Espresso.

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Stand Up Paddling (SUP) is the latest thing in waterbased sport and recreation and it’s growing in popularity as punters realise the health benefits as well as the joys of this pursuit. What better way to enjoy a beautiful day on the North Shore than to paddle a long board around the bays? You can do it any time of year (some of the most beautiful, calm days are in the middle of winter), and you set your own pace.

Mark Jackson is a local boy who has spent the past 25 years perfecting and competing in this sport all over the Pacific. He has set up a business importing the special boards for SUP, and you can check out the goods on offer on his website. Mark has recently written an article on SUP in the first issue of Channel magazine which gives a good insight into the sport.