A spectacular hilltop home overlooking the rugged West Coast coastline has been placed on the market, offering what many would describe as one of New Zealand's most remarkable views.
Located at 109 The Strand in Ōkārito, the three-bedroom cedar-clad property, known as Kohuamaru, sits above Ōkārito Beach with sweeping views across the Tasman Sea, the Ōkārito Lagoon and estuary, the surrounding coastline, and even glimpses of the Southern Alps, as reported by Stuff.
Originally built by renowned photographer and artist Andris "Andy" Apse, the home takes its name from the Māori word Kohuamaru, meaning "the sheltered place."
Current owner Trish Andrews said the property immediately captured her and her late husband Barry's hearts when they first visited after deciding to return to the West Coast for retirement.
"We've lived in all sorts of places around the country," Trish said. "We got to retirement age, and [my late husband] Barry basically said, 'I want to go home'," Stuff has quoted.
The couple had fond memories of Ōkārito, where they had spent time together before marriage and even celebrated their honeymoon.
Recalling how they discovered the property, Trish said a friend suggested they contact photographer Andy Apse after another property purchase fell through.
"[He said,] 'Why don't you give him a ring?' And the rest is history," she said, as quoted by Stuff.
Speaking about their connection to the area, Trish added, "We used to come here before we were married. We'd come here whitebaiting, and we came here for our honeymoon - I organised the wedding. He organised the honeymoon. We always loved it," Stuff has quoted.
She said the decision to buy Kohuamaru took only moments after stepping onto the deck for the first time.
"We came up and stood on the deck, and I think I was sold within the first five minutes," she said. "It’s virgin territory. It's just unique. I just said, 'Shall we? Should we just do this?'", Stuff has quoted.
Although the couple initially split their time between Queenstown and Ōkārito because of their business interests, Trish admitted she never became comfortable with the township's small airstrip.
"That airstrip's not big enough for me," she joked. "My son would fly in there though, because he's a commercial pilot," as quoted by Stuff.
Despite living in a home built by a celebrated photographer and surrounded by stunning landscapes, Trish laughed off suggestions that she had inherited any artistic talent.
"Absolutely not," she said. "I'm creative in the kitchen. That's about it," Stuff has quoted.
While she enjoys photographing the spectacular sunsets, she admitted she lacks the patience to capture the perfect image, as the home's original owner did.
"He used to go for days just waiting for that perfect moment to capture. You've got to have a bit of patience. I don't have any of that," Stuff has quoted.
Instead, she finds herself simply appreciating the ever-changing scenery from the verandah, where shifting weather patterns transform the landscape throughout the day.
Describing one of her favourite experiences, Trish said, "The mouth is always changing. One minute it's turning south, and the next minute it's turning north,[...] and now it's just totally changed again. It's just amazing."
She added, "When there’s thunder and lightning, you turn the lights off, and you can just watch it going over the sea, and she's pretty," Stuff has quoted.
The property was intended to be the couple's forever home, but Barry's sudden death about a year ago led Trish to reconsider her future. She has now decided to move closer to one of her children.
"It's too big for one person," she said, as quoted by Stuff.
Although preparing to leave the home has been emotional, Trish believes it would be ideal for another retired or semi-retired couple, or a family seeking a peaceful coastal lifestyle surrounded by nature.
Reflecting on what she will miss most, she said, "You lay here at night, and if you're not listening to the rain, you're listening to the sea, and if you're not listening to them, because you can easily tune those sounds out, you're listening to the Kea rolling the garden gnome around on your deck. I love that," Stuff has quoted.
The property, with a current capital value of $1 million, is being marketed by negotiation and offers a rare opportunity to own one of the West Coast's most scenic homes.