Swap ID: 07335Auckland, North Island, New Zealand
(See location map below...)

Type of Home: House

x 3

x 1+

x 5

Location: City/Suburbs

Preferred Swap Length: Short Term (up to 4 wks), School Holidays, Weekends, Christmas, Easter

Open to any Destination:  Yes

Profile: Couple-Retired

Hi there! We are a family of 2 (older Mum (Rae) and 15 year old daughter, Pou). We live in our Auckland home for 8.5 months of the year and spend 3.5 months of the humpback whale season each year in our house on the Pacific Island of Tonga (this house is also available to SWAP ID 7351.) We operate a packaged eco-tour business - swimming with humpback whales.
We love the beach and the ocean, snorkeling & swimming. We also love exploring cities & villages & markets (especially in other cultures), we are foodies so love farmers markets and great cafes and restaurants in all cultures. We enjoy tennis, my daughter plays netball and loves being busy. We are non-smokers, environmentalists, eat organic whenever possible and are animal lovers!
My adult son, his wife & my grandchildren aged 6 & 11 who live in Taipei - may join us for school holidays during January/Feb (Chinese New year holidays in Taiwan) so may require a 4 bedroom house to swap. We have 2 small dogs - they are easy - can be pet-sat or they can go off to June's Holiday Camp.
We would show the same respect and care for your house, garden and belongings that we would expect from people sharing our house.

Type: House,  Bathrooms: 1+,  Bedrooms: 3,  Sleeps: 5

About our House: Our house is not a large house but its spacious and has just been renovated inside ( landscaping will be finished by March 2012). The master bedroom has a very comfortable latex queen bed, large robe, opening onto the sunny deck. The second bedroom has a double bed and large robe also opening onto the sunny deck. The deck has a BBQ & 5 seater outdoor table and chairs. The 3rd bedroom has a double divan, computer table, DVD player & TV. (my daughters study room and guest room). The bathroom has a free-standing bath, separate 'rain' shower, vanity & toilet. There is a second toilet in the laundry as well as a small tub, washing machine and dryer. The large open-plan living space has a great 'cooks' kitchen with concrete benches, a large 'island' bench for food prep and is a breakfast bar too. The dining area separates the lounge area which has bi-fold doors onto a new courtyard for outdoor dining and BBQ. There is a fireplace, heat-pump/air-conditioning as well as an HRV ventilation system. This is smoke-free home. The garden low maintenance and is abundant with organic vegetables and a fruit orchard over summer.

Park in the next street with children's playground. Local shops - there is a Asian takeaway, small supermarket & pharmacy and Avondale village (8 mins walk) has a variety of shops, doctors, post office etc . A local Asian Farmers Market every Sunday morning - also has bric-a-brac clothing etc
A shopping centre/mall just 8 mins by car - with large supermarket, several restaurants and take-aways,
Avondale is central to many things - 8 mins to the city by car, train station to city of Auckland is 8 mins walk away, 40mins to the famous Piha Beach on the west coast of Auckland and the Waitakere ranges - perfect for bush-walking.