Article: Inhabitant
A Mixture Of Tartan, Haggis And Great Beaches
Waipu is a small town with a proud focus on cultural heritage and an abundance of nature’s gifts to enjoy in the area including surfing, walking and fishing. It is an attractive place to live and in recent years the town has grown as new housing developments have appealed to new residents.
Edgewater is an exclusive new community in beautiful Waipu, being developed by Paul and Joanna Jamieson through their company Lindau Holdings Ltd. Forty-two lots are being offered with three already sold.
The annual Highland Games held at New Year (January 2, 2012) is the main event on the Waipu calendar with kilts and bagpipes dominating the scenery as Scotsmen and women celebrate their heritage. For some more Scottish culture there’s Tartan Week in July as well. This is a week of festivities for people who like being clad in tartan and includes a midwinter ball and midwinter swim plus the ‘men in kilts’ rugby challenge. Waipu was first settled by Scottish families in the 1850s and as a result haggis and shortbread feature in the local cuisine.
The local museum has interesting displays about the area’s Scottish heritage. The museum is always on the lookout for people who like history and who would be willing to lend a hand and volunteer.
Waipu is the centre of beautiful Bream Bay, which stretches from Marsden Point in the north to Langs Beach in the south. There are plenty of gorgeous beaches and the Waipu Cove Surf Club patrols the closest beach to the town in the summer. The club’s membership spans the ages from nippers to seasoned surf veterans. Nearby Ruakaka also has a surf club and patrolled beach. Nature lovers can take advantage of the many coastal and hinterland activities in the Waipu area.
The Waipu Caves, just outside of town, come alive with glow-worms at night and there’s a 2km Department of Conservation walk to the limestone caves. There’s a coastal walk from Langs Beach to Waipu Cove and Piroa Falls in the Waipu Gorge Scenic Reserve is also of interest.
The estuary near the mouth of the Waipu River is particularly good for birdwatching, with many waders including fairy terns, oyster catchers and the New Zealand
dotterel. The estuary and river can be explored by boat or on foot, and there are opportunities for whale and dolphin watching in the area.
A leisurely game of golf can be pursued at the 18-hole Waipu Golf Club or, for a slower pace, there are regular weekend markets to browse.
Waipu School teaches pupils from years 1-6 and has a roll of around 200 students. The PTA runs the Waipu Carnival day of fun at Easter each year. High school students travel to Bream Bay College in Ruakaka.
Refining New Zealand is the largest employer in the area, supporting more than 300 workers at is refinery at Marsden Point. The company celebrated its 50th anniversary in the community last month.
The Edgewater subdivision is located off Ferry Road, between the Waipu and Waihoihoi Rivers, and its initial stage will see 22 single-story, low maintenance, brick and tile Generation Homes built in coming months.
The community has a rural outlook and some of the sections are on the riverside. Edgewater residents will share a landscaped recreation area complete with a children’s playground.
House and land packages start from $430,000 and the first three-bedroom, two-bathroom, double garage home is being built now at 6 Riverglen Road. The keys to this new home will be handed over to the lucky owners in January – guaranteed.
Generation Homes has a fixed price commitment and guaranteed 14-week delivery date for all the homes it builds. There’s also 5% deposit scheme with mortgage provider New Zealand Home Loans.
The Generation show home is at 71 Corks Road, Tikipunga, Whangarei. It is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 3pm.
