Imagine living within an easy walk of Newmarket, the train station, Auckland Hospital and some of the city's best shopping and dining, then coming home to the privacy, sunshine and relaxed atmosphere of your own poolside retreat.

Ely Avenue is a peaceful, tightly held street where substantial family homes rarely change ownership. The current owners have enjoyed this special position for 15 years, while other properties nearby have remained in the same hands for more than 40 years.

The villa retains the charm of its era with beautiful pressed ceilings, high stud heights and a wonderful sense of space. Multiple living areas provide excellent separation, while the open-plan kitchen and dining area is bathed in north-facing sun and flows to a generous deck overlooking the swimming pool.

Private, sheltered and surrounded by brick paving, established avocado trees and a variety of fruit trees, the outdoor setting is exceptionally easy to enjoy. It is a fabulous place for summer entertaining, quiet afternoons by the pool or watching the Sky Tower fireworks on New Year's Eve.

Upstairs are three bedrooms and two bathrooms, along with an enclosed balcony enjoying masses of sun, views towards Newmarket and the Sky Tower, plus a water outlook across to Rangitoto.

The lower level adds another dimension, with a generous double bedroom, its own living area and a separate kitchenette. It is ideal for guests, extended family or older children who still haven't quite managed to leave home.

A powder room, generous double garage, excellent laundry space and additional off-street parking complete a home that offers far more than you would expect in such a central location.

The kitchen and bathrooms are perfectly comfortable as they are, while offering exciting scope for new owners to renovate and take the home to another level.

The convenience is outstanding. Medical Mile is approximately a one-minute walk away, motorway access is virtually at the doorstep, and Westfield Newmarket, cafés, restaurants and the train station are all within easy reach. The property is also in the Double Grammar Zone, with Epsom Girls Grammar and Diocesan School approximately 1km away and Auckland Grammar around 1.7km away - all an easy walk.

A character villa with a pool, genuine family separation, double garaging, excellent parking and this much privacy is an exceptionally scarce find so close to Newmarket.