Orewa’s Kensington Park is many things – effortlessly elegant, architecturally-designed and community-focussed – but there’s one thing it is not, and that’s a retirement village,

Located just a 450 metre walk from both Orewa beach and its buzzy seaside township, the 40-acre neighbourhood is comprised of premium Cape Cod-styled townhouses and apartment complexes set amongst landscaped tropical gardens. 

The swaying palms and resort-style vibe make it feel more Miami than Rodney district, with the layout, buildings and grounds all carefully curated to enhance the relaxed, resort-style atmosphere.  The location is a huge part of the value proposition.  “It’s a nice, flat walk or ride to the beach and town centre, which has a very vibrant, village atmosphere.”
says Residential General Manager, Gary Noland.

“It’s unique and really special as it’s one of the few truly intentionally master planned, coastal communities that has stuck to its original plan from all those years ago.” “It’s also all freehold, so you don’t lose up to 30% the day you buy it.” 

A Lifestyle for Every Generation

Noland says the age dynamics at Kensington Park have ebbed and flowed over the years.

“It has always been about lifestyle, no matter what stage you’re at. There have been young kids living here and there are teenagers here at the moment – lots of people also still work.”
– Gary Noland

A True Sense of Community

Residents are able to build connections and foster friendships where they live, which is becoming increasingly rare in suburbia. The catchline was ‘Kensington Park, where neighbours become friends’ and actually, that’s what happens.” 

“There is a very active residents association that coordinate events, there was a golf day recently. You don’t have to be 60 or 70 to come to Kensington, you could be a young couple who love gardens but don’t want to look after them.”  “It’s a great place to relax and enjoy but then people can also lock up and leave because it’s so safe and secure.”

The location is a huge part of the value proposition. “It’s a nice, flat walk or ride to the beach and town centre, which has a very vibrant village atmosphere. It’s well connected and easy to get on the motorway to go north or south, and there is also direct access to Alice Eaves Scenic Reserve next door.”

Residents have come from far and wide, including from Stonefields in Mount Wellington, Takapuna and Devonport, plus more recently Mangawhai and Matakana. 

“You get all the natural beauty that you get up there in here, but with the convenience.”

Resort-Style Amenities

The onsite amenities at Kensington Park are a major part of what makes life here feel so effortlessly relaxed and complete. Designed with both wellbeing and connection in mind, the community offers a thoughtfully curated range of facilities that bring a touch of resort living to everyday life. Residents can start the morning with a walk around the lake or a peaceful session in the gym before taking a dip in the heated pool or unwinding in the sauna. For those who enjoy a bit of friendly competition, there’s a putting green and pétanque court nestled among the landscaped gardens — perfect for social afternoons in the sun.

At the heart of the neighbourhood, the onsite café provides a welcoming meeting spot for morning coffee, lunch with friends, or simply watching the world go by. Green thumbs can also get their hands dirty in the community vegetable plots, where residents grow herbs, flowers, and produce to share. And for those craving a deeper connection with nature, Alice Eaves Scenic Reserve sits right next door, offering kilometres of tranquil bushwalks through native forest.

Together, these amenities create more than just convenience — they foster a genuine sense of community, well-being, and balance that’s rare to find in modern developments. At Kensington Park, every day feels like a holiday, right at home.

Bathrooms have a slightly more contemporary edge, with large-format tiles selected for their elegant textural depth of pattern and colour, and paired with slightly deeper paint tones for the tongue-and-groove feature walls. 

Fixtures such as cabinetry handles and bathroom accessories match the high-quality, brushed nickel tapware, and the fluted baths and basins and back-lit recessed shelving above the baths and in the showers add a WOW factor to the bathrooms. 

Lighting can change the feeling in a room, creating warmth or a subtle glow. LED strip lighting in recessed shelving and under the toe-kicks of the kitchen create an atmosphere of luxury. Kitchen pendant lights – from fluted opaque to handblown amber glass shades – are a key feature, providing task lighting and adding flair to the open-plan kitchen / dining / living areas.

The Power Of Potential

The spaces are designed to feel open, inviting, and adaptable, with enough flexibility to accommodate a variety of personal decorative styles. By focusing on the details, from the rich materials to the subtle variations in finishes, the interior designs offer both sophistication and individuality, setting foundations for each townhouse to become a deeply personal and stylish home – one that captures the essence of the Hamptons style, while leaving room for the unique expressions of the homeowners. 

For The Gardens apartments, interior designer Karen Fergusson has created two very different interior design schemes, each with a range of options to enable homeowners to personalise the final appearance. The Scandi-coastal design features natural, light-coloured surfaces for a clean, simple look, while a second scheme with darker finishes creates a more sophisticated urban vibe.

Quality Rules

Composite marble was selected for benchtops and seamlessly carries through to the splashbacks in the kitchens, offering the luxury look of marble but with the strength and wearability that residents expect in a top-quality apartment. 

In apartments with the coastal design scheme, walls are painted in a natural warm white, Dulux Cardrona, and white and grey-veined marble benchtops are teamed with natural, light oak-veneered cabinetry and top-of-the-line Miele appliances. Natural timber floors – using 190mm-wide boards for a modern appearance – compliment the elegance and simplicity of the look.

Urban Chic

Apartments with the more sophisticated urban interior scheme feature the same high-quality materiality, but feature dark-stained timber cabinetry and marble benchtops, and walls are painted with Dulux Okarito, a cooler shade of white, to offset the darker tones. 

Fergusson sourced the New Zealand-made Mr Ralph collection of decorative pendants to highlight the island benchtops and add an elegant and stylish aesthetic to the living spaces. To vary the look, the apartments have either black, white or clear-glass light fittings.

Both the master and main bathrooms are finished to an equally high standard with stone-finish tiles on the floors, large vanities and extra-large mirrors to create a generous and luxurious feel.

Every Detail Counts

Every detail has been considered, with large fitted wardrobes in the master suites, heated towel rails in bathrooms, excellent storage options throughout the apartments, fully fitted laundries and all the mod cons you would expect to find in a premium home.  

Timber decks create a softer aesthetic and work well with the planter boxes that provide a soft edge to many of the terraces. White-painted sliding timber louvres on the terraces ensure residents can enjoy their privacy while they relax outside.

Kate O’Connor, Senior Interior Designer of The Look, is available for private interior design consultations which can be arranged through the Kensington Park sales team or at thelook.co.nz 

Karen Fergusson is available for interior design consultations and can be contacted at karenfergusson@xtra.co.nz.