Brettenwood Coastal Estate

WORDS CARLA GAILEY | PHOTOS CHRIS ALLAN PHOTOGRAPHY

What sets Brettenwood Coastal Estate apart from any other Estate? One word: Exclusivity. Brettenwood is the only gated estate in the whole of South African coastline that is exclusively for residents.

Picture this. You're pulling up to a gorgeous gatehouse, on your left, is a rushing waterfall. You scan into the estate using the biometric scanning system, you're greeted by the friendliest and happiest gate guards. You breathe a sigh of relaxation and relief, you're home. Surrounded by immaculate landscaping, lush green natural vegetation everywhere you look. You drive over the Heron Dam Bridge which overlooks calm water on either side and all of life's stresses literally pours off of your shoulders. Egyptian geese are taking flight, resident birds are chirping, and the sun is gently flickering through the palm trees. Your friendly neighbour is walking his dog waves, and a family of mongooses run past you, sounds like heaven, right?

This exclusive 104-hectare Estate came onto the scene in 2004. The land, which was originally sugar cane, was realised as Brettenwood Coastal Estate by Brett Hulett, owner of the Hulett's Development Company who had a vision and passion for the land. The Estate boasts approximately 700 homes in total, with approximately 300 freehold units and the balance being sectional title, clubhouse facilities and open conservation areas. An array of apartments, villas, free standing houses and retirement homes, start at R1.69million and go to R15million. The homes follow a Frank Lloyd-Write style of architecture which concept is to integrate the houses with the surrounding landscaping. They're carefully designed using neutral colours to harmoniously blend in with the natural fauna and flora. They have just had the launch of their most recent development in the Estate, Wagtail. Offering beautiful, tranquil and prime location living. Union3, a local Ballito company, are developing and constructing this amazing site. The new development will compromise homes with sea views, forest villas and apartments. It is set to break ground in March 2018 and they plan for an 18-24 month construction period.

At Brettenwood, life is good! Children can safely ride around on their bikes, couples can leisurely walk with their dogs or enjoy a morning jog with absolute peace of mind. Because the Estate doesn't allow short-term rentals, during the holiday periods, the Estate is totally unaffected. Children who live in the Estate, end up growing up in a community where lift clubs and after school activities are organized and joined in by neighbours. The families at Brettenwood especially love the fact that their children can ride to a friends' house or to their grandparents' house knowing they're safe. "Brettenwood is about more than safety and security in a beautiful setting, although these things are paramount, what really sets us apart are our people. A community of like-minded, warm, individuals. The result is that whether you are a young family looking for the space to grow, or have reached retirement age, Brettenwood is a place to call 'home'." – Vanessa Armstrong, CEO, The Hulett Development Company.

Amongst the incredible safety and community spirit, the facilities and wildlife at Brettenwood are impressive! The Estate boasts two clubhouses, a state-of-the-art gym, a heated pool, a Robinson Crusoe styled playground, a boma for braai's and picnics, extensive walking trails, a 16meter water slide (the largest in an Estate) and so much more! More than 234 different bird species have been spotted in the Estate including the common Yellow Weaver, Egyptian Goose and the Narina Trogon. Along with these gorgeous creatures, the Grey duiker, bushbuck, banded mongoose and Galagos are local residents on the Estate. Brettenwood is a place where residents enjoy a natural, peaceful and active lifestyle. It's a place where enduring friendships are created, passions and interests are cultivated, and human spirits are uplifted every day.

Fun fact: Three current Sharks/Springbok Rugby players live on the Estate with their families, talk about having cool neighbours!