Character, charm and comfort all come together in this appealing property on the edge of New Plymouth's dress circle.

You discover all these features and more in the form of the 1930-built weatherboard bungalow at 16 Norman St, just a couple of blocks or so back from the elite residences overlooking the city and a stroll from the shaded walkways of Pukekura Park.

Appeal begins with the landscaped frontage and the cherry tree budding into bloom, and draws you further in with the detail of the bay front window with leadlight glazing and the recycled-brick ramp leading up the side of the house to the front door. The driveway runs past here to the generous double garaging with its internal access - an advantage not always available in homes of this era close to the city. There's another advantage in the space offered by an extra room at the back of the garage - a hobby room maybe, or the potential of a teenager's retreat.

That garaging, extra space and the attached comforts of the 156sqm home all fit comfortably on the spacious section of 857sqm.

Stepping inside the front door of this home, you immediately appreciate the rimu architraves and richly hued Oregon panelling lining the foyer. The ceilings above feature ornate plaster detailing, each room revealing a different design above as you walk through the house.

Three bedrooms at the front of the house are spacious and sunny. The master bedroom behind that bay-windowed corner was created out of the original formal lounge where there was enough space to build in a new ensuite bathroom and large wardrobe. Again, it's a luxurious touch you don't expect of character vintage.

A fourth single bedroom and an adjacent office nook is part of the link between house and garage.

The main bathroom along the hallway towards the living areas is finished in rimu tongue-and-groove panelling with an original claw-foot bath as a central feature.

Rimu comes to the fore again in the large kitchen, with dining and family space beyond leading to French doors that open out on to a deck that soaks up the afternoon sun. It's a private sheltered space out here, framed by established shrubs and trees, including the bounty of fruit-bearing feijoa and lemon trees.

With the park areas so close, tui and wood pigeons are familiar visitors to this garden.

At the far side of the lawn, there's a board-and-batten shed with plenty of space for garden tools and family toys. In the branches of the towering tree beside the shed, a timber treehouse has provided adventure for more than one family of youngsters here.

This home's present owners have enjoyed all this for the past 11 years and it's only a move out of town that is prompting its sale. Their Auckland destination might possibly deliver shops around the corner, but is unlikely to boast a 10-minute walk to the city centre with the green glory of a premier park nearby.

That's reserved for the new owners who will settle in here, most probably very soon.