With a birds-eye view across Adelaide, Andrew and Emma Perry’s lofty hillside nest is perched on Skye’s aptly-named Vista Avenue.

Words Ben Kelly

“Wow” was the word that simultaneously came to the minds of Andrew and Emma Perry when they went along to an open inspection on the appropriately-named Vista Avenue at Skye.

“It hits everyone – whenever someone arrives at the property, they almost don’t say hello to you, they are too busy taking in the incredible view. It was the same with us,” Andrew says.

The four-bedroom home is situated in the Adelaide foothills suburb of Skye, which is renowned for streets with expansive views across the plains.

Since purchasing the home two and a half years ago, Andrew, a doctor, and Emma, a paramedic, have enjoyed spectacular sunsets and summer dips in the hillside pool, birdwatching and dinners looking out to Adelaide and beyond.

But with job changes and two young children, they are selling to move back to the inner suburbs and closer to work. Not that the commute is anything to be sniffed at, just 20 to 25 minutes’ drive to the CBD.

“We’ve jumped at a rare opportunity to build on a block close to our children’s school,” Andrew says.

Up for sale by expression of interest, the spectacular 2012 owner-built home was designed by Drew Edwards Developments. The elevated eco-friendly property is perched on a sloping block of 2.4 hectares, containing two living spaces, home theatre, two bathrooms and a powder room, with amenities split across two levels.

The bedrooms, living areas and outdoor entertaining spaces enjoy jaw-dropping panoramas over the native landscape. “It’s quiet, private and surrounded by nature,” Andrew says. “You can’t be on the balcony and not see birds flying past. You can go for a walk along the driveway viewing the local flora and fauna, looking at the koalas – our record is six on the one walk.”

“There are lots of wildflowers up here, so there’s always something in bloom. The artichoke thistles are quite spectacular with their large purple flowers, and we have some wild olives which we’ve harvested previously.”

“There are monarch butterflies and our kids love catching and raising the monarch caterpillars inside our home until they become butterflies,” Andrew says. “We get other visitors as well with the occasional kangaroo and echidna, and each summer the endangered yellow-tailed black cockatoos are in residence. I love hearing their calls.”

The couple has revegetated a steep, barren section of the block. “After using clean fill to widen the driveway we were left with a slope devoid of plants,” Andrew says. “We took the opportunity to re-plant it with native trees and shrubs recommended for the location by Trees for Life.”

The home has an eco-friendly but luxurious design, with beautiful floorboards of recycled jarrah timber, an 85,000-litre rainwater tank, a five-kilowatt solar power system and thermal-efficient double-glazed windows. The slow combustion Danish-built fireplace is striking and effective, complemented by underfloor heating to keep the home cosy in winter.

The interiors are minimalist and modern, with tiled kitchen splashback, Blanco appliances and a three-metre Smartstone island bench.

There’s a fire pit and the perfect hammock spot on the lawn area, while the icing on the cake is the saltwater, solar-heated swimming pool complete with swim jets, a “champagne seat” and an infinity pool-style edge, allowing uninterrupted views of the valley and beyond. “You swim up to the edge of the pool and look out over the city,” Andrew says.

Perched towards the top of a valley, the home is bordered by hillside and bushland. Looking straight ahead there is Penfolds Magill Estate with its iconic smokestack, followed by views of the city and beyond to the ocean.

“It overlooks the arrival flight path for the Adelaide Airport so you can watch the planes come in, and beyond that you can see ships out in the gulf. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the Yorke Peninsula. And facing westward, every evening you get to see the sun set over the ocean.”

When Andrew worked in the city, he would frequently cycle to work. “It’s quite an exciting ride at 80km/h down Coach Road, which is renowned among cyclists. It’s one of Adelaide’s top hill climbs with a long downhill speed section and it is a decent workout coming back up the other way,” he says.

Andrew says he and Emma will sorely miss the property, from relaxing on the balcony among nature, using the swimming pool in summer and enjoying winters by the fireplace.

“It’s the view we’ll miss the most, without a doubt.”

The sale is being handled by Dee-Anne Hunt of Harcourts Williams.