- An unfinished Matakana estate sold for $8.45m, nearly $1.5m above its RV.
- The estate has two cabins, a pool, jetty and tents, but no planned main house.
- High-end buyers remain interested in Matakana and Tāwharanui, despite slower sales in the conditional market.
Would you pay over $8 million for two cabins an hour’s drive out of Auckland? How about two architecturally-designed cabins next to a large in-ground swimming pool and private jetty, all within a 74ha waterfront estate?
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Barfoot & Thompson James Doole has just sold an out-of-the-box legacy property on Bishop Lane, in Matakana, for $8.45m – almost $1.5m above the RV.
It appears to have everything one would expect from a luxury estate, including an adventure playground, outdoor fireplace and bath.
But on closer inspection, it’s missing one pivotal thing – the large designer home.
Doole declined to comment on the July sale, but his listing, which hit the market in May, described the property as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure one of the true jewels of the Tāwharanui Peninsula”.
The two architecturally-designed cabins were constructed with cedar, steel and glass. Photo / Supplied
An in-ground pool was one of the property’s many impressive features. Photo / Supplied
Renowned New Zealand architect Jeff Fearon, of Fearon Hay, was tasked with designing two luxury cabins constructed from cedar, glass, steel and natural materials.
One cabin contains the living, dining and kitchen, and the other accommodates two bedrooms and a bathroom.
Fearon also came up with plans for a substantial family home to sit on the primary building platform on the sprawling 74ha site.
But the wealthy owners listed the property for sale earlier this year before completing the grand plan.
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Doole’s listing said: “Originally designed as a minor dwelling to accompany a future main residence, the pavilions already provide an extraordinary retreat to enjoy immediately while envisioning the estate’s next chapter.”
The list of features, on what was pitched as being one of the most significant coastal offerings to come to the market in recent years, was extensive: two luxury safari tents tucked away in an elevated spot surrounded by native bush; an adventure playground with a flying fox; walking tracks; and a boat ramp, boat shed and private jetty.
“The wider estate itself is nothing short of magical,” Doole said in the listing.
Two safari tents surrounded by native bush at the Bishop Lane estate accommodates additional guests. Photo / Supplied
The adventure playground, bush walks and private jetty provides plenty of entertainment. Photo / Supplied
The expansive coastal property had its own jetty and boat ramp. Photo / Supplied
“The dramatic headland position is of particular significance, commanding rare 360-degree panoramic views across the surrounding coastline, native bush and open sea, a vantage point seldom able to be replicated or secured. This is more than a home; it is a legacy estate, a private sanctuary where architecture, landscape and lifestyle exist in complete harmony.”
The value of the property is likely to rise significantly if the purchasers proceed with plans to build a luxury home at the estate.
Three years ago, Doole sold another coastal estate on Bishop Lane for $13.25m. At its centre was a four-bedroom retreat designed by Sumich-Chaplin architects.
Doole has closed several deals in the Matakana/Tāwharanui area in recent months. He sold a 39.5ha coastal landholding on Whitmore Road at the end of August. The exact sale price has not been disclosed, but it was initially listed last year with an asking price of $5.495m.
Doole said there was still plenty of interest in the region’s high-end homes despite some taking a little bit of time to sell. “It’s a conditional marketplace, but there are definitely buyers out there looking,” he said.
Doole sold this estate on Bishop Lane in 2023 for over $13m. The property featured a home designed by Sumich-Chaplin architects. Photo / Supplied
People looking at the Matakana or Tāwharanui market were usually Aucklanders or expats looking to move there permanently. Some did it immediately, and for others it was part of their longer-term plan.
Doole said one of the main differences between Matakana and Omaha was that Matakana and Tāwharanui drew people looking for permanent homes on large estates, while Omaha attracted those looking for the family bach or luxury holiday home.
“We find they are bigger country homes, so they usually buy them as a second home, or they are moving there permanently.”
Properties worth $5m-plus were what he classed as high-end for the area. “In Omaha you can have anywhere between $5m and $12m and they’ll be on 1000sqm whereas in the country your traditional lifestyle property is probably 1ha plus.”
Doole said he had about five big listings in Matakana and Point Wells set to hit the market in the next month as part of the traditional spring rush.
- Click here to find more properties for sale in Matakana
