- A luxurious villa on Waiheke Island is attracting US buyer interest, with price expectations of $20m-plus.
- The property features a Mediterranean-style residence, a vineyard, and an underground wine cellar.
- The vendors transformed the land with extensive planting and antique architectural elements.
A luxurious Italian-style villa on Waiheke Island is attracting buyer interest from the US.
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Bayleys agent Gary Wallace told OneRoof he expected the trophy home overlooking Te Whau Bay to sell for more than $20 million – well above the property’s CV of $4.4m.
“We’ve had fantastic enquiry. Although there’s still a foreign buyer ban, we’ve had high interest from the United States and further abroad,” Wallace said.
The three-bedroom main residence has a Mediterranean vibe with panoramic views. Photo / Supplied
The vendors were heavily influenced by their love of Europe and Turkey. Photo / Supplied
“We don’t know if it’s the US elections, or the [Californian] fires, but we’ve had a spike in interest since the New Year. We’re showing it to buyers with budgets over $20m.
“These high net worth people. They have experience and know what these places are worth, and they seem comfortable with that price point.”
Wallace is marketing the 3ha estate with wife Vicki and Bayleys Waiheke branch manager Mark Spitz.
“This is an unrivalled lifestyle in one of the world’s most beautiful locations. An incredible vision and a truly breathtaking result,” he said.
A sale of above $20m would put the property in contention for the title of the island’s most expensive, currently held by a 34ha estate on Gordons Road which sold in 2021 for $23.5m.
The vendors of the Te Whau property, who asked not to be named, bought it in 2019 for $2.65m and then set about creating their dream home.
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“We came up and viewed it and it ticked all the boxes – it’s got a beautiful, secluded beach, it’s got a vineyard and it’s got to-die-for views,” one of the vendors said.
The property was just a bare piece of land when they arrived, and they worked tirelessly over the years to create their north-facing Mediterranean-style residence.
“I meticulously planned the concept a year beforehand,” the vendor told OneRoof. “We went to an architect that does European homes to make sure we had the proportions right. She made a few tweaks here and there then it was good to go.”
Crafted from solid in-situ poured concrete, the three-bedroom main home boasts traditional plastered white sand and marble dust walls, double-glazed steel joinery, custom-milled wood beams and travertine and reclaimed oak floors.
The primary suite has French doors opening out to the formal garden and fountain. Photo / Supplied
The bathroom is simply stunning. Photo / Supplied
“I love design and architecture and wanted to build a home that is really easy to live in,” the vendor said.
“While I wanted it to be beautiful, I didn’t want it to be like a show home. We’ve got dogs and have visitors come and stay – it had to feel like a home, that’s really important.”
She added: “I love recycling things and antiques, the fact that you’ve got that history that you’re bringing in.
“I’ve collected antiques for over 30 years. My husband and I have travelled throughout Europe and Turkey extensively. When you go there you see these beautiful rustic homes and buildings that have stood the test of time – they’re not perfect and we just love that.
“We’ve done plastered walls in the traditional way, which gives the illusion of movement and that it’s been there for a long time. We’ve got doors here that are over 300 years old and have real character.”
The house sits on more than three hectares and boasts landscaped grounds. Photo / Supplied
The rustic aesthetic extends to the cellar and the staircase leading to it. Photo / Supplied
Grand proportions also enhance the sense of space and volume. “I love the soaring stud heights inside, in the living area we’ve got four-metre [high] ceilings and it goes up to about six metres,” she said.
The underground wine cellar is another place to relax and retreat. “We have wine off the vineyard down there and a bar – it’s a really neat place to go. There’s nothing quite like it.”
The grounds have been brought to life with as much care and consideration and the couple have planted over 20,000 native and exotic plants, which are a haven for native birds and bees.
“There’s a lot of planting but I wanted something easy that looked natural and sprawling. Then off the master suite I’ve done a formal garden with about 400-odd buxus plants which we clip.”
The couple have created many spots around the property to be at one with nature, read a book or sit down have a cup of coffee or a glass of rose. These include a terraced rose garden, bush walks and the unique palmery.
“It’s a special place that’s really calm and cool. It’s a lovely little getaway, we sometimes enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks up there.”
The guest cottage also on-site is fully self-contained, so is ideal for hosting visitors, while the 1.2ha, professionally-managed vineyard sprawls across gently contoured land and grows Bordeaux-style grapes.
- Te Whau, Waiheke Island, is for sale by way of tender, closing March 13
* Additional reporting by Catherine Smith
