- A Wanaka couple bought a dilapidated bach on Great Barrier Island for $335,000.
- They plan to replace it with a glamping caravan while planning a new build.
- Agent Mike Jensen says the island is attracting young couples and international buyers.
A young couple from Wanaka has snapped up a dilapidated bach on Great Barrier Island for $335,000, OneRoof can reveal.
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The 1128sqm block, which overlooks Blind Bay and has access to the nearby beach and boat ramp, was being sold “as is, where is”.
Barfoot & Thompson agent Mike Jensen said it was not unusual for people from the other end of the country, including the wealthy South Island hotspots of Wanaka and Queenstown, to own baches on the island.
“You’d be surprised how many people on the Barrier actually have a home in Wanaka or Queenstown, or here,” he told OneRoof.
The 1128sqm property overlooks Blind Bay. Photo / Supplied
The cottage is falling to pieces. The vendor bought it at a mortgagee sale a decade ago. Photo / Supplied
“It’s dead easy for them because they just fly from Queenstown to Auckland airport and then just walk to the other end of the terminal and get on the Barrier flight and fly here, so they never have to leave the terminal.
“They can do the whole lot from one flight to the next flight and they’re here.”
Jensen said Great Barrier Island was attractive to South Islanders because of its stunning natural beauty.
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“It’s peaceful, and that’s kind of what they’re looking for. I could rattle off many people who maybe their primary house might be in Wanaka, and they have their holiday home here.”
The Wanaka couple paid just under the asking price of $350,000 for the bach and planned to replace it with a glamping caravan that was for sale on the island.
“They’ll just stay there while they plan their build,” Jensen said, adding: “There are probably six or seven full-time builders here, and they all have crews of two or three working with them. They cover each other as well. They’ll share their stuff. It’s quite unusual.”
The Blind Bay Road property is well hidden but still close to the beach. Photo / Supplied
He told OneRoof last month that his vendor, a local investor, had bought the home at a mortgagee sale a decade ago, but his plans to do something with the block didn’t pan out. He added that he had a quote for $14,000 to demolish and remove the pioneer cottage from the property.
Jensen said a lot of young couples were buying on the island, and the island’s market was starting to move. Australians and Americans with Kiwi roots were also showing interest.
“On a Friday, we can have like 22 flights coming out. It’s absolutely picking up, there’s no doubt about that. We’ve got maybe two or three things under contract and people here now, instead of kicking tyres they’re actually moving and making offers.”
One Australian couple with three children had recently bought a section in Blind Bay Road and were searching for a builder. “They’re sick of the heat of Australia, and that’s why they’ve moved,” Jensen told OneRoof.
Under contract to an American couple is this spread at 1 Aotea Road, on Great Barrier Island. Photo / Supplied
Americans, he said, get “very frustrated” at the OIO process. “If they could buy straight away, they would buy everything.”
Jensen said he got the feeling that the current White House incumbent was behind their shift to New Zealand. “They just don’t like what’s going on over there.”
Jensen has a substantial property on Aotea Road that’s under contract for close to $3m to an American couple who live in Los Angeles but have New Zealand roots.
The 30ha property has panoramic views across the Pacific Ocean, a main house and a self-contained flat, and another five building sites, all with stunning views.
Another LA-based Kiwi couple bought a large property for just over $2m recently. Jensen said this couple exported honey from New Zealand and sold it in the United States. “Once again, they can fly from LA straight to Auckland airport, get on the plane, and they’re here. No need to own a car in Auckland and drive to the Coromandel, none of that kind of stuff.”
- Click here to find more properties for sale on Great Barrier Island
