This is what millionaires' row looks like for the rest of NZ

Auckland’s top sales for the last 12 months reached $17.6 million for a cliff top spread in St Heliers, $12 million for a water-front home in Herne Bay and $9 million for a bach on Waiheke Island. And in Queenstown’s Kelvin Heights - another property hunting ground for the well-to-do - there were sales of $12.5 million and $7.9 million. But how has the rest of the country fared when it comes to the top end of the market?

You can use our interactive at the bottom of this article to find the top sale in your suburb but here are some we thought were worth noting.

The Far North is a region of two halves, with the median value of $425,000 belying an exclusive upper end of properties.

Orokawa Bay, Bay of Islands, sold for $6 million. Picture/ Sotheby's

This summer Sotheby’s International agent Chester Rendell sold a beautiful piece of Kiwiana - a family compound on Orokawa Bay in the Bay of Islands – for $6 million, the region’s top price. The US-based New Zealand owner had architect Peter Sargisson created two homes that were a nod in style to the original 1920s dwellings, and added a boat shed with bunks for eight and a breezeway to connect house to the sea. The new buyer is also a Kiwi, a fact that thrilled both vendor and agent.

The second highest sale in the region was for 98 Riverview Road in Kerikeri, which went for $2.8 million in October last year, and was marketed by Luxury Real Estate.

5 Oceanbeach Road, Mount Maunganui sold for $6.3 million. Photo/ Supplied

Mount Maunganui is Tauranga’s hottest spot still. In a city where median values sit at $630,000, four of the top five sales last year were around a tiny strip of roads in the Mount. Top seller was 5 Oceanbeach Rd, where Harcourt’s general manager Nigel Martin got $6.3 million at auction in October last year (still not beating the agency’s record of $8.2 million a few years ago).

The local buyer got a smart three bedroom house, but, like much of that strip, the value was in the sub dividable section of over 850 sq m.

Another property in the Mount, a modern house with tropical garden around a pool, marketed by Powers Realty, 38 Te Ngaio Road, recorded $3.1 million in July last year

Wellington’s median value is still up to a healthy $705,000, but a Tommy’s real estate got six times that for a striking modern property by architect Gerald Parsonson. The magazine-worthy 600 sq m of house at ?? achieved $4.375 million this time last year, earned not just for the architecture, but also for the stunning harbour views, the internal swimming pool, wine cellar, gym, media room and more.

15 Seaview Terrace, Northland, sold for $4.375 million. Photo/ Supplied

In Christchurch another striking modern house, at 138a Fendalton Road, by architects Sheppard and Rout, went for $4 million a year ago (and is still the top sale for the city). With steps leading to a stream, gorgeous landscaping and a house of 503 sq m of steel, glass, hardwoods and travertine stone complete with a wine room, sculptural dining bar and garaging for five cars, this took lock-up-and-leave city pad to a whole new level. That’s nine times the city’s median value of $445,000.

138a Fendalton Rd, Christchurch, sold for $4 million. Photo/Supplied

Hamilton’s Tamahere stretch, where the best of the countryside is only 10 minutes from Hamilton city or the pretty town of Cambridge, is the place that commands top prices. Angela Finnigan of Bayleys Hamilton sold a riverside country estate, spread over 15.76 hectares. The traditional look eight-bedroom home is surrounded clipped hedges, pool and all-weather dining cabana, four-car garaging and views of surrounding farms and horses (this is thoroughbred stud country).

The $3.69 million for this property, in an area where most homes achieve around $2 million, reflects the valuable land holding. Median values for the area are $530,000

182 Hooker Rd, Tamahere, Hamilton, sold for $3.69 mill. Photo/Supplied

Nelson’s median value of $500,000 is made up of affordable homes through to luxury properties in the millions. Top price this time last year, was achieved by Bayley’s agent Nina James. The price of $2.6 million got a striking modern 360 sq m home with staggering views from Tahunanui Beach and Haulashore Island to the mountains, the lighthouse and the top of Tasman Bay, on a roomy section of over 960 sq m.

Lakeside Rotorua is where the premium prices are achieved, well above the median value of $380,000. Summer last year Sotheby’s International principal Shona Duncan achieved $2.2 million for a Lake Okareka property on Acacia Road. The house, on its own secluded peninsula, hadn’t been on the market for 50 years, and was bought by a local intending to develop the site

101 Acacia Rd, Lake Okareka, sold for $2.2 million. Picture/Sotheby’s

Taradale, above the city of Napier has some of the region’s best love wineries, as well as the top prices. In a town where median value is $450,000, Sotheby’s agents Fiona Oakes and Fraser Holland achieved $2.1 million for a stone and tile five-bedroom house. A second cottage and views to the ocean and Cape Kidnappers and a spreading 1 hectare section earned the money.

22a Churchill drive Taradale sold for $2.1 million. Photo/Sotheby’s

The aptly named Edinburgh Realty sold Dunedin’s top property for $1.625 million in November, more than four times the city’s median value of $375,000. Agent Peter Wilson described the traditionally styled house on 3.2 hectares, which had recently been refurbished, as the “jewel of Ross Creek”. The property had paddocks and barns, with future subdivision opportunities.

14 Polwarth Rd, Helensburgh, Dunedin sold for $1.625 million. Picture/Edinburgh Realty

Still pretty rich for most folk but what were the top sales in New Zealand's most affordable suburbs and towns? In Whanganui, where the median value $265,000, the top sale was $1.6 million for a 6ha spread on Kairanga Bunnthorpe Road. In Invercargill, which has a median value of $265,000, the biggest sale was $1.85 million.

The top five sales for the West Coast, where the median value is $250,00, totalled $4.119 million - less than a quarter of what the top-selling house in Auckland went for. The biggest sale in the New Zealand TA with the lowest median property value - Ruapehu, at $170,000 - was $810,000, just under the median value for Auckland.