Boaties Craig and Trisha Armstrong heat their swimming pool and spa from a 518 metre-deep natural hot water bore on their park-like property.
The Armstrongs, who only by coincidence live at 117 Armstrong Road, in Te Puna, Bay of Plenty, have loved their six-and-a-half acres but are moving their luxury charter business Cruise New Zealand - including a new super yacht under construction - up to Auckland ahead of the America’s Cup.
“At the moment we kind of commute backwards and forwards but as the business has got busier and busier it’s more difficult to do that, hence the sale and relocation to Auckland,” says Craig.
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The couple worked in Lake Tarawera in Rotorua for 30 years in tourism before they bought their Tauranga home which is inland but still only five minutes from the coast.
They already have two catamarans and when the Rua Moana (two oceans) is completed all three vessels will be based at the Viaduct.
“The America’s Cup is a fantastic opportunity. We’ve been involved in two previous America’s Cups and a number of Volvo Ocean yacht races.”
Craig says the couple ended up in the country after falling for this property’s peace, quiet and security.
“One of the big features of the property, apart from the lovely gardens and the executive style home, is that we have a hot water bore here, so it’s a natural soda water or hot water bore, so beautiful water that comes out of the ground at 37 degrees from like 1700 feet below.
“We’re able to fill the swimming pool and the spa with beautiful, crystal clear hot water which is fantastic.”
There is plenty of garaging and also sheds, and a beautiful outlook across tropical gardens.
“The gardens were originally planted here 30 years ago and the previous owner, who owned the property from the outset, was a big gardener and put in beautiful specimen trees and a waterfall and a pond.”
The original owner was a builder and built the lodge-style brick house, which is on the market for $2.849m, in the late 1980s to the highest standards, Craig says.
There’s also a separate two bedroom flat, and with three paddocks the new owners could develop an income stream from horticulture if they wanted, he says.
Craig and Trisha are hoping to find something to buy in the inner city in Auckland, or something that is only ten or 15 minutes from the Viaduct.
Equally, Craig says the couple would be open to trading with someone who might be wanting to move down country for a lifestyle change.
“For us it’s about finding a little haven up there in Auckland on a smaller scale where we’re handy and able to access the viaduct easily.”
After the America’s Cup, the couple plan to continue their core business of corporate entertaining and catering to high-end international visitors.
Craig says the Rua Moana will be the only vessel of her size and quality based at the Viaduct as a full-time charter vessel. “It will be a floating lodge to showcase the beautiful coastal environment that New Zealand has to offer.”
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