The story of Wawata Estate, the luxury coastal residential estate above Waiheke Island’s Palm Beach, could be a simple one of numbers.
Impressive numbers: 25 exclusive properties, 300,000 native trees and shrubs planted, millions of dollars spent on pest eradication, sustainable engineering and high-tech security and management.
Or it could be about the spirit of envisaging how this piece of farmland in the desirable north-eastern edge of Waiheke Island could become the most exclusive community in New Zealand, and one of the most exclusive in the Pacific basin, if not globally.
“This special land we call Wawata – meaning to desire earnestly, to long for – provided a magnificent raw canvas,” says developer Chris Jacobs, who has spent the past two years bringing his vision for this 38-hectare enclave to life.
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Over 300,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted, along with sustainable natural drainage that ensures clean water delivered to the wetlands in the estate. Photo / supplied
Jacobs’ former businesses in high quality tourism in the Bay of Islands, Fiji and Australia’s Whitsunday Islands, plus four years living in his own Balinese-inspired 5.5-hectare estate on the island, give him real-time insight into what luxury lifestyle buyers desire.
“People want to have large lifestyle sections, with bushland and views but without the usual concerns around upkeep. Wawata owners will need only to look after their building platform. Our Wawata owners’ society will employ grounds people to maintain the remainder of their lot that is under native bush plus the community areas - walkways, roads, continue the expansive planting and the vital control of pests.
“Here at Wawata, you get to enjoy all that the pristine, natural environment has to offer without the never ending upkeep work of a lifestyle block.”
Jacobs’ strict attention to every detail has meant selecting key partners to make sure that once resource consents for Wawata Estate were granted the former farmland was restored to its better-than-natural state.
Landscape architect and Boffa Miskell partner, John Goodwin, with project manager Greg Robbins, has overseen the regeneration plan that tore out gorse and tobacco weed – much of it by hand or ‘robo mowers’ – to protect existing native manuka, kanuka and puriri, and the planting of some 250,000 new plants (another 50,000 will be planted in coming months). They have also managed the work to eradicate rabbits and stoats.
Wawata Estate was designed to ensure each property gets spectacular sea views, as well as access to bushland, maintained by the estate Society. Photo / supplied
“There is really spectacular existing bush, in beautiful shape, and it was a skilful exercise to maintain and enhance the native species,” says Goodwin.
“The species reflect the beautiful areas of rock cascades, the wetlands and valleys that run between the ridges. We tailored plant species to suit the full spectrum of environments, from harsh exposed, through to planting close to roads.”
Jacobs says only 16 percent of Waiheke’s natural wetlands remain, so restoration was an important priority for him.
He has enlisted the experience and heft of native nursery company Kauri Park, which has worked on a number of island regeneration projects throughout the Hauraki Gulf, as well on civic and landscaping developments many people recognise and admire – such as motorway interchange and sub-division projects.
Kauri Park propagated seedlings from the best local plant species – and Jacobs enthusiastically reports that despite a record dry summer just past, survival – and growth – rates of the plantings have been pleasingly high.
Wawata Estate is minutes from Palm Beach, and the new Kennedy Point Marina, due for completion in 2022 will be just a 10 minute drive away. Photo / supplied
The hidden amenities of Wawata Estate include high capacity fibre broadband delivered to each lot, smart electronic systems that mean lighting around the estate only when it is needed – dark skies the rest of the time to allow peace and for night sky constellations to sparkle – a back-up water bore system (homes will still have their own rainwater harvesting), plus an elaborate natural drainage and filtration system to manage storm water and deliver clean water to the wetlands.
Boffa Miskell’s plan introduced a three-kilometre walking trail for residents. This connects to older farm trails and meets up with the new public walkway and bridle path on the edge of the estate, joining Palm Beach and Onetangi as part of the Te Ara Hura walking network around the island.
Heritage middens from the ancient Maori pa that once stood on the Wawata site are protected and will remain unplanted so owners can see these forms of the island’s earliest human habitation.
Jacobs is particularly pleased with how the 25 properties, which range in size from 3000 sq m to nearly three hectares, all get grandstand views of the bush and sea. Design covenants, as well as generous building platforms, ensure owners’ privacy will be protected.
“The big attraction right from the beginning has been the ridgeline and the north facing outlook, so everyone has amazing views,” says Jacobs.
Goodwin says architectural covenants will balance buildings that are well integrated into the landscapes – all with generous room for architects to be creative, specifying materials and colour palettes that read cohesively, and speak of the quality of the amenities.
Properties vary from 3000 sq metres to nearly three hectares, with carefully selected building platforms to ensure privacy and views. Photo / supplied
Jessop Architects have created what they would see as enviable home designs for four of the lots. These are intended to demonstrate the versatility of the building platforms, which range up to 5300 square metres.
Goodwin says: “We want a good built outcome. We’ve worked pretty hard on that so it protects the whole estate”.
Matthew Smith of Ray White Waiheke, who is marketing Wawata Estate, says Wawata Estate is a good investment opportunity.
“Waiheke will change dramatically in five to 10 years, but Wawata will see an additional increase in value as it matures with all the natives growing and the beautiful homes being built. It’s amazing now, and in five years’ time it will be magnificent.”
He adds that the completion of Kennedy Point Marina, just 10 minutes’ drive from Wawata, will come on stream around the same time residents will be moving into their new homes.
“This will make an incredible retirement lifestyle. Purchasing at Wawata Estate will not just be about purchasing a piece of land, perfect though it is already, but also about being part of a park that continues to improve and mature – and to be able to arrive here in your own boat.”
As other Waiheke residents and visitors concur, Smith says Onetangi is becoming a drawcard with its more recent development as a centre for fine beachside restaurants.
After the first weekend of Wawata Estate marketing at Easter, he is already juggling more than 60 enquiries. Viewings will be prioritised on a first-in, first-served basis once the current Covid-19 lockdown requirements are lifted and allow for travel.
“There is no other residential land like this left on Waiheke,” says Jacobs. “This is it for five or 10 years at least as there’s nothing else in the planning process.”
And his favourite part of Wawata Estate? “No doubt about it, it’s the stunning natural environment – the wetlands and the ‘big grand-daddy’ pohutukawa – which will continue to flourish along with all the new plantings.
FOR SALE: The sites at Wawata Estate range in size from 1 to 6 acres, priced from $2.1 to $4.5 million.
For more information go to wawataestate.co.nz
