A multi-million-dollar estate, billed as a “super-sized resort” on Wellington’s Kapiti Coast, is for sale but the agent and owners are keeping quiet on price.
The 500sqm seven-bedroom house boasts all the mod cons expected in trophy homes with a few extras that are out of the ordinary: a 200sqm wraparound deck and a “self-cleaning swimming pool, complete with fountains, a diving platform, and a swim-up bar”.
The house sits on 1.5 hectares at 87 Rutherford Drive, on the edge of Waikanae, and is listed with Della Randall, of Della Randall Realty.
She told OneRoof the house was a standout property in the market. “We anticipate this property will redefine the local market. It is world-class and single-level on a grand scale,” she said.
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She declined to put a price on the property, saying the current RV was irrelevant and did not reflect the value of the finished building. She told OneRoof it would go for an “upper-tier” price.
The luxury home was the lockdown idea of owners Lanita and Paul Mulholland, who operate Wellington building firm Mulholland Construction.
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“We thought we might not be able to travel to Australia or the Pacific Islands, so we decided to buy a piece of land and create our own resort,” Lanita told OneRoof.
“We thought friends and family from around the country could come. They really loved that.”
In the 18 months they’ve lived in the house (construction took about three years and the family moved in before the house was finished), they have hosted parties of up to 120 people. Two sets of friends have held their weddings on the front lawn, which edges the beach and there was enough room for giant blow-up castles for their children’s birthday parties.
There have been pool parties galore, and the couple have rarely been without guests in the house.
The Rutherford Drive house was conceived as a resort for friends and family. Photo / Supplied
The entertaining area includes a covered deck and a full bar. Photo / Supplied
“We had [singer] Shaun Preston play on his baby grand piano on the deck and then a rock band set up on a different deck,” Paul said.
The couple tapped their own architecture company, Madd Architecture, to design the house, and Lanita herself tackled the interiors. The spread includes a movie room, a children’s lounge, study/library, a double garage, workshop and extra double carport. Each bedroom has its own ensuite bathroom.
The couple know high-end homes. Paul said their company has built some of the most expensive homes on the coast, including a home on Matatua Road, in Raumati Beach’s exclusive Goodwood Estates, which still holds the area’s top price of $4.45 million.
The property was the owners' lockdown project. Photo / Supplied
Luxury touches include a movie room, as well as a children's lounge and study. Photo / Supplied
The couple are proud of their creation but said they were selling up to start another project. They will miss this one, though. “This is a real unicorn. You can’t just go down the road and replace it,” Paul said.
Randall said the house would appeal to those who highly value their health and well-being. “If it suits, it can be sold fully furnished,” she added.
- 87 Rutherford Drive, Waikanae, Wellington, is for sale, deadline closing October 8
