- The mansion at 26 Ronaki Road, Mission Bay, offers unobstructed views of the beach and Waitematā Harbour.
- Covenants restrict the height of neighbouring properties, ensuring the view remains unblocked.
- The house, designed by Lawrence Sumich, has an RV of $19.5m, with price expectations over $20m.
It’s a luxury mansion six times the size of the average Kiwi house and sits on a street shared by only the extremely wealthy.
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But 26 Ronaki Road, in Auckland’s Mission Bay, has another thing going for it – one that puts it into an elite club of expensive homes in New Zealand. No one will be able to block its view of the beach and Waitematā Harbour.
Wall Real Estate agent Ollie Wall told OneRoof that a canny series of purchases by previous owners and neighbours had guaranteed the property’s clear line of sight to the water.
Over the years various owners of 26 Ronaki Road have bought out properties lower down the hill and covenanted them to prevent their views being built out. Photo / Supplied
The Sumich-designed house hides a basement garage. Photo / Supplied
Covenants have been imposed restricting the heights of several properties in front of 26 Ronaki Road, which is no mean feat in a neighbourhood mostly zoned for development. “Those covenants have secured the view forever,” Wall said.
Buying out neighbours to secure a view is not uncommon in Auckland’s wealthy suburbs, or on Ronaki Road. Two years ago buyers picked up a brand new five-bedroom house on the street and scooped an empty 600sqm property next door for another $3 million.
The agent who brokered the deal, Sarah Liu of Bayleys, told OneRoof at the time it was to protect the new owners’ views of the harbour and Rangitoto, and give them room to add a swimming pool.
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That same year the owners of a penthouse on Remuera Road bought the tired-looking house in front of them for $10m. The property was zoned for high-density apartments, which could have blocked their view.
Wall said Ronaki Road was a favourite spot with buyers at the top end of the market, one of those “if you know, you know” streets.
“Ronaki Road is widely considered the best street in the eastern suburbs to those in the know for good reason, yet it is still unknown to others. I think that’s why it attracts well-established, private families,” he said.
“Paritai Drive has big views, but people like that from Ronaki Road you can see the beach itself. You see people walking their dogs or chatting, you feel like you’re part of it.”
From the street, the house hides its nearly 1000sqm footprint. Photo / Supplied
The double-height lobby is a classic Sumich architecture signature. Photo / Supplied
The modern mansion house was designed by Lawrence Sumich in 2010 and replaced a traditional English-style 1920s house the previous owners had owned since 2000. The existing tennis court at the bottom of the section was retained and updated, while the rest of the section was terraced, giving the owners grandstand views of the world below them.
The house has an RV of $19.5m, but Wall said the price expectation was more than $20m.
“This is what every wealthy Kiwi thinks of when they think of the dream property: Lawrence Sumich design, big house with plenty of garaging, the pool, the tennis court, the harbour views.”
Wall said he had back-to-back appointments from families keen to see the house. “It’s not surprising, the interest has been huge. It’s everything people look for at this level – quality, layout, amenity and views. The fact that there is no work needed is a huge drawcard in the current market also,” he said.
The library is one of two studies in the house. Photo / Supplied
OneRoof got a tour of the house and it’s a classic Sumich. Outside, the solid concrete walls, are broken by dark stained shutters and wrapped in a tropical-style garden, the driveway disappearing down a side ramp so no garage doors are dominating the facade. There is a separate guest bedroom studio tucked next to the main house and the grand front door opens to the double-height entry lobby.
The main living floor features a large living and dining room wrapped around the kitchen (which has the walk-in scullery with wine fridge, a waterfall stone island and high-end appliances buyers expect at this level) and opens to the pool terrace, with a hidden changing room, and lawn – and those sea views.
Off the kitchen is a media room, the television hidden behind a sliding panel. For the kids, there is another huge games room with room for the billiards table, while the parents have his and hers offices: one a library lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, the other a regular office.
Wall said that he’s had car buffs light up at the basement’s “epic” seven-car garage, with one collector figuring he could easily fit nine of his treasures plus have room for the two “regular” family cars. The house has been future-proofed for a full lift from the basement to the second floor, although the current owners have not needed to install one.
Upstairs there are four bedrooms. The master bedroom has a dreamy tile-lined ensuite with a tub that gets all the views and there are his and hers walk-in closets and a balcony for morning coffee. There are three other bedrooms, each with walk-in closets and ensuite bathrooms with an art-filled hallway lit by a skylight.
Everywhere is stone, fine joinery in stained American oak, and generous stud heights the better to showcase a huge art collection – style and workmanship that Wall said looks like it has just been finished, not a 10-year-old build.
Wall said that buyers recognise that to replicate this sort of timeless style today would cost $20m for the house alone – not counting the tennis court, pool and basement excavation.
“It’s hard to wrap your head around, but to build this house would cost close to $20m, based on a cost of $20,000 per metre,” he said.
- 26 Ronaki Road, Mission Bay, Auckland, is for sale, price on application
