With a staggering 10 bedrooms, this sprawling estate on 3.77 hectares at Warkworth – with protected native bush – is an ideal solid cedar, family home, but it also offers potential for a plethora of other uses.
Originally built as five-star luxury accommodation, complete with three one-bedroom chalets and a two-bedroom apartment, the former Gifford Lodge was then enjoyed as a family home for a decade or so, prior to its last sale in 2021.
The current owner bought it for business use, and because it was a little tired at the time, he undertook an extensive refurbishment project with design experts from Warkworth’s iconic lifestyle store, Green with Envy, and the property is being offered complete with all its luxury furniture and furnishings.
“I have a lot of overseas clients and it’s nice to have meetings up here, away from the city, and it means those people have somewhere pleasant to stay, too,” he says. “It’s such a versatile property, and with all the bush and well-established trees it’s something that would be difficult to replicate.”
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139 Clayden Road in Warkworth, Rodney, is on the market for sale by auction on March 27. The sprawling property has a 2021 RV of $3.25 million and, according to OneRoof data, last changed hands in 2021 for $3.35m.
The current owner undertook an extensive refurbishment of the property after he bought it and the sale includes the luxury furniture and furnishings. Photo / Supplied
The sprawling property on 3.77 hectares includes three guest chalet suites, a two-bedroom apartment, a main residence with five bedrooms, a gym and multiple living spaces. Photo / Supplied
The main house offers a huge kitchen and pantry, surrounded by several large formal and informal dining and living areas, with a large schist fireplace in the formal lounge for cosy winter evenings.
When the property was last operated as a lodge, guests would dine with the owner inside, or outside in summer on the generous 250sqm wraparound outdoor entertainment space, which enjoys wonderful views of the surrounding rural landscape and around towards Little Barrier.
Upstairs the bedrooms and bathrooms are all well-appointed and the colours throughout the entire property are inspired by the colours and textures of the surrounding environment, which is always filled with the sound of birdsong. Other views include the Hunua Ranges, Kawau Island and a glimpse of the Coromandel.
The current owner says he has decided to sell because the property isn’t being used enough. “It doesn’t make sense to have it sitting empty, when there is so much that could be done with it.”
The main residence has a huge kitchen and pantry, and formal and informal dining rooms. Photo / Supplied
The property has 10 bedrooms and six bathrooms, with views of the surrounding rural landscape and towards Little Barrier, Hunua Ranges, Kawau Island and a glimpse of the Coromandel. Photo / Supplied
The owner says the new motorway has made access to and from Auckland much easier, at around 40 minutes, adding that the Matakana Coast offers a wide range of things to do and see with its spectacular beaches, water sports galore, world-class golf courses and lots of wineries and breweries for relaxed eating out options, not to mention excellent shopping in Warkworth and the famous farmer’s market at Matakana.
Listing agent Dianna Coman, from Bayleys, believes that with the property being furnished, a new owner could quickly and easily offer high-end accommodation again, but she sees other possible uses too, perhaps for a business offering respite care.
“It would be ideal for that because there’s simply so much space with lots of breakaway spots throughout and plenty of parking. The location is exceptional, on the edge of town, which gives it a nice country feel, and the Warkworth Ridge development is next door, with its premium properties,” she says.
- 139 Clayden Road in Warkworth, Rodney, goes to auction on March 27
