People seeking the ultimate in privacy within a short trip from Auckland City will find the solitude they seek upon Motuketekete Island, nestled in the Hauraki Gulf and now on the market.
The 28.7ha island being marketed by Bayleys through private expressions of interest offers a rare opportunity to purchase solitude within the city’s reach.
With that comes the option to build a retreat befitting its unique location, says Paula Bennett, Bayleys national director for customer engagement.
“What Motuketekete has to offer is difficult to find anywhere, both here and overseas. It offers a well-established, forested landscape and a deep sense of history accompanies the island which has been over 100 years in ownership by the one family,” she says.
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“It is rare for an island in private ownership to ever come on the market, and Motuketekete has a colourful history of being bought and sold prior to the long running possession by the current owners.”
That history includes an association with Sir George Grey, twice governor of New Zealand governor who took up residence on nearby Kawau Island.
Motuketekete was traded between parties for some years before finally ending up in the ownership of its current family in 1907.
The island’s only dwelling is a family bach that comes complete with a generator and water supply, providing self-sufficient privacy lending itself to memorable summer holidays and romantic visits.
“It is very much in the traditional, rustic bach fashion but with running water and generated power, with its open plan living and great flow out to a deck that looks across the channel to the mainland, with Martin’s Bay only 15 minutes away by boat.”
The bach is located in Home Bay, one of two very sheltered bays along the island’s western shore.
The island is largely planted in pines with select pockets of native bush that includes a burgeoning native bird population, on the rise thanks to recent pest control efforts.
There is over a hectare of land on the island that is flat enough to lend itself to being cleared for another house site and could also accommodate a helicopter pad if required.
“The opportunity to develop your own vision is even rarer on these types of properties where the landscape can often be limiting. The ability to create your own dwelling and leave the existing bach in place to rent or as a guest house just opens up the possibilities even further,” says Paula Bennett.
Bayleys expect interest to be widespread for Motuketekete both locally and abroad, given how rarely such coastal titles come to market.
“It has been in the same family for over a century, and it’s quite possible it would be another 100 years before it comes up again – these sorts of properties are very highly prized by their owners.”
- Article supplied by Bayleys
