This extraordinary 10.4-hectare waterfront estate is located on its own private peninsula in the Bay of Islands and celebrates panoramic views across Uruti Bay towards Waitangi.
It’s been brought to life by the current owners, who were looking to head home to Aotearoa and were enticed by the beauty and community feel of Russell.
“I grew up in New Zealand but spent a lot of time abroad in Europe and the UK, then finally moved back about 12 years ago. I was looking for a place to retire – I’ve got a few friends up here from the sailing world and I thought it would be a great place to come back to,” one of them shares.
Exquisitely landscaped grounds envelop the main residence, which boasts an impressive floorplan of around 900sqm and was completed in 2018. It has been designed to celebrate the very best in luxurious yet relaxed living and entertaining, while paying homage to the cinematic landscape.
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Their vision for the layout was to create an expansive social zone at the home’s heart, then two separate wings, “one for visitors and one for us”.
The Great Room is the central hub of the structure – a vast 136sqm lounge, dining and chef’s kitchen space with a seven-metre stud at its apex and a distinct lodge-like feel. It flows out to an outdoor living and dining room with pizza oven for all-season enjoyment, with glass walls that can be opened up completely.
Outside, tiered decks have glass balustrades and feel suspended above the water below.
The master wing incorporates two bedrooms, each with walk-in robes and ensuites, while the other accommodation wing has offers three more separate suites, with their pitched roofs resembling small boat sheds. Each is serviced by its own bathroom and has an outdoor living space overlooking the water.
The Great Room is the central hub of the structure – a vast 136sqm lounge, dining and chef’s kitchen space with a seven-metre stud at its apex and a distinct lodge-like feel.
The impressive floorplan of around 900sqm has an expansive social zone at the heart of the home and two separate wings for the owners and visitors.
A huge games room provides ample space for a private gym or table tennis, while the generous wet room is perfect for “washing a mountain bike, wet sailing gear or the dog”.
To accommodate large vehicles, the triple car garage has been designed with extra depth. Clever site placement and a north-facing aspect means that the house and pockets of beautiful gardens that frame it are sheltered and protected from the wind.
The owner says that this slice of paradise is truly a place for lovers of the outdoors and those that share a connection with the water. They have carved out many walking tracks throughout the property for exercise and recreation. It also has its own private beach, impressive boathouse, boat garage and two moorings.
“It’s one of the more sheltered places in the Bay of Islands as an anchorage right in front of the house. I like to sail, go fishing, use my surf ski and we can launch a seven-metre RIB from the beach.”
Up on the hill above the house, the couple has planted an olive grove, which they harvest and bottle for friends.
On the other side of the peninsula, an elevated area suitable for a helicopter landing pad is within a short stroll of the main residence. Additionally, with a separate entrance from the road, a generous black barn with guest accommodation and a separate utensil shed closer to the olive grove complete the picture.
Outside, tiered decks have glass balustrades and feel suspended above the water below.
Bayleys listing agent David Baguley says: “We believe this property is one of the more outstanding in the Bay of Islands”.
“We’ve loved the seclusion. We’re 300m from the road and are pretty much by ourselves, and yet we’re only three kilometres from Russell.”
While this is a place they thought they’d be forever, a move to be closer to grandkids is now on the horizon.
David Baguley, of Bayleys, has been selling high-value homes all over the Bay of Islands for the last 15 years and says, “We believe this property is one of the more outstanding in the Bay of Islands”.
“Water lovers will enjoy a private beach and boathouse – trips and adventures all over the bay can be enjoyed from here. It’s nice to be able to zip across to get a coffee or drink at Russell or Paihia.
“We have been surprised at the early response, with around a third of enquiries coming from overseas. Some overseas enquiry has come from expat New Zealanders wanting to secure a property in uncertain times.
“It’s hard to value a property like this as they’re rarely available. We are encouraging interest over $12 million, with the international tender process due at the end of February.”
