It only took one visit to Waiheke Island for this couple to decide to buy a holiday home there. They looked at three houses and the one they bought wasn’t even on the market at the time.
“But when the agent showed it to us, my wife said ‘wow – that’s it’. And when your wife says that, you don’t argue.” He didn’t, and they bought the house the following day and have enjoyed every minute of it.
That home at 66 Kennedy Point Road in Kennedy Point on Waiheke Island – which just completed a two-year renovation – is now on the market for sale by tender, closing November 17. It has an RV of $7.6 million and, according to OneRoof records, last changed hands in 1998 for $510,000.
Set on a private, peaceful three quarters of an acre on a headland at 66 Kennedy Point Road, it is surrounded by water on three sides and has 300-degree sweeping, north-to-south ocean views all the way from Waiheke taking in Motuihe, Maraetai, Pakihi Island and Kawakawa Bay.
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The house has an intriguing back story. “When the original owners decided to build on the land, their architect told them not, under any circumstances, to remove the original bach on the property,” says Ray White, Waiheke agent Matthew Smith.
“He said it would be impossible to get consent to build anything else on the land with that roof pitch, so the house was actually built as ‘an extension’ even though it was a new-build virtually from top to bottom.”
The holiday home has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a double garage plus off-street parking, multiple living spaces and a spectacular view. Photo / Supplied
Recently the current owners have carried out an extensive refurbishment.
“When Covid came along and we couldn’t go to Australia to visit family, we decided to renovate. We got an architect and virtually rebuilt the place. It was going to be a nine-month renovation but with Covid and material shortages, it took two years – we’ve just finished.”
The entire building has been reclad in cedar weatherboard with a cavity system, it has new roofing, new double glazing, and new gib board throughout. The superb interior design, showcased against a serene off-white colour scheme, includes new kitchens and bathrooms, an Elegant Oak flooring system throughout the living areas, a porcelain tiled entranceway, new cedar shutters and more.
On ground floor level the exceptional master bedroom with its luxurious ensuite bathroom, walk-in shower and bathtub has been created as a peaceful, west-facing haven.
A metres-wide central staircase leads to the living space with its expansive lounge, high-end kitchen with Miele appliances and butler’s pantry. There’s also a generous guest bedroom on this level overlooking the bay.
The homeowners decided to renovate when they couldn't travel during lockdown but material shortages pushed a nine-month renovation to two years. Photo / Supplied
The home sits on three quarters of an acre on a headland at Kennedy Point giving it 300-degree, uninterrupted ocean views. Photo / Supplied
A wooden spiral stairway leads up to the second guest bedroom – a large garret-style room with pitched sarked ceilings and beautiful views. Below ground level is the full-size double garage and a room ideally suited to a wine cellar.
Across the driveway and looking out over picturesque Takirau Bay is a separate self-contained studio apartment with a modern kitchen, living, separate bedroom area and separate bathroom, and a deck overlooking the bay.
“Hardly ever does anything like this come to the market on Waiheke,” agent Smith says.
The owners agree that there’s nothing quite like it. “We have three quarters of an acre here, surrounded by the sea, and it’s so private and peaceful. We love sitting on the deck watching the world go by.”
