Just off New Zealand’s coast (one of the world’s bubbliest real estate markets), Waiheke Island offers the best in pristine beaches, a renowned art scene and a spot known as the “island of wine.”
Waiheke Island Has Broad Appeal as Private Holiday Getaway or Permanent Home
A 40-minute ferry ride from Auckland, New Zealand’s most populous and newly acclaimed “world’s most livable” city, takes full-time residents and world-wide travelers to Waiheke Island.
Nearly 10,000 permanent residents plus 3,400 international owners of second or holiday homes celebrate Waiheke Island’s pristine beaches, spectacular cliffs, vibrant art scene and abundance of wineries. In fact, Waiheke is known as the “island of wine” and dubbed The Rock for its breathtaking landscape.
Waiheke Island’s people and townships are linked together by an inner road that spans this 19.5-kilometer island positioned in the Hauraki Gulf.
Undeniable Water Appeal, Multiple Cultural Resources, Luxury Amenities
Waiheke is graced with pristine beaches, water sports, headland hikes, and world-class food and wine. Its arts community hosts at least 10 art galleries and studio spaces, musicians, performances, and a multi-million-dollar architecturally designed Waiheke Library.
Many sports offerings and competitions happen regularly for all ages.
Lovers of wine have 26 local labels from which to choose.
Diverse Property Offerings
According to Mandy Brown, Bayleys Waiheke Island sales agent, “There’s everything from bare sections of land, through to-do cottages, redevelopment sites and multi-million award-winning architecturally-designed properties.”
Mathew Smith, a principal with Ray White Waiheke, said that the most popular locations are on the island’s northern beaches such as Beach Parade at Oneroa Bay, The Strand at Onetangi Beach and palm Road at Palm Beach. Some of the most expensive locations are on the most westerly points of the island close to the ferry terminal such as Bay Estate, Park Point or Matiatia Estate. Properties range from unbuilt sites to jaw-dropping clifftop or beachfront homes.
Smith said that entry-level pricing in non-prime areas without water views starts at NZ$1M or US$710,000. Lots on the northern beaches start at NZ$7M. For-sale listings in “the great estates” worth from NZ$10M – NZ$15M are rare. Small, basic homes on the northern cliff tops run about NZ$5M.
Market Outlook
Along with tight inventory, ownership on the island is limited to “the luck of the draw.” The country’s Overseas Investment Office limited non-resident purchase to Australians and Singaporeans in October 2018. However, short-term international renters who want to become owners keep this close-knit community on their toes.
Smith with Ray White said, “Due to the inability to travel with COVID, New Zealanders are spending billions of dollars upgrading their lifestyle, resulting in huge demand and pressure on the Waiheke market. (This) has resulted in sale prices being paid at unimaginable levels. The premiums being paid for properties in great locations on the island are at least as high as any part of New Zealand and possibly higher.”
Thanks to MansionGloba
