Luxury holiday home goes up for mortgagee sale

Luxury holiday home goes up for mortgagee sale

A massive luxury holiday home within one of New Zealand’s most exclusive lodge complexes catering to the rich and famous has been placed on the market for sale in a mortgagee process.

The spectacular residence within the Wharekauhau Estate in the Wairarapa just east of Wellington had been owned by an American millionaire and his wife, a former Miss Brazil.

The six bedroom mansion sprawling over some 623 square metres sits on almost 4000 square metres of land within the 2023 Wharekauhau rural lifestyle enclave overlooking Palliser Bay.

The main Wharekauhau Lodge has nightly room rates ranging upwards of $920 – with celebrities such as Jack Black, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Meg Ryan, the Rolling Stones and Bill Gates among the ‘rich and famous’ to have stayed there.

The property is now being jointly marketed for sale by Bayleys Wellington and Bayleys Wairarapa on behalf of the mortgage holder, Westpac. Tenders for the property close on September 18.

Grant Henderson of Bayleys Wellington said the horse-shoe shaped home had been set up to accommodate several families or groups simultaneously – with various guest wings having access to their own living areas.

“With the ability to add the home into Wharekauhau’s luxury lodge stable of accommodation options, this potential revenue stream allows for any new owner to utilise the dwelling on a casual basis. Alternatively, it can be purchased for exclusive use,” Mr Henderson said.

“The exclusive nature of the Wharekauhau complex ensures total privacy from the outside world – which was obviously an attraction for the owner who could jet in and out of New Zealand without any public recognition of who he was.”

Meanwhile, in a neighbouring valley, Hollywood movie mogul James Cameron has bought two dairy farms with the intention of building his New Zealand home.

“With stunning views across Palliser Bay, and bountiful hunting and fishing on northern boundaries of the property and into adjacent blocks, it’s easy to see why this part of the country is so appealing for those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Yet at the same time it’s just a short 15 minute helicopter flight from downtown Wellington,” Mr Henderson said.

ENDS

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