A Modern Waterside Home in Auckland That Gets Indoor-Outdoor Living Right

Listing of the Day

Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Price: $22 million NZD (US$15.3 million)

Follow a path of water from the front gate of this home near Auckland all the way to the edge of its infinity pool—and beyond.

Designed by Ponting Fitzgerald and completed in 2011, the house has an understated elegance and strong "land-to-water" concept, said agent Pene Milne. But when approaching the home, which is currently the most expensive listing in New Zealand, from Rawene Avenue, "you have no idea what’s behind the house."

Once inside, however, Coxs Bay comes into view and an indoor stream leads guests back to the living area. Glass doors open onto a deck and infinity pool, with the bay as a backdrop. Beyond that is a landscaped area with native Pohutukawa trees, and "you can literally put a kayak in the water at the garden’s edge," Ms. Milne said.

Actor Jason Stratham stayed there while filming the upcoming movie "Meg," Ms. Milne said, and other notable guests include Prince Albert of Monaco and his wife Princess Charlene. Owners Sharon Hunter, an entrepreneur and founder of PC Direct, and her husband Tenby Powell told the New Zealand Herald they plan to downsize. "It is a very big house and our son has just moved out and our daughter has just started boarding," Mr. Powell said.

More:New Zealand Farm the Size of Monaco Expected to Fetch $10M

Stats

This four-bedroom, five-bathroom home has almost 8,000 square feet of living space.

Amenities

Outside the living area is the basalt stone terrace, with a 55-foot heated infinity pool, hot tub and spa. Guests and residents can enjoy the view from an indoor-outdoor space in a shaded area, but there are also expansive views from the master suite and eat-in kitchen.

The home boasts a gourmet kitchen with a scullery for catered events, plus an outdoor kitchen and grill. There is also a billiards room with a fireplace and bar, a library, a media center, and a music room with amphitheater.

Upstairs, there’s a large master suite, as well as an additional bedroom suite and two more bedrooms with their own lounge and bathroom. The house is fully automated with radiant floor heating, PowerHouse laundry room appliances and both a garage and carport.

Design pedigree

Using glass, steel, cedar and concrete, Mr. Fitzgerald created a space that integrates the home with the land and water. Ms. Milne described the home as "a modern castle," where the water elements are surrounded by thick, single-pour concrete walls.

The home is oriented toward the northwest, the "perfect orientation down under for all-day sun," Ms. Milne said. And although there are vistas that allow sky-to-water views, the space is still intimate. "You’re not feeling dwarfed," she said. "You’re immediately very comfortable here; it’s seamless inside and out."

Neighborhood notes

Westmere is a quaint village, with a butcher and bakery in town. The house is a 10-minute drive to the Auckland’s Central Business District, and just a few minutes drive to the hip suburb of Ponsonby, Ms. Milne said, which has many dining and shopping options.

Agent: Pene Milne, Sotheby’s International Realty

View the full listing

Write to Listing of the Day