Forest hotel was pilot's dream

Waitakere Estate has panoramic views to Auckland City, Waitemata Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf.

A boutique hotel nestled deep in the heart of pristine forest in the Waitakere Ranges has been put on the market for the first time since a family patriarch purchased the land 65 years ago.

Waitakere Estate is situated in splendid isolation 240 metres above sea level on a ridge plateau comprising more than 30 hectares of land at 573 Scenic Drive, Waiatarua.

The building complex, mainly constructed in the 1970s, includes a 14-room hotel with three garden suites, The Park Restaurant, a small colonial-styled church, two houses, a barn, conference rooms, swimming pool, squash court, sauna, petanque court, croquet lawn and a helicopter pad. A feature of the hotel is the old-world charm of its lounge, bar and library enhanced by paintings by local artists.

Waitakere Estate, owned and operated as a hospitality business by the Nevill-Jackson family, is to be sold by expressions of interest as a freehold going-concern through Carolynn and Tom Crawford and Maggie Milnes of Bayleys Realty Group.

"The buildings have a spectacular outlook over natural bush which forms a backdrop for the hotel along with panoramic views looking out to Auckland City, the Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf," says Tom Crawford.

"This property represents an opportunity for an entrepreneurial hospitality professional to grow and expand an established business."

"Future development projects could include: increasing the number of hotel rooms subject to local body approval, re-establishing it as a health spa, upgrading it as a luxury lodge within an 'eco setting', creating a dedicated business retreat and conference centre, or a live-in conference centre; and converting the complex into a specialised language school."

A report on future options for the property has also indicated it may be possible to subdivide part of it into a number of 4ha lifestyle lots.

At present Waitakere Estate is frequently used during the week for corporate management meetings, executive retreats, training seminars and incentive programmes.

A new conference room holds 24 delegates seated around a table in boardroom fashion, 35 in a classroom setup or 60 theatre style. Two other conference rooms can hold 10 and eight respectively in a boardroom setting or 35 and 20 in a theatre setting.

At weekends the estate is a popular venue for weddings. "We have our own quaint Lockwood-constructed chapel where the ceremonies can be held," says Reg Nevill-Jackson, who runs the family business with his brother Hugh.

The newly renovated main lodge building, with large log fire and proximity to Auckland, also makes it a perfect place for a quiet getaway or a casual lunch or dinner.

The Park Restaurant serves lunch and dinner Thursday through to Sunday and is open for brunch on weekends from 10 am. Outdoor dining is popular on the elevated deck to take advantage of the views of the bush and the city.

"In addition to its own special setting featuring bush walks from the backdoor, Waitakere Estate is close to scenic West Coast surf beaches like Piha and Karekare where the movie The Piano was filmed - and a short distance from several golf courses and local vineyards," says Carolynn Crawford.

"It's also just a 30-minute drive to the Auckland CBD and about 15 minutes from the restaurants, cafes and shopping centres in nearby Titirangi and Henderson."

The estate had its humble birth as a holiday bach erected in the 1940s by pilot Joseph Nevill-Jackson who first saw the site from the air while flying over the Waitakere Ranges as an airline pilot based at Whenuapai.

Nevill, who died six years ago aged 89, left England in his teens and emigrated to Australia where he learned to fly - progressing to piloting aircraft around the Pacific Islands for Union Airways.

In 1947 the New Zealand Government established National Airways Corporations (NAC) - one of the ancestors of Air New Zealand - Nevill flew for them until mandatory retirement at the age of 58 after clocking up 27,000 flying hours.

Early in his flying career he spent three days chopping his way through the bush from Opunuku Rd in Henderson Valley to locate the site for his holiday bach.

During and immediately following World War II, building materials were scarce, so Nevill carried timber from large wooden crates in which aircraft were shipped into New Zealand to the site where he built the original bach.

In the 1950s, Nevill decided to build a family home on the bach site with the idea of eventually developing it into some kind of tourism venture.

The facility was later developed as a lodge with the addition of a 12-room accommodation wing followed by a big lounge area but continued to be run as a "fairly low profile" family business.

Throughout the 1960s several developments were completed, including a swimming pool, squash court and three motel-styled units. A family restaurant was also added during the 1960s.

Nevill's son Reg was working overseas as an accountant but returned about eight years ago to take over the day-to-day running of the business.

Since his return he has overseen a major upgrade, including the development of conference areas for meetings and seminars and a large deck area.

The two houses on site are ideal accommodation for senior management staff. The present owner's residence is suitable for a general manager with three bedrooms, two bathrooms including an ensuite, a modern kitchen, lounge, dining room and double garage.

The second 3-bedroom home has one bathroom with lounge, kitchen and undercover parking. The storage barn, which forms part of the complex, is 140sq m with a 70sq m annex. A third of the barn has mezzanine storage.