Med-style retreat sells for $3 million

New owners of Te Awanga's Summerlee homestead are said to have close ties with Hawke's Bay.

One of Hawke's Bay's swankiest retreats has been sold at auction for more than $3 million.

Te Awanga's Summerlee homestead went under the hammer, fetching $3,050,000 last Friday, Bayleys Hawke's Bay director Glyn Rees-Jones said.

The Mediterranean-style villa had previously rented for $1800 a night as part of the independently owned accommodation operated by Black Barn Vineyards.

Bayleys Hawke's Bay sales consultant Fiona Mackenzie said the new owners were planning to continue running the homestead as accommodation.

They were from outside the region, but had "close ties with the Hawke's Bay".

"They are very familiar with Summerlee, and have loved their frequent stays there. They plan to continue with the accommodation business for the moment." The property was known for its ocean views and location beside Cape Kidnappers Golf Course.

Built in 1926, the 545sq m two-storey homestead has seven bedrooms and five bathrooms.

Within the 4.4 hectares of landscaped grounds there's a floodlit tennis court, swimming pool and pavilion, orchard and two paddocks large enough to graze horses or sheep.

For the past three years it has been fully booked, with reservations often made a year or more in advance.

Before going to auction it had a CV of $2.65 million.