The shipping container with a million-dollar view. Photo / Supplied
Could it be Auckland house prices have risen so much even shipping containers can now sell with million dollar price tags?
Well, if they are located south of Auckland on 7 acres of beachfront land that offers rugged views of "green flash" sunsets and "moon sets" over the Tasman Sea, then they are worth the price, according to Michael Drake.
He has put an undeveloped slice of land overlooking Karioitahi Beach, near Waiuku, on sale for $1.25m.
It was part of a farm Drake subdivided 10 years ago, and is the last - and "primo" - piece of the former farm still left unsold.
Rugged and windswept Karioitahi Beach was well known for surfing, fishing, off-road motorbike riding and paragliding and situated just north of the Waikato River mouth.
"And the property was right on the beach, so absolute beachfront," Drake said.
"Oceanside there are penguins, you can see orcas and next door is a trout lake."
On calm days, Mt Taranaki was visible across the water, and then there were the "green flash" sunsets and "moonsets", Drake said.
"Have you ever seen the sunset where you see the green flash?"
"It is basically when the sun goes down behind the horizon, the last couple of seconds a green flash appears - well you can see that virtually every month out there."
Moonsets also take place about three or four times a year in the early hours of the morning when the moon reflects back over the water as it drops under the horizon.
"That lights up the whole ocean and when you are standing on the property you can almost swear you can see the curvature of the earth, the way that the Tasman Sea surrounds you."
For all its rugged beauty, the property was also just 8km from Waiuku and close to shops and good schools, Drake said.
His children grew up on the wider property and loved it, he said.
The land was also already an approved "building site" and came with a power connection so could be transformed into a bach or home quickly.
And yes, the "lined 40ft container" at the front of the property that can be used as a sleepout is also included in the sale - if you are willing to pay $1.25m for it.