KEY POINTS:
A wealthy Wellington man's lunch bill ending up topping $9 million after he found his dream home on Waiheke.
The businessman, who wants to remain anonymous, spotted the secluded five-bedroom home during lunch on only his second visit to the island and went to see it on a whim.
"I immediately fell in love with it. I thought this could be my dream place to live."
Real estate agents are amazed by the $9m-plus selling price for the Wells Bay property in the island's rural east. The 6.36ha block boasts a private bay, sandy beach shared with one other owner and a boathouse.
A swimming pool and tennis court add to the luxury while an all-tide wharf currently under construction will complete the package.
The keen sailor plans to live in semi-retirement on the island and is looking forward to the warm climate. "It's a little haven away from the city, yet I can get to Auckland in 50 minutes."
The sale is believed to be Waiheke's third highest after the $14m paid by Graeme Hart for a Church Bay property and the $13.85m financier Mark Hotchin stumped up for his 4ha Boatshed Bay block.
It's thought to be the highest price for the eastern end, outpricing a $6.5m sale last year.
Bayleys agent Barry Curle was amazed how quickly he sold the property. "It was only on the market for a week-and-a-half, and we had four offers within that time. And all of those offers were $8 million-plus. It just blew us away."
Curle said the section, which had been in the same family since 1943, is on "gentlemen's row", a series of private bays and large properties accessible by helicopter and boat.
The nearby $30m Cowes Bay estate featured on US magazine Forbes' list of the world's most expensive homes for sale in 2006.
And the cooling property market seems unlikely to affect Waiheke, with Curle predicting another strong year.
Unlimited Potential sold a bare 5.6ha property for more than $2m last week and the Peninsula Estate vineyard and homestead is expected to fetch more than $6m at auction next month.
