Waiheke Island: On top of the world

A boutique lodge designed to deliver ultimate relaxation defines the Glass House, a very special Waiheke Island property. By VICKI HOLDER.

Perched on the top of a ridge, high above Waiheke Island's Kauakarau and Omiha Bays, the Glass House makes you feel on top of the world, literally.

Views from this boutique lodge, completed just a year ago, are simply astounding. A breathtaking vista layers slippers of land, gradually fading among the blue of the sea and sky. This wrap-around panorama reaches from Auckland's city skyline to Rangitoto Island and the Coromandel.

Set in native bush, with views in every direction, a serene sense of escapism permeates every room of the Glass House. So removed from mundane living, guests feel rejuvenated, ready to savour the many delights that are part of their stay.

It's not surprising to learn this exclusive retreat was the only New Zealand boutique hotel to make it into the renowned top 101 list in the 2004 Tatler and Abercrombie & Kent Travel Guide. You would have to travel far before you found anything else that sits as harmoniously with its surrounds, yet has been so well conceived to offer the refined comfort guests crave.

The owner, Englishman Matt Harris, grew up in small hotels and is no stranger to the culture of good service. Having later become a builder and developer, he brought to New Zealand strong ideas about what would succeed in this relaxed island environment. Together with award-winning landscape architect Cowley White, he designed the lodge from the inside out, to make the most of the views from every room while at the same time offering guests incredible privacy.

The lodge has a simple, minimalist design composed of big multi-functional spaces. The communal living area is open-plan with 3m-high ceilings and full-length windows. All the windows open to expansive kwila decks, which extend into the landscape. The room steps down the hill from the sitting area to a practical, uncomplicated kitchen and dining space.

Outside, pristine decks spill down the side of the ridge and move along cliff edges bordered by pohutukawa trees and native bush. A swimming pool continues the line of the building, projecting like a ramp to the skies. To blend with the natural setting, trees are allowed to grow up through the deck. Also incorporated into the outdoor living area is a circular, recessed fireplace that keeps the outdoor spaces warm at night. Guests can soak in a hot tub nearby while watching the sunset.

Three guest suites are generously proportioned with king-size beds and en suites fitted with Duravit washbasins, showers and baths. Guests can enhance the intimate mood with integrated sound systems or chill out watching television or DVDs. Each suite is private, and yet has bush and coastal views.

Matt believes guests should be truly comfortable when they come to stay, so special attention was paid to selecting extra-luxurious beds. In the Deck Room, a striking Poliform bed sits beside bifold doors, which open to a well-stocked kitchenette. Timber floors give the suite a slightly nautical feel as they extend out to a sweep of deck. A clawfoot bath in the stone-floored en suite looks across the deck through a glazed wall.

Upstairs, in the curve of the roof, the Lookout Suite opens to another huge deck with possibly the widest view on the whole island. Posing next to the window, a Philippe Starck bath allows guest to luxuriate in the open views.

Beneath the swimming pool, the Pool Room is the biggest of the suites, extending to a cliff-hugging deck through bifolds that draw back across an entire wall. Both the bedroom and the adjoining bathroom seem to sit in the view. The ample living space features a super king-size bed, two sofas and a wide-screen television.

Matt and his partner, Scott Druce, often mingle with guests, but they're able to disappear to the private quarters below. Fabulous meals are prepared by local chef Bronwen Laight, who has won acclaim for her stints in overseas restaurants.

Matt and Scott have established excellent relationships with some of the world's leading tourism and travel operators. These relationships will secure long-term demand for accommodation. By November last year they had already achieved an occupancy rate of 50 percent, and advance bookings stand at 70 percent. By all accounts, the future looks bright for the Glass House, whether someone continues to run it as one of the finest lodges in the world or converts it for use as a luxurious private residence.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 33-39 Okoka Rd, Rocky Bay, Waiheke Island.

FEATURES: Minimalist architectural lodge designed by owner and award-winning landscape architect; built 2002-2003; three spacious suites with en suites and private decks; central living space with lounge area, open-plan kitchen and dining; rooms double as art gallery; manager's unit with en suite and kitchenette; infinity swimming pool; cedar hot tub; extensive outdoor decks; log burner inside; deep water mooring in Rocky Bay; fully furnished; low-maintenance garden areas; private drive through bush; being sold as going concern.

SIZE: Land area 0.833ha on four plots.

AUCTION: February 8.

AGENT: Chris Palmer, Premium Real Estate, Waiheke Island. Ph 09 486 1727 bus; 025 734 721 mob.