Buying guide

The most expensive houses in NZ

Got a spare $40 million handy?

Last updated: 2 September 2024


If you won a lotto jackpot, what would you buy? New Zealand’s most expensive house would be a good start.

This special property shattered all the previous records when it was sold in September 2023.

Welcome to New Zealand’s most expensive home

1. Secret Queenstown estate - $40+ million

The locations, buyers and vendors of the Queenstown estate were not disclosed.

The most expensive house in NZ is a 14 hectare estate in Queenstown that sold for well over $40 million late in 2023. Queenstown agent Hamish Walker, from Walker and Co Realty, brokered the sale but to protect privacy he didn’t share details of the buyers, sellers or address with the press. 

The agent regularly brokers ultra-premium sales and deals with high net worth individuals who expect a concierge service.

Runners up for the most expensive house in nz

2. 4 Huriaro Place, Orakei - $38.5 million

Before the sale of the Queenstown estate 4 Huriaro Place was the most expensive house ever sold in NZ.

Before the sale of the Queenstown estate, a sprawling mansion at 4 Huriaro Place Ōrākei was the most expensive house in NZ. 

This property was built by Mark Hotchin the ex-director of Hanover Finance (which failed during the GFC) and he sold to Deyi Shi, the chairman of Oravida Group, a company that exports New Zealand food products to China. 

The Huriaro Place property is massive at over 900 sqm, with over an acre of prime waterfront land. The home was sold by luxury real estate agent Graham Wall and Wall Real Estate. 

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3. 186 Mahoenui Valley Road, Coatesville - $32.5 million

This sprawling mansion in Coatesville has made the news on more than one occasion.

The third most expensive house ever sold in New Zealand was a mansion in north-west Coatesville that was previously rented by controversial internet tycoon, Kim Dot Com. The owners of Zuru Toys, siblings Nick and Anna Mowbray, purchased the property in 2016 for a whopping $32.5 million.

This may also be the biggest house in NZ. It features well over half an acre of interior floor space (seriously), as well as 12 bedrooms, a wine cellar, a library, three pools, a huge aquarium built into the kitchen and a building for staff. The property also boasts its own lake, boathouse and vineyard and 22.6 hectares of parklike grounds.

Is this New Zealand’s next most expensive home?

Aotearoa may have a new ‘most expensive house’ when the sale of a grand property at 27 Marine Parade in Herne Bay is completed. The home is currently listed on Trade Me Property and the agent, Graham Wall,  has said he believes it will be a record breaking transaction. 

The Marine Parade property was extensively renovated by vendor and property developer, Kurt Gibbons and his wife Makere, and features 900 sqm of interior space and a massive 2688 sqm section (which may be the largest section in Herne Bay). The property also boasts unimpeded views of the harbour from the lounge, kitchen and second floor master bedroom, plus over $1.5 million of handcrafted marble. Not exactly a fixer upper

27 Marine Parade is one of the most impressive properties in the country.

Search for ultra-premium homes

If you’re feeling a little nosy, or you’ve got a big budget to blow on landmark real estate in Aotearoa New Zealand, you can find the best of the best on Trade Me Property. 

To find and view the most expenses houses in NZ simply:

At any given time you might see mansions in Ōrākei, Remuera and Herne Bay, estates in Queenstown and Wanaka and huge development sites throughout the country. Better call your broker! 

Author

Ben Tutty
Ben Tutty

Ben Tutty is a regular contributor for Trade Me and he's also contributed to Stuff and the Informed Investor. He's got 10+ years experience as both a journalist and website copywriter, specialising in real estate, finance and tourism. Ben lives in Wānaka with his partner and his best mate (Finnegan the whippet).