Lately, it seems like New Zealand often comes up in conversations about other topics. A vacation story becomes a question about visas. A golf trip turns into a real estate discussion. For a growing number of affluent Americans, the archipelago nation has shifted from a bucket-list destination to somewhere they’re seriously considering spending more time. At a premier coastal resort about 60 miles north of Auckland, that shift is beginning to show up in the housing market.
A newly completed home at Te Arai Links has come to market asking NZD $18 million, or about $10.8 million, becoming the first fully finished private residence available for purchase inside the fast-rising golf and lifestyle community. Until now, buyers here were purchasing vacant parcels and then waiting years to build.
The five-bedroom house sits just beyond the dunes, with sand dunes and fairways rolling toward the Pacific Ocean. Architect Julian Guthrie kept things low and unfussy, spreading the home across a single level so it feels connected to the landscape rather than perched on top of it. Nearly every room opens to the outside, with glass walls that slide away to terraces and outdoor fireplaces. The materials lean coastal and understated: cedar, pale plaster, and soft sandy tones that feel easy and lived-in instead of overly polished.
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The single-level home is arranged around a sheltered courtyard.
Legacy Partners
A Gaggenau-equipped kitchen anchors the main living spaces, while smart-home tech hums quietly in the background alongside underfloor heating, solar readiness, and backup power. It’s the kind of setup that makes longer stretches feel less like a vacation house and more like somewhere you could settle into for a season, or even full-time.
The timing of the listing aligns with a growing momentum in New Zealand’s luxury property market. Recent policy changes now allow investor visa holders to purchase high-value homes, and a favorable exchange rate has effectively discounted prices for U.S. buyers. Combined with improved long-haul flight access and the country’s enduring appeal as a stable, nature-forward escape, American interest has picked up again.
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Outdoor living spaces frame uninterrupted coastal vistas over the golf course.
Legacy Partners
Since opening in 2022, Te Arai Links has quickly become one of New Zealand’s most talked-about destinations, thanks to two world top-100 golf courses, a swimmable surf beach, and a relaxed coastal vibe that feels immediately familiar to West Coast visitors. It’s also beloved by professional athletes, including Kelly Slater and Rory McIlroy.
With only 60 residential sites planned along miles of unspoiled coastline, opportunities to buy into the community remain scarce. The arrival of the first completed home hints at what comes next for Te Arai, a shift from somewhere people visit once or twice a year to a place a growing number are beginning to treat as a second home base.
Click here to see more photos of the residence at Te Arai.
Legacy Partners
Authors
Abby Montanez
Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…