Set on a hillside with sweeping water and mountain views, this angular home of timber, stone and glass overlooks Drift Bay, an inlet of Lake Wakatipu just east of Queenstown, New Zealand.
“Drift Bay is one of the few absolute lakefront developments in Queenstown, and it’s only a 10-minute drive from the airport and shopping,” said Nick Horton, director of Luxury Real Estate Limited and the listing agent.
The 5,060-square-foot house sprawls across a single level. All three bedrooms, with airy en suite bathrooms, take in unobstructed vistas of the lake and the towering Cecil Peak mountain across the bay. The home’s library overlooks a waterfall known as Wye Creek, which rushes behind the property.
Designed by Auckland architect David Ponting, the home was custom-built for the sellers in 2018.
The sellers, along with Ponting selected rarefied materials, including Italian volcanic sandstone flooring, local Timaru bluestone and black-stained cedar cladding on the home’s exterior. Through Horton, the sellers declined to comment on the listing. With two islands, one for food preparation and a second for seating, the black-and-gray kitchen features Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances. A wine cellar off the kitchen includes a Sub-Zero wine refrigerator.
The home is sold unfurnished, but custom lighting in the entrance foyer is included, along with a distinctive green sculpture by New Zealand artist Mark Hill at the entrance to the house.
Stats
Sprawling across 5,060 square feet, with a 1,000-square-foot outdoor patio, this three-bedroom, three-bathroom home stands on 0.89 acres.
Amenities
The home features a garage with parking for two cars. A separate cedar-clad boathouse offers flexible space for a studio, gym or boat storage, Horton said.
Talking Points
The perimeter of the house is designed as a Japanese-inspired garden, with limestone and lichen-covered rocks, along with walkways and niches for seating or entertaining. With no nearby homes, the property is surrounded by native trees.
A secret staircase in the main home leads to a roof terrace with sweeping views of the water and mountains.
Neighborhood Notes
While isolated and private, the property is a short drive from Queenstown’s Central Business District, with its dining, nightlife and shopping; ski resorts and golf courses are also close to Drift Bay. A city of about 50,000, Queenstown is in the Otago region of New Zealand’s South Island. Queenstown Airport, with flights within New Zealand and Australia, is about 9 miles north.
Agents: Nick Horton, Terry Spice, Luxury Real Estate Limited