John MacCullough, the New Zealand born businessman now living in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, has owned the unique 23 acre island property situated five mins from Auckland via helicopter, and where his Hurakia Lodge development is situated for over 15 years. 

Home to regular international high profile events such as filming for America's Next Top Model and the location choice for Australian and New Zealand rich listers who form part of the invitation only The Table Club, Hurakia Lodge is well known to high-net worth travellers and Auckland's high society.

Only last month, MacCullough hosted at his island property the former New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English at The Table Club's networking lunch for ultra-high-net worth Australian and New Zealand business people and family offices. A gathering so exclusive it was captured on film by national media outlets including NZ TV3.

A few years earlier, MacCullough hosted fifth generation Justin Rockefeller from New York's famed Rockerfeller family. "I built the Lodge in 2002, so after 15 years of amazing family holidays and operating the lodge business, it is time to let someone else enjoy this island paradise and occupy the front row seating for the America's Cup defense in 2020/2021" advised MacCullough.

"I've been living in Sydney for past 8 years, and feel that there are parties now better placed than me to further develop and expand the current operation so as to meet the well-publicized luxury accommodation shortage in this neck of the world" MacCullough concluded.

Leading hotel broker and Asia Pacific Director at Ray White, Andrew Jolliffe, has been exclusively retained to sell Hurakia Lodge via an Expressions of Interest campaign expected to draw international attention from boutique accommodation operators and wealthy private investors looking to secure a unique island retreat.

Having previously sold Byron Bay's iconic Rae's on Wategos beach, and the high-end Wildman Wilderness Lodge in the Northern Territory, Jolliffe believes the sale of Hurakia Lodge will attract interest from both Australia and New Zealand based investors; as well as those from the U.S. and South-East Asia.

"Hurakia, given its proximity to New Zealand's largest city, albeit whilst observing absolute privacy and exclusivity, is very well known amongst premium lodge operators around the world" said Jolliffe.

"When selling other similarly positioned assets, we often find ourselves reminded of the depth of U.S. based ownership of similar properties, with no better example than ex Tiger Management's legendary Julian Robertson and his personal investment in Cape Kidnappers, Kauri Cliffs and Matakuari Lodge."

"Yet there are numerous others including upstate New York's Jacob family, and its previous purchases via hospitality vehicle Delaware North, of Australia properties El Questro, Lizard Island and Kings Canyon" commented Jolliffe.

"Like many of its kind, Hurakia Lodge is accessed only by sea or air, with a game changing 70m all-tide jetty a feature component and something the yachting fraternity will immediately identify with" said Jolliffe.

"Hurakia Lodge is an exciting prospect and provides great investment flexibility" said Jolliffe.

"It currently operates as a successful boutique lodge with clear plans for its physical expansion opportunities already commenced; and equally it can serve as a residence or holiday property for people who have both the means and need for utmost privacy and world class quality in a unparalleled and faultless environment" advised Jolliffe.

With Auckland's international visitor arrival numbers expected to exceed 3m next year, and occupancy in Auckland's existing accommodation offerings up 15% since 2016, the city is undergoing something of a development boom ahead of the America's Cup defense in 2021.

"SkyCity Entertainment Group's $700m International Convention Centre is due to open next year, and the material government investment into key transport infrastructure in the Auckland Harbour precinct is a indication of the strong tourism fundamentals this gateway city is underpinned by" believes Jolliffe.

Hurakia Lodge is being sold by Sydney's Andrew Jolliffe and Auckland's Finn Hurst of Ray White via International EOI closing 30 May, 2018.

For more information including additional photos, mapping and property specification visit the Ray White website. 

This was originally published on The Hotel Conversation. 

See also:

New Zealand's latest hotel market report released

Manukau’s first internationally-branded hotel placed on the market ahead of completion

Investors circling Auckland CBD's Waldorf Hotel