A Peninsula of your own
There are waterfront homes, and then there are properties where the land itself creates the experience.
Set across its own 10.38-hectare peninsula above Uruti Bay, this remarkable Russell estate occupies an extraordinarily private position, with water wrapping around the headland and long views reaching across the Bay of Islands towards Waitangi. Yet Russell township is only three kilometres away.
It is an unusual balance. The feeling of being somewhere entirely your own, without being far from anything.
Parkland rolls towards the coast. Native bush and walking tracks weave through the grounds, alongside olive groves, orchards and established gardens that have matured into the landscape. Below the house, a sheltered beach, boatshed and deep-water mooring connect the property to the Bay itself.
At its centre is a substantial Noel Martin-designed residence, completed in 2016 by master builder Andy Grierson.
The approximately 900sqm built footprint is impressive, but what stays with you is how comfortably the house carries its scale. Separate wings extend from a dramatic great room rising seven metres, allowing the home to feel equally suited to two people enjoying a quiet evening or a gathering of family and friends.
The kitchen is very much part of that experience, opening to covered outdoor living with a pizza oven, where long lunches can drift into evenings watching the light change across the water. Elsewhere, there are places to retreat with a book, work undisturbed or simply enjoy the quiet.
Four bedrooms and six bathrooms include three ensuited bedrooms and a master suite occupying its own private wing. A study, studio and large upstairs games room sit alongside the more practical spaces, including a deep triple garage, mudroom and additional bathroom.
But the house is only part of the story.
Riparian rights take the property directly to the water's edge, where a private beach sits below the residence. Beside it, the boatshed has become something of a second living room, complete with facilities and its own fireplace. It is a place for swimming, barbecues, afternoons with friends or an evening spent beside the water long after everyone else has gone home.
Boat launching is possible approximately two hours either side of high tide, while a deep-water mooring sits close to the home.
The Bay of Islands is quite literally on the doorstep. Sheltered bays, islands, beaches and anchorages that others travel across the world to experience are part of everyday life here. There is something rather special about spending the day out on the water and returning to the quiet of your own peninsula.
On the opposite side of the headland, a helicopter landing area offers another point of arrival.
Away from the shoreline, the property reveals another side of itself. Paddocks and walking tracks extend through the grounds, with cattle yards, sheds and established farm infrastructure supporting the wider holding. The orchards produce citrus, apples and avocados, while the olive grove yields approximately 160 litres of oil annually.
A separate entrance leads to the black barn, incorporating accommodation suitable for guests or a caretaker. People who know the property and have been involved in its care have also expressed an interest in continuing, should that suit a new owner.
The practical considerations are equally well resolved. Four roof-fed water tanks, extensive filtration, a backup diesel generator, Starlink connectivity and a seven-camera security system allow the estate to function comfortably throughout the year.
And throughout the year is precisely how its current owners have enjoyed it.
This has not been a holiday house, visited occasionally and closed up between stays. It has been home. A place where the landscape, the water and the changing seasons are part of ordinary life, and where family and friends have been welcomed to share it.
Their decision to move closer to extended family now creates an opportunity for someone else to experience a property that would be extraordinarily difficult to recreate.
Pricing has recently been refined, an extensive chattels list accompanies the property, and furniture is also available by negotiation. The owners have made their decision to move and are genuinely open to conversations with those who can see themselves here.
For those who have admired this property from a distance, perhaps believing it beyond reach, it may be time to look again. You might be pleasantly surprised.
For all the architecture, the acreage and the extraordinary waterfront setting, what makes this place so special is something far simpler.
The privilege of waking each morning on a peninsula in the Bay of Islands that is entirely your own.
Set across its own 10.38-hectare peninsula above Uruti Bay, this remarkable Russell estate occupies an extraordinarily private position, with water wrapping around the headland and long views reaching across the Bay of Islands towards Waitangi. Yet Russell township is only three kilometres away.
It is an unusual balance. The feeling of being somewhere entirely your own, without being far from anything.
Parkland rolls towards the coast. Native bush and walking tracks weave through the grounds, alongside olive groves, orchards and established gardens that have matured into the landscape. Below the house, a sheltered beach, boatshed and deep-water mooring connect the property to the Bay itself.
At its centre is a substantial Noel Martin-designed residence, completed in 2016 by master builder Andy Grierson.
The approximately 900sqm built footprint is impressive, but what stays with you is how comfortably the house carries its scale. Separate wings extend from a dramatic great room rising seven metres, allowing the home to feel equally suited to two people enjoying a quiet evening or a gathering of family and friends.
The kitchen is very much part of that experience, opening to covered outdoor living with a pizza oven, where long lunches can drift into evenings watching the light change across the water. Elsewhere, there are places to retreat with a book, work undisturbed or simply enjoy the quiet.
Four bedrooms and six bathrooms include three ensuited bedrooms and a master suite occupying its own private wing. A study, studio and large upstairs games room sit alongside the more practical spaces, including a deep triple garage, mudroom and additional bathroom.
But the house is only part of the story.
Riparian rights take the property directly to the water's edge, where a private beach sits below the residence. Beside it, the boatshed has become something of a second living room, complete with facilities and its own fireplace. It is a place for swimming, barbecues, afternoons with friends or an evening spent beside the water long after everyone else has gone home.
Boat launching is possible approximately two hours either side of high tide, while a deep-water mooring sits close to the home.
The Bay of Islands is quite literally on the doorstep. Sheltered bays, islands, beaches and anchorages that others travel across the world to experience are part of everyday life here. There is something rather special about spending the day out on the water and returning to the quiet of your own peninsula.
On the opposite side of the headland, a helicopter landing area offers another point of arrival.
Away from the shoreline, the property reveals another side of itself. Paddocks and walking tracks extend through the grounds, with cattle yards, sheds and established farm infrastructure supporting the wider holding. The orchards produce citrus, apples and avocados, while the olive grove yields approximately 160 litres of oil annually.
A separate entrance leads to the black barn, incorporating accommodation suitable for guests or a caretaker. People who know the property and have been involved in its care have also expressed an interest in continuing, should that suit a new owner.
The practical considerations are equally well resolved. Four roof-fed water tanks, extensive filtration, a backup diesel generator, Starlink connectivity and a seven-camera security system allow the estate to function comfortably throughout the year.
And throughout the year is precisely how its current owners have enjoyed it.
This has not been a holiday house, visited occasionally and closed up between stays. It has been home. A place where the landscape, the water and the changing seasons are part of ordinary life, and where family and friends have been welcomed to share it.
Their decision to move closer to extended family now creates an opportunity for someone else to experience a property that would be extraordinarily difficult to recreate.
Pricing has recently been refined, an extensive chattels list accompanies the property, and furniture is also available by negotiation. The owners have made their decision to move and are genuinely open to conversations with those who can see themselves here.
For those who have admired this property from a distance, perhaps believing it beyond reach, it may be time to look again. You might be pleasantly surprised.
For all the architecture, the acreage and the extraordinary waterfront setting, what makes this place so special is something far simpler.
The privilege of waking each morning on a peninsula in the Bay of Islands that is entirely your own.
Key features
Waterfront
A private beach, boatshed, moorings and riparian rights provide direct access to the Bay of Islands lifestyle.
Location
Just 3km from Russell, this exclusive peninsula estate delivers exceptional privacy while remaining close to cafés, services and coastal attractions.
Layout
Separate accommodation wings balance large-scale entertaining with private retreats for everyday living and relaxation.
Lifestyle
Ten hectares of park-like grounds, native bush, orchards, olive groves and walking tracks offer an exceptional coastal lifestyle.
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