Landmark Lake Ōkāreka property

High above Bay of Plenty’s picturesque Lake Ōkāreka is a larger lifestyle farming property with a magnificent family home offering spectacular views and multiple income streams for new owners to tap into.

The Millar Road property is for sale by negotiation with Bayleys and presents a rare opportunity for buyers seeking the best of country-lifestyle living less than 20 minutes by car from Rotorua.

Bayleys Rotorua rural salesperson Doug Dibley says the landholding spans two titles, featuring an exceptional home with farmland and established forestry blocks plus a standalone 8,000sqm section.

Dibley says the architect-designed, 337-square metre homestead sits on two levels and offers commanding views across the lake towards the dramatic natural backdrop of Mount Tarawera.

“The sense of arrival is unmistakable from the moment you enter the gated driveway into the main homestead at 191 Millar Road. There’s a real sense of privacy and security about this property,” he says.

The homestead has undergone a superb transformation with no expense spared and every detail thoughtfully curated.

“The view across Lake Ōkāreka is nothing short of spectacular; expansive, elevated and ever-changing, surrounded by native planting and the sound of native birdsong all year round.”

Timber-sarked cathedral ceilings immediately draw the eye to the striking floor to ceiling glazing where the lake appears to stretch endlessly below.

“There is a genuine sense of floating above the water,” he says.

“The main living pavilion is exceptional with its grand yet welcoming space which incorporates a central dining area, generous lounge, and an intimate nook overlooking the resort-style inground swimming pool and spa.”

There are five bedrooms, four bathrooms including a main bedroom ensuite, plus three living areas.

A feature of the main homestead is the two-bedroom wing which is connected to the home but separate enough to provide privacy for family or guests.

“It could suit a generational living situation where parents need to be living close but still value their own space and independence.

“The unit has a kitchenette and its own bathroom plus two bedrooms, so it could also suit a boutique bed & breakfast venture too,” he says.

Outside the landscaping has been completed to an exceptional standard in a masterfully designed setting where sculpted rock pathways and striking stone features blend seamlessly with the land.

A pool anchors the space, while a stunning deck carved into the rock creates a truly unique entertaining platform. From here, a dramatic rock staircase leads down through established native gardens, offering a private, immersive connection to the landscape below.

The property covers more than 54 hectares, including approximately 21 hectares of easy country which is fenced for deer and divided into 20 paddocks for stress-free management.

The balance of the landholding is established native and production forestry, all thoughtfully configured to balance productive use with natural beauty.

There is about 20 hectares of production forestry in a variety of species, all pruned and thinned, which Dibley describes as a ‘set-and-forget’ crop to be harvested at maturity.

The forestry has been registered into the emissions trading scheme and is receiving additional income from the carbon sequestration.

“Our vendors have been running an easy-care livestock operation, with 60 Red breeding hinds and replacements, and finishing more than 50 venison stags and surplus hinds annually, plus 12 rising two-year steers.”

The grazing area and facilities would easily suit sheep or cattle.

Also accessed from 191 Millar Road is an 8015-square metre (more or less) flat section on its own title – an increasingly scarce opportunity near the shores of Lake Ōkāreka, offered for purchase only with the larger 54ha title.