Heaven really is a place on Earth
A stunning strip of coastal South Island, replete with forests, beaches and spectacular limestone cliffs, is on the market for $22.5 million.
The eventual buyer will become the proud owner of 330 hectares of west coast peninsula close to Golden Bay, along with a working farm and luxury lodge charging guests thousands of dollars a night.
Owners Monika and Bruno Stompe said the property’s beauty always swept guests off their feet.
It was the same for them just over 28 years ago when, while they were living in Australia, a friend suggested they check out the place.
“We weren’t open to moving, to be honest. I always said ‘I’ll never go to New Zealand, it’s far too cold. I’ll stay in Australia my whole life’,” Bruno said.
“But, like how you fall in love with a woman, we fell in love with this property.”
“I had never seen anything so beautiful,” Monika added.
Originally from Austria, Bruno had worked as an engineer designing major steel plants before the couple moved to Australia in 1988. But after buying the property in 1991, they made the move across the Tasman onto what was then a farm run by a hardworking family.
It had little on it but a timber hut, shearers’ accommodation and “a beautiful old woolshed”.
Needing a second income, Bruno built a seven-bedroom house Monika converted into a bed and breakfast in 1997.
“I told her: ‘If it ever takes off, I’ll build you something proper’,” he said.
It went pretty well so Bruno started designing and then building a luxury lodge.
And despite a career in steel, Bruno eschewed the metal in favour of his love for wood and natural materials.
By 2012, the family had built the 2732sq m lodge with eight guest suites and rooms, a 24m indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, yoga studio, library, reception, dining and lounge area as well as a 102sq m two-bedroom cottage.
Featuring Brazilian teak and Tasmanian oak, it was also built to withstand earthquakes, has a sprinkler system and firefighting equipment, central heating, 4G rural broadband and “high-tech rainwater catchment”.
There’s even a Tesla charging station.
Guests pay up to $1450 to stay, and the more expensive packages include a range of tours, including helicopter trips.
The couple are keen to sell to someone who would keep the land in pristine condition for future generations.
“The land needs a good custodian, not just a buyer,” Monika said.