Tender: Closes on Wednesday 20 May 2026 at 2:00PM (unless sold prior)
An extraordinary offering of approximately 33,000m² of pristine waterfront land on spectacular Kawau Island, this iconic estate presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure one of New Zealand’s most significant coastal landholdings.
Set across six freehold waterfront titles, the property is available in its entirety or as individual holdings - offering flexibility within an unparalleled legacy acquisition.
At its heart lies the historic Lidgard House, a residence of enduring character and provenance. This is a true heritage land holding.
This is more than a property; it is the chance to own and safeguard a piece of New Zealand’s living history for generations to come, deeply connected to the country’s rich maritime heritage and aligned with the legacy of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
As a generational investment in New Zealand's tightly held waterfront, it offers both enduring value and irreplaceable significance.
Renowned for generations as a celebrated yachting destination, these sheltered bays and anchorages have hosted regattas, youth sailing events, and countless family traditions on the water.
The natural beauty of the Hauraki Gulf, combined with the scale, history, and rarity of this landholding, creates an offering that simply has no equal.
Steeped in history and surrounded by crystal-clear waters, this remarkable estate captures the essence of a bygone era, where legacy, landholding, and lifestyle converge.
A true generational asset and an opportunity that surpasses all else.
CV's as follows:
228 Bon Accord Harbour (Lot 271, DP 7675) - $1,250,000 (as per 2024)
226 Bon Accord Harbour (Lot 272, DP 7675) - $530,000 (as per 2024)
224 Bon Accord Harbour (Lot 273, DP 7675) - $580,000 (as per 2024)
222 Bon Accord Harbour (Lot 274, DP 7675) - $560,000 (as per 2024)
220 Bon Accord Harbour (Lot 275, DP 7675) - $510,000 (as per 2024)
218 Bon Accord Harbour (Lot 276, DP 7675) - $510,000 (as per 2024)
Lidgard House, Kawau Island – A Legacy Anchored in New Zealand’s Earliest Maritime History
Tucked quietly into the sheltered waters of Smelting House Bay on Kawau Island, Lidgard House occupies a site of rare and layered historical significance. While understated in form, its true value lies in the depth of its past - woven into the very origins of New Zealand’s early industry, colonial ambition, and enduring coastal lifestyle.
The bay in which it rests takes its name from one of the country’s first major industrial enterprises. In the 1840s, Kawau Island became the centre of a pioneering copper mining operation, with Smelting House Bay serving as the processing hub for ore extracted from the surrounding hills. Remnants of this era still linger in the landscape, grounding the property in a time when this remote island played a surprisingly pivotal role in New Zealand’s economic beginnings.
By 1862, the island entered a new chapter under the ownership of Sir George Grey, soldier, scholar, and twice Governor of New Zealand. Grey transformed Kawau into a private sanctuary, centred around the now-famous Mansion House. While his grand residence became the social and botanical heart of the island, the surrounding bays, including Smelting House Bay, formed part of a broader vision - one that blended cultivated beauty with the rugged charm of the natural environment.
Over time, the island evolved from an industrial outpost to a private retreat and eventually into one of the Hauraki Gulf’s most cherished boating destinations. Today, Lidgard House reflects this transition. Now held by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, it has been carefully adapted into a classic waterfront lodge - retaining a sense of understated authenticity while embracing its role as a place of gathering, rest, and connection to the sea.
What sets Lidgard House apart is not simply its position on the water’s edge, but the continuity of its story. Few properties in New Zealand offer such a direct link between early industry, colonial heritage, and modern coastal living. It is a place where history is not imposed, but inherent - etched into the land, the bay, and the quiet rhythm of life by the water.
In an age where true provenance is increasingly rare, Lidgard House stands as a subtle yet powerful reminder that some of the most extraordinary properties are defined not by grandeur but by legacy.
