Great Mercury Island,New Zealand,Beach,Watersports

A private island just twenty minutes from Auckland by helicopter, Great Mercury is the most exciting exclusive residence in the Southern Hemisphere.

Great Mercury is quite simply the most spectacular private residence in the Southern Hemisphere today. Five thousand acres covered by pine forest and lush meadows grazed by sheep and cattle form this stunning island, just off New Zealand’s coast. Great Mercury’s fifty miles of coastline and twelve white, sandy beaches form a home of unparalleled natural beauty.

According to local history the island was home to about five thousand Maori until 1800, when it was abandoned but today, two beautiful houses provide luxurious accommodation for a party of up to sixteen guests, just twenty-five minutes by helicopter from Auckland. The houses mould themselves to the form of the landscape and inside, highly creative use has been made of rocks, boulders and driftwood from the shore. The architect, famous in Sardinia has created incredible inside-out living areas in the ‘Up House’ with open fires and a children’s room with built-in bunks and delightful features in the ‘Down House’ on the water’s edge.

A fisherman’s paradise, all the spoils can be served up in the fantastic new Boat House with a lovely dining area and bar. Diving, scuba, snorkelling, jet-skiing, kayacking, water skiing and wind surfing kit is all at your disposal and  completely unaided swimming off any one of the twelve lovely beaches is perfect between November and April. The large heated pool outside the ‘Up House’ is perfect all year.

One of the finest chefs in the country is on hand wherever one chooses to dine - at the Boat House, by the pool in the dining room or the open kitchen and a wine cellar worthy of the setting completes the already perfect picture.