City penthouse 'very special'

A luxurious penthouse apartment that is double the size of some houses is expected to sell for millions.

The 411sq m apartment has sweeping views of Auckland's harbour and has a 2011 valuation of $5,025,000.

Features of the three-bedroom apartment, which sits above the Stamford Plaza Hotel on Albert St, include 3.3m ceilings and a large kitchen with separate butler's pantry.

It is reached by a glass elevator which has its own harbour views, three carparks, as well as access to the hotel's five-star facilities such as room service and health club.

Gary Wallace of Bayleys, who is marketing the freehold apartment, said it was one of the best in the country.

"I think it is unique for Auckland ... the closest thing you could get to that type of property is the very high-end properties that have sold on the ridge of Remuera Rd but this is in the heart of down-town, on the doorstep of the waterfront. It is international, it is very, very special."

While a few apartments had sold for more than the penthouse is likely to fetch, Mr Wallace said it was in the upper price bracket for apartments. "It has a CV of $5.2 million, and I have had buyers there that are both local and international and have been very impressed."

It is for sale by negotiation. The sellers are based in Singapore, he said.

Pricey apartments

• Property developer David Henderson's pad on the top level of Shed 21, above the Hilton Hotel at Princes Wharf, has been for sale on and off for the past few years - with a value estimated at $10 million.
• A penthouse suite on Remuera Rd, part of an apartment block due to be completed in mid-2015, sold this year for $6.7 million.
• The top-level apartment of Shed 24 at Princes Wharf sold for $5.5 million in 2008 to a US buyer.
• The penthouse apartment in Takapuna's 19-floor The Sentinel sold for $5.2 million in 2010. It was at the time thought to be the most expensive apartment sale. It now has a valuation of $7.5 million.
• A consortium of Aucklanders is building what could be the country's most expensive set of boutique apartments for themselves, worth $4 million each. The waterfront low-rise in Herne Bay features four single-level units with two bedrooms and a study.