Inside a multimillion-dollar Wynyard apartment

A virtual reality tour has been created of a yet-to-be-built Auckland apartment in the Wynyard Quarter, giving prospective buyers a walk-through as well as a glimpse of outdoor views, well before builders begin.

Roger Twose, project director for developer Willis Bond & Co, said the realistic tour created by Buildmedia would give people a glimpse inside the multimillion dollar penthouse on the top floor of a 10-level block.

The apartment will be 290sq m including 54sq of outdoor decks, have three bedrooms, two en suites including one with a freestanding bath, separate study which can be a fourth bedroom, kitchen with scullery, internal stud heights up to 3.2m and outdoor dining area with gas fireplace, Twose said.

"The virtual reality model will give prospective purchasers a chance to experience the scale of the penthouse as well as intricate detailing, such as softly dispersed natural lighting and custom joinery recesses. We believe this is the first penthouse in New Zealand to be marketed using a photo-realistic virtual reality experience," Twose said.

Construction of the 113-unit Wynyard Central is due to finish by March, 2018. The block is on the Daldy/Madden St corner and will have ground-floor retail and 157 carparks. Apartments were marketed from $550,000 and the block was designed by Architectus.

Gareth Ross said the tour allowed the public to view interiors of the proposed unbuilt penthouse.

"As well as being able to view it from within, you are also able to see what the proposed views are from any position within the apartment. All rooms are explorable. No door is left closed. The level of realism has to be seen to be believed, Ross said.

People who visit a Wynyard Quarter showroom will get an even sharper experience.

"As well as a walk-around experience the viewer is also able to don virtual reality googles and actually experience the space of the interior. So far, we have seen nothing to this level of realism used to market the sale of property across Australasia. This is another first for Buildmedia and we're very proud of what we've produced," Ross said.

Some Aucklanders who bought other apartments off the plans have been asked to pay more once construction is under way.

Another buyer found a pillar in her New Lynn apartment which she was not expecting.

Mark McGuinness of Willis Bond told the Herald in March that there were no price increases on the Wynyard Quarter units his company had pre-sold and was developing.