PHOTO: Marble tiles, chandeliers & a yoga room? This heritage waterfront gem is anything but a shack.
It’s been called New Zealand’s most glamorous boatshed – and now it finally has a new owner. After 18 months on the market, a heritage-listed waterfront property on Ngapipi Road in Auckland has sold for around $1.85 million – and you won’t believe what’s inside.
The 185sqm structure isn’t just big for a boatshed – it’s got crystal chandeliers, a yoga room, marble tiles, a games lounge, and open-plan entertaining areas that rival many high-end apartments.
Real estate agent Paul Sissons of NZ Sotheby’s International Realty confirmed the sale of 18/1 Ngapipi Road, one of the most iconic and desirable sheds lining Whakatakataka Bay in Auckland’s affluent Orākei suburb.
“This property ticked all the boxes,” Sissons told OneRoof. “The size, rarity, and location made it a once-in-a-generation opportunity. The new owners plan to use it for entertaining and boating – it’s the ultimate waterfront man cave.”
The shed was given a $300,000 makeover and had been used as an entertainment space. Photo / Supplied
🛥️ Boatshed or Boutique Mansion?
Originally purchased as a rundown storage space more than 25 years ago, the vendor transformed the shed into a fully equipped waterfront retreat – complete with:
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💎 Chandeliers & marble tiles
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🛁 Full bathroom, second toilet, kitchen
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🧘 Yoga room and home office upstairs
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🎮 Games room and spacious lobby
The $300,000 fit-out was leased to a marine-based charter business and includes modern plumbing, holding tanks, and premium finishes throughout – all within a property you legally can’t live in.
The iconic boatsheds lining Whakatakataka Bay, in Auckland’s Orakei. Photo / Supplied
🏡 What Makes Ngapipi Road Boatsheds So Special?
The boatsheds at Ngapipi Road are heritage protected and fall under maritime licence-only occupancy rules – meaning no one can legally reside there. But that hasn’t dampened buyer enthusiasm.
In 2023, Sissons famously sold another Ngapipi boatshed for $2.05 million, smashing expectations and eclipsing Auckland’s median house price at the time.
“These are passion purchases,” Sissons explained. “For someone with a few million in low-interest investments, why not park it in something that brings joy and status?”
Boatshed 11 is on the market and has been refurbished inside and out. Photo / Supplied
⏳ Market Rebounds Spark New Interest
While buyer appetite cooled during the 2023–2024 downturn, falling interest rates and rising buyer confidence are driving renewed interest in prestige lifestyle assets.
“Most owners are holding for the long term now – 10 years or more. But like all property cycles, the next wave of high-end turnover will come,” said Sissons.
Currently, Boatshed No. 11 is on the market with Bayleys for $1.55m. This one comes with its own kitchen, bathroom, and is being used as an arts studio and event space.
SOURCE: NZHERALD