Here’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to buy a freehold property at prestigious Ayrburn

It’s an opportunity that will never be repeated: a chance to buy a freehold, private section in Central Otago’s much-fêted Ayrburn development, near Lake Hayes. It’s not an opportunity for everyone, however, with land-only parcels starting at $9 million, and land and house packages starting at an eye-opening $36m.

There are just three sections available at the development, Lot 6 at just under a hectare, Lot 7 at 8,560m² and Lot 8 at about 1.2ha.

There are plans and building packages for residences available to purchase too, or you can build your own dream home on the land, as long as the design adheres to restrictions in keeping with the nature of the luxury location.

Each of the designs offered have names. Crown Peak will have 9 bedrooms, 9.5 bathrooms and 3 garage spaces, ranged over 844m². Mt Soho has 8 bedrooms, 8.5 bathrooms, an underground bar and theatre and 3 garage spaces, ranged over 905m².

The largest design is Coronet with 8 bedrooms, 9.5 bathrooms, an underground bar and theatre and 3 garage spaces, over 916m².

The largest section will set you back $11m. With the house package, it could cost $40m.

"We've certainly been talking to some high-net worth Kiwis, but there's been quite a bit of interest from Australia and abroad as well," says listing agent Sarena Glass of Bayleys.

Completed, these will be "some of the best properties in the country", and will suit buyers with a refined sense of finish and detail, Glass says. "The properties are absolutely top of class."

The passion project of developer Chris Meehan, Ayrburn already features a hospitality precinct which includes several restaurants - including Billy’s, a fine dining Chinese restaurant in the property’s original 1900s homestead - a bar, bakery, deli, and ice cream parlour.

Also planned for the area is the Northbrook, a high-end retirement village that will offer around 196 residences, a wellness centre with pool and gym, and two hotels - a 100-bed boutique hotel and a 200-bed hotel. The larger hotel will service the film hub/studio also planned for the site.

Joining these spaces together will be extensive, landscaped gardens, already established, which Meehan expects will one day rival Queenstown’s botanical gardens.

"I really want people to come here and just be in awe of the gardens,“ he says. "That's what we've put a lot of effort into. We had a head start - Billy Patterson, who settled the place in 1862, planted a lot of the trees from the seeds he had in his pocket on the boat out from Scotland. So, he's done a lot of that for us."

At nearly 60 hectares, Meehan believes there is more than enough space to “put all this in, and no one activity interferes with another”.

"I think it's going to be a fun place. It just wants to be full of life and full of people."

Planned from the start of the development, the freehold plots are in “the most private part of the property”, with views up to Coronet Peak and The Remarkables.

The property is about four minutes by car from Arrowtown, 18 minutes from Queenstown airport, and 25 minutes from Queenstown central. There are also two golf courses near by, one at the late Michael Hill’s home, and another at the Millbrook Resort and Country Club about five minutes away.

The designs offered with the land packages are in Meehan’s beloved “Central Otago vernacular”, designed to look like a high end version of “a collection of old farm buildings”, and matching his own home, nearby.

Building is booming in Queenstown Lakes, with figures showing the number of new homes consented in Queenstown Lakes District leaping 76% in the year to June 2025, from 1001 to 1762.

The district has held it’s own in the past 12 months, while property markets in many other parts of the country dipped considerably. According to Opes Partners, the median sale price for the district is $1,613,850.

Estate agent Serena Glass says the buyer will be someone who appreciates what Ayrburn is, “and understands the value of being within a stone's throw of the precinct”.

“It's obviously someone that's incredibly discerning."