Lakepoint responds to Wānaka’s new buyer

A limited pre-release selection of homes at Lakepoint, a new masterplanned residential community in central Wānaka, has been released ahead of the project’s formal market launch, reflecting growing demand for housing designed around permanent lifestyle living rather than just occasional escape.

Located at 2 Kelliher Drive, the development comprises 63 architecturally designed freehold homes across four typologies, positioned within walking distance of Lake Wānaka, the town centre, cafes, restaurants, and the region’s extensive walking and cycling trails.

Bayleys Wānaka Development Sales specialist Scott McGoun, together with Bayleys Residential Projects general manager Gavin Lloyd, says the project comes to market amid a broader evolution across New Zealand’s premium lifestyle markets, where buyers are increasingly prioritising flexibility, walkability and ease of living over traditional scale.

“Wānaka has matured well beyond the traditional rhythms of a holiday market,” McGoun says. “What was once driven primarily by short-term escape is increasingly being shaped by people restructuring how and where they want to live. Flexible work, longer stays, and permanent relocation are blurring the line between lifestyle destination and everyday community.”

Long regarded as one of New Zealand’s premier alpine and outdoor destinations, Wānaka continues to attract buyers drawn to its combination of natural beauty, adventure lifestyle and increasingly sophisticated amenity. Framed by Lake Wānaka and the Southern Alps, the town is a globally recognised resort destination offering year-round access to mountain biking, hiking, snow sports, lake-based recreation and wellness-focused living.

“There’s a growing recognition that luxury today is as much about time, enjoyment and convenience as it is about size,” McGoun says. “Buyers are looking for homes that allow them to spend less time maintaining the property and more time enjoying the environment around them. Walkability, lock-and-leave functionality, and thoughtful design have become incredibly important.”

McGoun says Lakepoint’s central positioning is particularly significant within the context of Wānaka’s current growth, where much of the town’s newer housing supply has increasingly expanded toward the township fringe.

“Opportunities to secure a brand-new home so close to both the lakefront and town centre are limited. That centrality fundamentally changes how you experience daily life in Wānaka, allowing buyers to integrate the lake, trails, cafes, and amenities into their daily routine.”

The community offers a selection of three and four-bedroom homes with footprints between approximately 92sqm to 127sqm, on sites of up to 215sqm (more or less). Residences are priced from $1,120,000.

Each residence has been designed to reflect the surrounding alpine landscape, incorporating natural materials, clean architectural lines and a calming colour palette grounded in the character of Wānaka itself.

Open-plan kitchen, dining and living spaces connect directly to private outdoor areas, while quality appliances, heating and double-glazing support comfortable year-round living. Shared landscaped green spaces and a natural stream further reinforce the sense of openness and connection throughout the community.

“The unique landscape of Wānaka has been woven into every design decision, from the material palette through to the landscaping and outdoor spaces,” Lloyd says. “The homes are designed to feel practical, refined and enduring – spaces that genuinely support how people want to live.”

The new community is being delivered by Redwood Group, one of New Zealand’s most established developers, backed by more than $1.5bn in completed projects since 1992. The firm has delivered projects including the Five Mile Shopping Centre in Frankton, Kawarau Villas, and the Coronet Peak Alpine Villas, while advancing developments such as the Radisson RED Hotel in Queenstown and The Grove at Wooing Tree in Cromwell.

Lloyd says that developer credibility has become increasingly important as buyers look beyond the product itself to the certainty of delivery and long-term quality.

“Redwood’s depth of experience across the region gives purchasers confidence they’re buying into a community backed by proven execution and enduring value.

“With pre-release opportunities now available, buyers have a chance to secure their position ahead of the wider market launch,” he says.