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Family compound for summer; listed for first time

Two properties that step down the hill at Piha, create one large family compound.

Last updated: 1 October 2025 | 4 min read

Family compounds are something we often associate with the rich and famous, like the Kennedy compound at Cape Cod. But they’re also a brilliant solution for family holidays when built on a much smaller scale.

This Piha property, Piha Tironui, which is actually in two titles, has been listed for the first time since it was built in two stages. The “barn” accommodation came first in 2017, and the three cabins, featured above, including one with a rooftop deck, were just completed last year.

One of the owners, a keen surfer, says the barn was initially created as a glamping retreat for the family when the children were young. The parents enjoyed the loft bedroom, while the children slept in the four bunk beds that fold down from the walls.

This wide view shows the “barn”, the main residence at the top left, which was completed in 2017. Solar panels on the roof of the barn provide most of the power the house needs, with extra power sold back to the national grid.

And this is the view from the Canadian cedar barrel sauna - the owners describe it as the “best view from a sauna in New Zealand”.

A large deck with an outdoor pizza oven, and two pools - a static swim pool and a cold plunge pool keep the family entertained when they’re not at the beach. There is also a gymnasium, spa, and sauna.

“As the children grew older, the time came when they wanted to hang out with friends, away from the family,” the owner says. “They wanted their own space.”

Steps and pathways lead around the properties, and are set amid bush. The owners say they got rid of a lot of self-sown introduced plants, such as agapanthus. They recently planted 100 flax plants.

The cabins were subsequently built to provide separation and privacy for the teenagers and their friends. They were also designed so they can be rented out as Airbnb accommodation, when the family isn’t using them - the income covers costs.

The owner says the cabins are frequently rented to Aucklanders in particular, being close to the city, and just three-to-four minutes’ walk from the beach and surf club and the RSA. The cabins have also been great for their own friends - everyone can have their own space, and also enjoy the amenities.

The “barn” family residence has large garage doors that can be rolled down when the owners are away.

The owners have added several health amenities, including a gymnnasium, sauna, spa and the pools.

Other special features include solar panels on the roof of the barn - excess is power is sold back to the national grid. The property has its own water tank and septic tank system.

Designed by Eco Space, the cabins were built with sustainability foremost, using SIPS (Structurally Insulated Panels) for maximum thermal efficiency. As with all Eco Space homes, they have a strong architectural aesthetic, with clever design featuring throughout. Every square inch is maximised.

Now you see the fold-down bunk beds in the main room...

... and now you don’t. The beds tuck back up into the wall when not in use.

The view is another key feature. There are 360-deg views from the rooftop deck. And there’s a quaint barrel-vault lookout that frames a view across the beach and out to sea.

‘Bittersweet decision to list’

The owners have reluctantly decided to list the properties, however. “The children are older now, and flying the coop. We are not using the property as much as we once did, and it has been a bittersweet decision to sell the compound. The children are heading off in different directions, including studying overseas.”

The cabins are usually occupied by guests when the family is not using them.

Listing agent Maria Fontes of Ray White Green Bay, who is a Piha local herself, says the owners are hoping to sell the two properties together (the barn and the cabins).

“The layout offers plenty of flexibility. It is possible to live there permanently, and use some of the space for Airbnb rentals,” she says. “Or simply keep it as a private getaway.”

The properties are being sold with most furnishings, the static pool, spa, sauna with a view, cold plunge pool, solar panels and pizza oven, making it essentially move-in ready.