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Ultimate retirement? Millbrook spec home with ‘Yellowstone’ vibe has $9.82m RV
Te Mira, a brand new multi-million dollar spec home in Millbrook, Arrowtown.
Everything you forgot to ask for, and then some. The architect of Te Mira, a brand new spec home in Millbrook, Hamish M Muir says the team at Mason & Wales has put together “everything we’ve learned over the last decade about what people want in a new home”.
“A great example of this is the fact that people don’t often put in rooms for golf gear and outdoor equipment. Another thing is people are wanting bigger and more indulgent dressing rooms, and outdoor living spaces with a fire.”
All these things and more are included in the 485m² house they’ve called Te Mira. And it’s a beauty by anyone’s standards, settled on an elevated 1592m² site in the luxury resort near Arrowtown.
There are sweeping mountain views, and the large size of the section ensures separation from neighbouring properties. “The location granted us design guidelines within Millbrook that allowed for more character, a larger scale and a more contemporary dwelling,” Muir says.
“Some have called this property a ‘handsome house’, but to me it’s a refresh or a ‘black label’ on what the traditional Millbrook product is.”
Natural timbers feature both inside and outside the house.
The house comprises a series of four linked pavilions - this one is the main family living space.
With an RV of $9.82 million, the house also has the handcrafted, bespoke look demanded of a luxury build - it was built by AJ Saville Builder, a firm that has won numerous Master Builders awards, including four regional Supreme Awards.
The natural materials also speak of luxury. The house is clad in schist, cedar, oak, southern beech and Corten steel. Heavily textured tilt-slab concrete was used for the garage for a strong contemporary look.
“We often talk about the house channelling a Yellowstone vibe,” Muir says. “It’s a little bit John Dutton, but also with accents of Beth Dutton in there too. There’s a feminine touch, with added masculinity through the use of that texture.”
At 485m², the house is large enough for serious entertaining - there are even two main suites to accommodate two families.
Handcrafted timber cabinetry with a contemporary edge ensures the kitchen is in keeping with the rest of the house.
The house has four separate living areas - a central living room, breakfast nook, media room and a private loft retreat.
‘You end up with a lot of friends’
“Traditionally, a loft area has been used [in Millbrook homes] when the New Zealand Open is on, but having a guest area like that is something increasingly important for Queenstown, because you end up with a lot of friends. A lot of people that want to come and stay for extended periods of time.”
The architect says it’s possible to see three skifields from the house.
The entertainment hub of the house is the open-plan kitchen-living area that flows to an alfresco area with a built-in barbecue and outdoor fireplace made from Corten steel. There are views towards three ski fields.
Another less common feature is a second main bedroom suite. Muir says just having one main bedroom when a house is often used for short-term rentals can be tricky. “There’s often two families staying there, so a second means you can really look after your guests, which is a highly practical feature.”
Heating includes hydronic underfloor heating, heat pumps, an indoor gas fireplace, and heated towel rails.
Like a painting, this window frames a perfect slice of the view.
Other features include a wine cellar, and a triple garage with storage and enough space to accommodate two golf carts.
Millbrook amenities include the famed 36-hole championship golf course, driving range, beauty spa, gymnasium, heated pool, sauna, tennis courts and various restaurants and cafes.
The property, at 1 De La Perelle Lane, Millbrook, Arrowtown, is listed with Sarena Glass and Sarah McBride of Bayleys Queenstown, and is for sale by negotiation.
There are four bedrooms, all with expansive views.
This is one of four bathrooms.
Cotality puts the median value of homes in Arrowtown at $2,120,913.
Property market update: New Zealand property owners are realising the lowest rate of resale profits in more than 10 years, as subdued values and elevated stock levels continue to give buyers the upper hand.
Cotality NZ’s latest Pain & Gain Report shows 89.4% of properties resold for more than their original purchase price in the June 2025 quarter, down from 90.7% in the March quarter and the lowest rate since mid-2014.
The property is a corner site of 1592m².
The Pain & Gain Report analyses homes resold during the quarter, comparing the most recent sale price to the property’s previous sale price, determining whether the sale made a gross profit (gain) or a gross loss (pain).
Cotality NZ’s July Home Value Index (HVI) showed national property values remain more than 16% below their post-COVID peak, despite more recent signs of stabilisation.
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