Million Dollar Home - Vava'u Islands, Tonga

Tonga is the only remaining Kingdom in the South Pacific.

This is where you can float in the calm, quiet waters of a turquoise lagoon at sunset or walk alone through lush pristine landscapes. It is where the sun shines almost every day and when it does rain, people rush outside for a rain bath in the warm, brief downpour of a tropical shower, which ends as quickly as it began.

This is nowhere more apparent than in the magnificent Vava'u Islands.

Vava'u is arguably one of the Worlds most scenic and unspoiled group of islands, blessed with consistent sunny weather, crystalline unpolluted waters teeming with life, protected waterways allowing for year-round safe and pleasant boating and boasting one of the safest, cleanest and most beautiful harbors in the whole of the South Pacific.

This million dollar waterfront property is on Vava'u, and is unequivocally the most beautiful home in Tonga.

Built in 2005, the house has been occupied by the owner and is in pristine condition.

This luxurious and eco-friendly waterfront property combines spectacular panoramic views over the South Pacific with a level of technology and comfort hitherto unmatched in this rapidly developing Polynesian island paradise. It is offered furnished or unfurnished.

Situated on the main island of Vava’u, this exceptional home is perched on a 30 meter high waterfront cliff at 18 degrees 40’ 37.38” S and 173 degrees 58’ 41.73” overlooking and providing for breathtaking panoramic vistas over the adjacent reefs and ocean.

Together with the elevation, a chain of low islands and reefs on the horizon offers excellent protection against storm waves and any ocean upwelling. Even the Humpback Whales have recognized the safety of these waters and frequently visit during the season.

This is the windward side of the island featuring gentle ocean breezes even during the torrid summer months, when the self-ventilating building will remain pleasantly cool due to its Polynesian-inspired, fully insulated and unusually high roofline. This is enhanced by its general orientation whereby all of the major windows remain in the shade from mid-morning onwards. During winter, several strategically placed majestic Casuarina trees and ornamental bushes help to cut down the southeasterly Trades.

Nested within one acre of beautifully landscaped gardens teeming with rare tropical multihued ornamentals, fruit and hardwood trees and even a small vegetable and spice garden, this unique home has been specifically designed for this site, capturing the beauty and spectacular views whilst ensuring complete privacy for its tenants. The waterfront side consists of an uninterrupted succession of panoramic windows whereas all other frontages have been decorated with colorful ornamental bushes and trees, thus offering absolute protection not only from prying eyes, but also from the scorching afternoon heat.

The exceptional main building spans an area of over 250 sq m and consists of two wings that are separated by a spectacular, one-of-kind glass partition spanning a full two storeys.

From the moment you enter the double front doors, you will be impressed.

The naturally ventilated Living Quarters consist of a very large sitting room allowing for picturesque vistas through a stunning semi-octagonal panoramic window front, a large and fully appointed kitchen and pantry, a guest toilet and wardrobe and a generous dining room leading to a large shaded verandah, the current owner’s favorite lookout. From here, you can enjoy awe-inspiring views of the ever changing tropical skies and ocean and observe a multitude of resident sea birds.

Except for the kitchen, main entrance and verandah, which are tiled in Italian terracotta, all living quarters feature exquisite massive hardwood flooring and are provided with convenient ceiling fans.

The furniture and the decoration are an exquisite and tasteful unique fusion of antique English and contemporary high-end Italian with a sprinkle of rare artifacts collected in Europe and across the South Pacific.

The fully insulated Working and Private Quarters feature an oversized, fully air-conditioned private office with lovely views into the garden and over the ocean, an oversized storage room and a fully appointed laundry at ground level.

The first floor, which is accessed over a beautiful hardwood staircase, features a large air-conditioned master bedroom offering
breathtaking panoramic vistas over the ocean and into the skies, a large bathroom with separate toilet, a spare bedroom and a huge walk-in wardrobe, along with a generous and fully private sun deck.

Once again, with the exception of the tiled bathroom, toilet and laundry, all living and working quarters feature the same striking massive hardwood flooring.

Notable major appliances include two large fridge-freezers, a large chest freezer and a spare fridge, also a dishwasher, a rarity in this country. Professional gas stove and electrical oven. Washing machine and dryer together with a spare washing machine.

Cyclone-proofing has been achieved by incorporating oversized beams and trusses, by anchoring all walls to the foundation via countless anchoring points, by the tilt, anchoring and make of the roof, and by reinforcing all major windows with lamination that doubles as tinting.

Furthermore, an ingenious system of easily deployed netting will prevent any sizeable debris from reaching the windowpanes that are set at various angles to deflect any substantial wind loads.

Further living quarters could be easily added due to the convenient timber frame construction, e.g. by walling in the wardrobe or by partitioning the storage room to create a guest room and toilet.

Due to the large ocean frontage, there is a possibility of constructing one, or possibly two further smaller dwellings (be it guests quarters or rental units), to the right and to the left of the manicured frontal lawn, this without any substantial drop in privacy. In fact, the owners have already provided for a separate access to the left hand side and cleared an adequate spectacular cliff-top building location.

If so wished, direct reef access can be easily obtained by clearing a path along a pre-existing gully. A boat would be best kept in the town’s protected main harbor where the owners have already installed two cyclone moorings.

Although this property is completely secluded at the very end of a private road it is only a 10- minute ride to the main center. The airport is at a 30-minute ride and the closest swimming beach, at 15 minutes.

This property is ideally suited to a small, affluent family wanting to trade the hustle of modern day living for a more serene, eco-friendly yet comfortable way of life along the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Awake to birdsong and be lulled to sleep by the sounds of the surf.

The owner currently employs one reliable and, above all, trustworthy house cleaner and two gardeners who shall be happy to assist any purchaser in making his life as pleasant and care-free as possible.

There is also a reputable, foreign-owned Property Management company to guard, or even rent out the house should the new owners wish to merely use it as a secondary habitation.

The property comes with a private land Lease Agreement expiring on April 1st, 2046.

The owner is also willing to sell the house fully furnished, appointed and decorated.

This is a nature lover's delight, offering an unspoiled, unique environment of extreme beauty and tranquility.

It awaits your discovery.