Property is country's largest freehold apartment currently for sale
A five-bedroom luxury apartment in Auckland’s inner-city suburb of Freemans Bay has hit the market for $6.995 million, making it New Zealand’s largest freehold apartment currently for sale.
Located at 32 Arthur Street, the sprawling residence offers approximately 575sqm of living space and more than 1000sqm including terraces and courtyards. For buyers seeking a broader investment, the entire property package – which includes an eight-suite boutique hotel on the ground floor – is available for $13.5 million.
Bayleys listing agent Blair Haddow described the home as “extraordinary” and said there was “nothing you can compare it to” in terms of size and space.
The apartment was developed by investor Jon Sandler, who purchased the former St Johns Methodist Church Sunday School hall on the site. He later sold the adjoining deconsecrated church but retained the hall to realise his vision of a luxurious urban sanctuary. Designed by architecture firm Young + Richards, the structure pays homage to its ecclesiastical roots, with pointed glass features reflecting a Gothic Revival style.
Spanning three levels, the residence includes five ensuited bedrooms, a media room, a dedicated office or sixth bedroom, and three distinct living zones. It also features a private elevator and six-car basement garage. An internal Zen-style courtyard adds a tranquil retreat at the heart of the home.
“The master suite is pretty much the size of a small house, about 100-odd square metres,” Sandler said. “I sit up there most days and work on my iPad, you’re king of the castle.”
Positioned at the cul-de-sac end of Arthur Street, the apartment enjoys uninterrupted 180-degree views over Auckland’s harbour, Rangitoto Island, and the city skyline, yet remains minutes away from the cafés and shops of Ponsonby Road.
Beneath the apartment sits the Arluxia Hotel – an eight-unit, self-check-in boutique operation with harbour-facing suites and forward bookings extending into 2026.
“It’s a profitable, low-touch business model,” Sandler said, noting his daughter, currently studying property and commerce at university, is involved in its operations.
Sandler said prospective buyers may choose to operate the hotel, repurpose the space for other commercial uses, or simply purchase the apartment on its own.
“There’s additional off-street parking for 8–10 cars, which is gold in this neighbourhood,” he added.
