Want an island? $40m should do it

Pakatoa Island
Pakatoa Island

If you fancy three white sand beaches, an airstrip, a nine hole golf course, and room for hundreds of guests, then Pakatoa Island could be for you.

A 12 minute helicopter ride from downtown Auckland, the price tag is a mere $40 million.

It's the third time businessman John Ramsey has tried to sell the island. Mr Ramsey owns international lamb and mutton exporter Crusader Meats in the Waikato, and other farming interests in the North Island.

He bought Pakatoa Island for $4.25m in 1994 from German fraudster Ralf Simon, who had planned to revitalise the former holiday resort. Its current rateable value is $15.5m.

The 24 hectares includes the three beaches, swimming pool, an all-tide jetty plus 62 bedrooms.

The island is uninhabited apart from the caretaker but Mr Ramsey says they've enjoyed it to have family holidays on.

"Just having the kids and the grand kids out here, good place to have a break and get away from it."

"There's always plenty of challenges when you own an island but there's a lot of good that come of it too."

The Ramsey's have used Pakatoa most long weekends and all the Christmas holidays.

From the 1960s to 1980s, the island operated as a holiday resort.

Barfoot and Thompson agent, Grant Kavali, who is marketing the property, says its a chance to buy one of the few privately owned islands in New Zealand.

While it's being marketed internationally, he hopes a Kiwi Rich Lister might be interested.

Newshub.