Makepeace Island and seven other amazing holiday rental getaways

Makepeace Island and seven other amazing holiday rental getaways
Property ObserverJanuary 6, 2013

Sir Richard Branson's Noosa getaway, Makepeace Island, is a popular holiday destination for cashed-up travelers and boldface names.

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The island, which can be rented for $3,800 plus $550 per adult (and$375 per child) per night during the high season, has very little availability left for summer 2013, according to spokeswoman Kirsty Aitken. 

The Virgin boss, along with Virgin Blue executives Brett Godfrey and former colleague Rob Sherrard, bought the heart-shaped island for $2.86 million in 2007. He opened it to the holiday market in mid-2011.

There is a main house, three two-bedroom villas and a four-bedroom guest house. It has a boathouse, lagoon pool and a 15-person spa. There are no partial bookings, with guests enjoying the entirety of the island. 

Guests travel to and from the island by riverboat, and it contains a host of facilities, such as an outdoor cinema and a full-sized tennis court, to keep them occupied.

When he announced that Makepeace island would be available to rent, Branson said: "When neither Brett nor myself are visiting Makepeace, we will make the island and its facilities available for others to enjoy the tranquillity of what is a very special place.”

 


hayman

Iconic fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg – famous for the wrap dress – has personally designed the DFV Penthouse on Hayman Island, which could be yours for $5,000 a night. 

The private island in the Great Barrier Reef is owned and operated by Mulpha Australia Limited, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World organisation.

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The 160-square-metre penthouse has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a wrap balcony that offers views over Hayman beach and the Coral Sea.

Von Furstenberg has adorned the apartment with her signature fabrics and DVF rugs and accessories.

A selection of her personal photography is also on show.

The penthouse can accommodate four guests, and a full butler service is included in the $5,000 rental fee.

Von Furstenberg first entered the fashion world in 1972 and is the inventor of the famous wrap dress for women.

She is currently the president for the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).

“It is such a special destination, and I hope my design will enhance the beauty of the island and give the people staying in the DVF Penthouse a memorable moment,” says Von Furstenberg.

“Diane Von Furstenberg has always been held in such high esteem and we are delighted she has chosen to bring her incredible style, elegance and creativity to this new premium accommodation on Hayman,” says Hayman managing director Lloyd Donaldson.

Those nwith long memories remember the big makeover the island got back in the mid-1980s when a $300 million project commenced to transform the island into a luxury black-tie destination.

Mulpha Australia Limited acquired Hayman Island in 2004.

In 2010, Hayman Island rolled out a selection of private residences for purchase as part of an ongoing strategic investment.

The residences are the first private ownership ever offered at Hayman.

Head of Hotel Investment for Mulpha Australia and managing director of Hayman, Llyod Donaldson, said the decision to offer premium residential property on the island was due to longstanding interest from frequent visitors.

The island will feature a series of three- and four-bedroom residences, ranging from 500 square metres to 750 squares metres, which were designed by international resort architect Kerry Hill.

 


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If you'd rather holiday in Bellevue Hill than in Noosa or Hayman Island, you could try Barford, the palatial seven-bedroom property belonging to the Joye family, who note that their celebrity guests can relax, as "there is no opportunity for paparazzi to moor outside Barford".

The 4,039-square-metre estate was commissioned by Sir Warwick Fairfax, who was its first occupant, in 1929. It was included in the Register of National Estate in 1992.

The Georgian property is approximately $40,000 a week to rent, and it comes with the Joyes' staff. It is only let to families.

The estate includes a separate three-bedroom house, as well as a synthetic grass tennis court, gymnasium, and heated pool. The numerous entertaining zones no doubt came in handy when the couple threw a wedding reception for their son, Fairfax contributor Christopher, and former singer/model/actor Nicky Love.

The Joyes bought the property in late 1986 for nearly $10 million. 

The Joyes recently sold another trophy property, Kalua at Palm Beach, to the retired Sydney car dealer Laurie Sutton for a record-setting $22 million. 

 


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Located on the Palm Beach, New South Wales dress circle, the Chisholm family pavilion-style bungalow has been put into the rental pool this summer at $35,000 a week peak season.

Melaleuka, which contains five bedrooms and six limestone bathrooms, is built around a central pool and garden.

There's a self-contained guest wing.

Boasting views up to the Barrenjoey Lighthouse, the 2,561-square-metre property was bought in 1994 for $3.1 million.

It was listed in November 2008 with price hopes of around $18 million but was taken off the market in March 2010.

Melaleuka is located at 36 Ocean Road, and is available to rent for $5,000 a night or $10,000 for a Friday or Saturday.

The minimum stay is one night.

It was 1994 when the then Pratten family's bungalow was sold for $3.1 million to the Chisholm family.

 


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Located at the north end of Avalon beach in Sydney, the Beach Rock comes with $25,000 a peak season weekly rental, but a two-week minimum stay.

Located in the western wing is a spa room with a heated eight-person spa pool and beachfront gardens lead down to Avalon beach.

Located on Marine Parade Avalon, the 1,821-square-metre property last sold in 2008 for $8.16 million. The house is a getaway suitable for large groups of up to 10 people.

Situated on a double block, the house is divided into two separate accommodation wings – including the east and western wing – connected with a central living area.

The western wing has two bedrooms and the eastern wing boasts three bedrooms, all with water views. 

 


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Another dream holiday destination, provided you don't need to be close to the beach, is Angel Wing, a four-bedroom cottage in Hampton, NSW, deep in the Blue Mountains near the Jenolan Caves and promising those that stay views of the neighbouring cliffs as the "glow scarlet at nightfall".

The sleek wing-shaped property was designed by renowned architect Peter Stutchbury with a skylight a prominent feature creating a dramatic effect and play on light.

When available for rent its at $1,100 per night for two to four nights and $1,000 for longer stays.

 


oceanblue

For those seeking to live like a former prime minister over their holidays there's the Rudd family's five-bedroom holiday home at Castaways Beach home near Noosa.

The Rudds paid $3.1 million in 2011 to acquire the contemporary home on the beach front in the Noosa Dunes Estate.

If you're looking to rent it during peak season, the asking rate is $3,100 per week with nightly tariff of $550 per night if you stay a minimum of five nights, rising to $6,800 per week during peak season.

It could be worth it, though, with the opportunity to enjoy uninterrupted ocean views from the large deck, described as the "perfect place to host those hot summer night BBQs", with the swimming pool also inviting.

The holiday home is let by Zinc Properties Noosa.

 


castra

This prestige summer beach retreat is just 10 minutes from the heart of the Sydney CBD in Double Bay, the cosmopolitian suburb.

It was listed with a $10,000 weekly asking price, as a two-month Christmas summer holiday letting.

The Laing & Simmons Double Bay website suggested someone secured the Castra Place pad, which fronts onto a relatively quiet beach on Sydney Harbour.

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