Bet you wished you’d bought in Albert Town 10 years ago. Property prices have increased by 225% over the last decade, from an average asking price of $553,500 in 2015 to $1,796,828 in 2025.*
In the north, the small Coromandel beach settlement of Hahei now holds an average asking price of $2,005,000, over $1.3million more than in 2015 when the average asking price for properties was $623,000.
Lakeside destinations: Hawea, Rotoiti, and Wanaka round out the top five suburbs with significant increases to their average asking prices since 2015.
Russell in the Bay of Islands is a notable mention being the only area in the selection to record a price increase of more than $2m, from an average of $1,357,690 in 2015 to $3,562,579 in 2025.
Vanessa Williams, spokesperson for realestate.co.nz, said there’s always that ‘oh, I wish we’d bought 10 years ago’ and the data shows just how big those gains could be.
“We all love a bit of hindsight, but these numbers are next level. If you bought in Albert Town or Hahei a decade ago, you’ve basically won the property lotto. It just goes to show sometimes the dream bach can also be the dream investment.”
Beachside or lakeside - which is the better property investment?
Lake houses just take the crown over beachside homes for the greatest return, with six of the top 10 holiday destinations being lakeside.
However, many of New Zealand’s most renowned beach spots deliver on their reputation. Alongside its white sandy beach, Whangamata, now boasts an average asking price of $1,656,449 compared to $656,056 in 2015, while Waiheke Island’s Oneroa has more than doubled from $1,234,050 in 2015 to $2,855,522 in 2025.
Williams says these results reaffirm our love of classic Kiwi holiday spots but also reflect our adventurous streak to try somewhere new.
“While iconic destinations still hold lifestyle appeal, we’re seeing serious price gains in less expected spots, particularly around the lakes. Buyers chasing both lifestyle and long-term value gains may need to look beyond the classic beachside favourites.”
Where are New Zealand’s $3million holiday destinations?
Lake Rotoiti in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand’s former capital, Russell in Northland, and Auckland’s Omaha take podium position for the three holiday hotspots in Aotearoa with an average asking price over $3million.
Williams says the last decade of data offers a powerful reminder about the long-term value of well-chosen lifestyle locations.
“It’s easy to focus on the short term, but the gains we’re seeing in places like Albert Town and Hahei show what’s possible when you buy and hold. Whether it’s a dream bach or a strategic investment, the returns speak for themselves.”
*The price for each location is based on the average asking price of all properties listed for sale in the three-month period from 1 September – 30 November 2015 compared with the same time period in 2025.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Hannah Franklin | hannah@realestate.co.nz
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