I’m dreaming of a blue and green Christmas
The colour of TV commercial Christmas is snowy-white, accented by the waxy green and red of bows of holly. The Christmas of real life tends to be a slushy brown, accented by car-fumes and accompanied by a complete breakdown of the transport system.
While most of us will just slog through it as usual, for someone very lucky – and very, very rich – here is an alternative. Knight Frank is selling a one-off, iconic property on the exclusive Mornington Peninsula in Melbourne, Australia; the holiday playground of the super wealthy.
It has been four years since a property here last came up for sale. The destination is discreet, laid back and a regular haunt for Asia’s rich and powerful, as well as celebrities including Kylie Minogue. Celebrity neighbours include the Murdochs and Hugh Jackman. The area is also well known for producing top quality Pinot Noir.
Completed in 2007, after four years of planning and construction, Cunana, which is on the market for in excess of £7.5m, sits on one of the highest points in the area, affording breath-taking views from all directions.
The Mornington Peninsula is often called “the Hamptons of the southern hemisphere” because of its reputation as the ultimate holiday enclave for the world’s moneyed elite. The area has incredible weather year-round, a relatively sheltered location, world-renowned boutique wineries with great restaurants, gourmet shops, championship golf courses, stunning walking trails over undulating hills, surf beaches and equestrian facilities. So perfect, then, really.
If the £7.5m price-tag is a little steep, there are other alternatives to escape the winter cold. An average “prime” (coming from the top five per cent of the market) four bedroom house in Mauritius – where you can enjoy 9.5 hours of winter daylight – will only set you back £2m. The same sized house in Thailand – also with 9.5 daylight hours – is only £750,000, while South Africa – with 11 hours daylight – is just north of £500,000.
Other ultra-exclusive haunts for winter warmth include Mustique, where the average prime home will set you back more than £6m and St Barts, where the prices are almost £5m.