Nanuku Auberge Resort Fiji

Pacific Harbour, Fiji

Name of Project:

Nanuku Auberge Resort, Fiji

Community details:

Homesites from $499,000

Villas from $799,000

Estate Homes $1.9MM

Community highlights:

3 Kilometers of beach

Luxury Resort, Clubhouse & Spa

Private Island

Residential Architect: Grounds Kent

Private Airstrip

Destination:

Pacific Harbour, Fiji

Overview

Nanuku Auberge Resort offers Fiji’s preeminent, five-star, oceanfront paradise – perfect for those seeking a premier second home investment opportunity in the South Pacific. Nanuku stretches across a two-mile long swath of pristine oceanfront property in Taunovo Bay, on the Pacific coast of Viti Levu, Fiji’s main island. The property is also convenient to some of the world’s best surfing, snorkeling, and deep sea fishing, not to mention the incredible cultural experiences the island has to offer. Nanuku is also located near Pacific Harbour, which has been nicknamed the Adventure Capital of Fiji, and draws tourists globally.

The Challenges

The almost 500-acre property was acquired during the recession. The original owner had begun to construct a 5-star luxury resort and with skyrocketing costs and non-existing sales the project was acquired by an investor who recognized the need for a partner with development, sales, and marketing expertise, as well as a history of conscientious spending.

Enter Catalyst

After re-envisioning the previously foreclosed project as a whole, Catalyst amended the architectural guidelines and recommended that Bixby Bridge Capital reformulate from a subdivision model to a resort-affiliated model, which would raise the value of the real estate component. A renowned five-star corporate hotel management chain – Auberge Resorts was recruited to manage and provide luxury resort amenities, along with professional property and rental management services. Catalyst began increasing the prestige of Nanuku from the ground up by establishing a real estate presence at the resort while simultaneously creating and managing an international marketing campaign.

After some strategic testing, Catalyst determined that the most marketable products were one- and two-bedroom luxury resort villas that could be included in the resort’s rental inventory at the owner’s discretion. With this insight in mind, subtle but important changes were made to the overall development plans and product design, which aided in lead generation.

Results

Catalyst worked with world renowned architectural firm Ground Kent Architects in Perth, Australia to develop designs and plans for a portfolio of luxury villas. A lead generation and sales program was created for this product which included their introduction to the world at a premier event in Sydney, Australia. Catalyst began taking pre-construction reservations for these units while managing the finalization of the drawings, furnishing packages, zoning, re-platting of the land, creation of all legal documents including a rental management plan with the onsite hotel, and development of all association documents. Non refundable deposits of 30% were taken until pre-construction thresholds were met. Subsequent sales allowed for the completion of the first and second offerings. The result was an enclave of luxury villas that exceeded expectations.

Nanuku Auberge Resort realized results just as impressive as those in the real estate component. Within the first 12 months of opening, the resort was rated Number 1 in Fiji on Travelocity. Several other major accolades were quickly awarded to Nanuku, including:

  • Best Newcomer in the prestigious Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence
  • Traveller’s Choice on TripAdvisor
  • Andrew Harper Australia/South Pacific Grand Award
  • Dining Experience Award at the ANZ Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards

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Tracy Harris

A native of Georgia, Tracy has been a resident of Greenville since 1987 and has been in real estate sales for 27 years, giving her tremendous insight into the local market. Tracy also combines infectious enthusiasm and keen attention to detail with her market insight, enhancing the buying experience for every family she serves.

What brought you to Hartness?
Tracy’s work with the Greenville Homebuilder’s Association ignited her love for real estate sales focused on residential development and new construction. Through that association she discovered Hartness and in 2016 met with the Hartness family as they were beginning to assemble their sales team. It was a bit challenging, given that no dirt had been moved. We were “selling the dream” in those days. While I had sales experience with residential developers and some of Greenville’s finest custom home builders, I was brand new to Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) and New Urbanism and how these concepts combine land preservation and retail offerings in residential developments. In short, it was a process of finding better ways for people to live, and I trusted that the Hartness family would bring that vision to life. Today, it’s a thriving community with a strong sense of connectedness, and that’s really rewarding to see.”

What’s the best part of your job?
“The people I meet and the relationships that are formed. I genuinely care about other people and enjoy getting to know them. By asking the right questions, then taking the time to listen and understand their goals, objectives, concerns, and hesitations, coupled with my knowledge of Hartness and the building process, I have helped numerous families find their perfect home!” It is very gratifying to see them out and about within the community, making new friends, exploring a new trail, or simply relaxing on their porch watching the day go by, living their best lives.

What’s the First Thing You Tell People About Hartness?
I have the rare privilege of representing a community in which the owners/developers of the property are residents of the community! They have a personal interest, and they are here to stay. The idea of Hartness, the South’s Next Great Village, came about as they asked, “What can we do to make this a special place to live, give back to Greenville, and still preserve the unique natural areas our family treasures?’ The answer to that question produced a vision that’s far bigger than themselves, and that’s why, even today, my favorite question to new visitors is, ‘Do you know the story of this property and the family who owns it?’ It’s an amazing story to tell.”

Marcia Simmons

Marcia brings 34 years of real estate brokerage experience to Hartness. For the past 21 years, her sole focus has been on-site sales in luxury golf course communities, giving her tremendous depth and understanding of the Greenville market.

What brought you to Hartness?
I’ve had the privilege of working in some exceptional communities with excellent offerings, but they were way off the beaten path. That was always challenging because families had to drive half an hour to a grocery store or pharmacy to enjoy these amenities and their homes. Living at Hartness eliminates this difficulty because it offers all the natural beauty and room to escape with the convenience of in-town living that’s minutes from everything you need.”

What’s The Best Part of Your Job?
“The best part of my job is wholeheartedly believing in the community I represent. The story of this community and all it offers makes sense to people, which makes it very exciting to come to work every day.”

What’s the First Thing You Tell People About Hartness?
“As a licensed pilot, I first recognized the Hartness family’s commitment to excellence when I visited Triple Tree Aerodrome in Woodruff, SC. Pat Hartness developed Triple Tree to ignite a passion for aviation, and I was so impressed with the facility that it made me want to be associated with the family. If they did a passion project at that level, I could only imagine how spectacular this family’s legacy real estate offering would be.

One of the first things I tell people about Hartness is the owners are not “big box” developers. This property was their family home. They chose to develop their land as a labor of love. As Sean Hartness once explained, “This was such a great place to grow up. I want the world to know what living here felt like.”

Steve Brown

Steve began his career with Hartness International—an industrial packaging equipment company—in 1987. In 2004, he moved to outside sales and remained with the company after its 2009 sale. In 2020, Steve had the pleasure of rejoining the family on the Hartness real estate sales team.

What brought you to Hartness?
“While I had engaged in some real estate development projects over the years, my primary motivation was to rejoin the Hartness family and work for a privately-held company. They’re unique in how they treat their employees, and it is a joy to work with them again. I also appreciate being ‘off the road,’ spending more time with my family and building relationships with my clients here in Greenville.”

What is the best part of your job?
“By far, the best part of my job is connecting with wonderful people who visit Hartness. Purchasing a home is very personal exercise, and that’s the aspect I enjoy most—connecting with the families and guiding them through that process to realize their quest for a dream home.”

What’s the First Thing You Tell People About Hartness?
“The first thing I tell people about is the level of involvement the Hartness family has here and the history of the property. The Hartness family are the developers, and some of them live here, which speaks volumes about their commitment. This neighborhood is as personal to them as it is to every other family we serve, and that’s a great recipe for a thriving community. I also enjoy sharing our unique position in this market—the convenience coupled with this incredible property that will be theirs for a lifetime. These families are not just buying a house. They’re investing in a way of life, and Hartness is different from everything else in Greenville.”

David Robertson

David brings a 27-year career in luxury real estate to Hartness, preceded by his work in the golf industry—first as a PGA Tour caddy, then as a professional player. Originally from Florence, SC, David distinguished himself as a top sales executive and managing roles in reputable communities like The Cliffs Communities, Bray’s Island, and Bear Lake Reserve before becoming Director of Sales at Hartness.

What brought you to Hartness?
“I came to Hartness because of the strong comparative analysis—namely beautiful architecture in a walkable community with resort-style amenities, time-saving convenience, and a 180-acre nature preserve with ponds, streams, and 15 miles of Community Trails. That competitive set can’t be duplicated anywhere in the Upstate, and it puts Hartness in a league of its own.”

What’s the best part of your job?
“I get to serve my clients and learn what makes their lives better. And the very best part of my job is seeing the joy in their eyes when they secure a property and realize they’re about to start their new life here. That’s a tremendous privilege.”

What’s the First Thing You Tell People About Hartness?
“A client of mine wisely said that real estate is not about location, location, and location as most people believe. Instead, great real estate is actually about location, timing, and concept. Hartness has hit the mark with all three, and those critical elements have produced a one-of-a-kind community whose value most people understand from the first moment they visit.”