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Homes in one of New Zealand’s most sought-after beach resorts will feature Harbour Hospice Homes & Gardens tour on November 15.
Featured is the $10 million home built as a retreat by Mark and Lisa Darrow, and recently featured on Grand Designs NZ.
The tour is based in Omaha, with tickets expected to sell fast. “Omaha is home to some absolutely stunning properties, and we feel very humbled to have had so many locals say yes to generously opening their homes for hospice,” says Emily Thomas of Harbour Hospice.
The Darrows’ new build, completed earlier in 2026, has quickly become something of a local landmark after featuring on season 10 of Grand Designs NZ.
They agreed to show their home because “we acknowledge the interest from the local community,” Mark says.
“And we’re happy to open it for a charitable cause such as Hospice. Both my parents and father-in-law received Hospice care so we understand how important it is.”
The Darrows’ home is not your typical beach house. Four years in the making, Grand Designs presenter Tom Webster described it as a “glorious sculptural house”.
Its 1800m section is adjacent to a public car park and was once used by locals as a thoroughfare between the dairy and beach, so the Darrows’ biggest challenge was to create a home that preserved their privacy.
Its architects, Lindy and Luke Leuschke, a mother and son duo, who are also opening their home for the tour and who also featured in the same Grand Designs episode, rose to that challenge with a bold and innovative design.
It features what Tom Webster describes as “The great wall of Omaha” – a huge wall clad in scalloped glass reinforced concrete panels, that shields the downstairs level of the house, leaving the upstairs to take in sweeping ocean views.
The Darrows describe the house as a “sanctuary for family, and all the chaos that comes with it.” They recently welcomed their first grandchild and hope to fill their home with many more.
The Homes & Gardens Tour is generously sponsored by Principal Event Sponsors Heather Walton-Bycroft – Bayleys Omaha and Bayleys in the North, with the Omaha Golf Club serving as the event’s central hub, offering refreshments and a vibrant atmosphere throughout the day.
All proceeds will go towards supporting Harbour Hospice and the specialist, compassionate care it provides to local families.
To secure your tickets: https://harbourhospice.org.nz/event/homes-and-gardens-tour/
Did you know?
• Harbour Hospice cares for one in three people who are dying in the community
• Most of its care is provided in people’s homes
• Its specialist services are free, thanks to the generosity of its community
