A resort-style estate created by Australian property developer Steve Grant and his wife, Eliza, has come to market for the first time, offering a rare combination of private beachfront access, a marina berth and resort amenities in Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands.
A Fiji luxury home with its own stretch of protected beach is a relatively unusual proposition. Bati Ni Wai Tui, whose name translates roughly to “At Water’s Edge,” takes that idea considerably further. Set within the exclusive Vunabaka Estate on Malolo Island, the residence was conceived as a private family retreat rather than a conventional investment villa, with spaces designed for multigenerational gatherings, entertaining and extended stays.
The property is now asking FJ$27.5 million, equivalent to about US$12.5 million, according to current marketing materials. Bayleys Real Estate Fiji is handling the local sale, with Douglas Elliman assisting with international marketing.
A Fiji Beachfront Estate Built Around Family Life
Bati Ni Wai Tui occupies approximately 2,484 square meters of land in Vunabaka, a tightly held residential enclave on Malolo Island. Current listing information describes the property as an eight-bedroom, 10-bathroom residence with a study, while the accommodation is configured to host up to 18 guests, including a dedicated children’s wing and staff quarters.
The home was developed by Steve and Eliza Grant after they discovered the site while vacationing in Fiji in 2015. Rather than simply acquiring an existing holiday house, the couple decided to create a bespoke residence from the ground up.
Grant, founder and chairman of Sydney-based Capital Corporation, has spent decades in Australian property development. Capital Corporation says Grant founded the company in 1991, and that its projects have since reached a combined end value of more than A$4 billion. He has also maintained longstanding interests in the thoroughbred industry.
The Grants’ decision to sell Bati Ni Wai Tui follows the pattern of creating substantial private properties and eventually moving on to another project. Their Sydney waterfront residence in Vaucluse was sold for about A$57 million earlier in 2026, according to Australian property reporting.
For californialuxuryhouses, the history behind the Fiji property is particularly interesting because the house was never conceived as a speculative flip. The Grants bought the site during their 2015 visit, developed the residence with a highly tailored brief and subsequently lived there full-time before deciding that a more accessible base would better suit their family and thoroughbred operation.
The residence was completed in the early 2020s. Project information from The Inside Story, which worked on the master planning and fit-out, anticipated completion in early 2023, while the original marketing describes the home as finished in 2022.
Contemporary Architecture Meets the Fijian Landscape
New Zealand architect Richard Priest masterplanned the residence, while Kathleen Bowen of The Inside Story was responsible for the interiors. The result is contemporary rather than traditionally rustic, with extensive glazing, high ceilings and indoor-outdoor spaces organized around a lush central garden.
The internal rainforest atrium is one of the defining architectural gestures. Tropical planting and a small water feature form the visual center of the house, allowing greenery to be seen from circulation areas and through the expansive glass openings.
The thatched roof is another deliberate response to the tropical setting. Rather than using the material simply as a decorative reference to Fiji, the design incorporates the roof form to assist ventilation and reinforce the connection between the architecture and climate.
“The style is very modern, it has a tropical feel without it being rustic,” listing agent Philip Toogood of Bayleys Real Estate Fiji said. “It’s incredibly stylish, but it really resonates with the Fijian environment.”
That balance is central to the home’s appeal. Its interiors are polished enough to feel like a sophisticated contemporary residence, yet the architecture remains closely tied to the landscape outside.
The main living room opens directly onto an outdoor entertaining area overlooking the ocean, with a barbecue and lounge positioned for long afternoons and evening gatherings. The adjacent dining area leads into a chef’s kitchen with a butler’s pantry and premium finishes.
Because sunset comes relatively early in Fiji throughout the year, lighting was treated as an important part of the design rather than an afterthought. The result is a residence intended to remain as comfortable and visually engaging after dark as it is during daylight.
A Private Cinema, Wellness Retreat and 25-Meter Pool
For a property designed around family gatherings, the accommodation is unusually extensive.
The ocean-facing primary suite has a large walk-in wardrobe, private office and an en suite bathroom with double indoor showers, a freestanding bathtub and an outdoor shower. Glass doors open the bedroom toward the deck and pool, keeping the Pacific landscape within view.
A dedicated family wing includes two bunk rooms with en suites, designed to accommodate children and larger groups. Elsewhere in the residence are four additional king guest suites, creating a layout that allows multiple generations or groups of friends to stay without sacrificing privacy. Current Bayleys information puts the overall guest capacity at up to 18 people.
The entertainment spaces are equally substantial.
A private cinema has 12 reclining seats and sophisticated audiovisual equipment, while the wellness wing includes a fully equipped gym, cedar-lined steam room and sauna. Outside, a 25-meter wet-edge infinity pool runs along the beachfront outlook, accompanied by a separate children’s pool.
There is also accommodation for on-site staff, helping the estate function more like a private resort than a conventional holiday home.
“It’s not all about the money,” Toogood said in the original marketing discussion. “It’s about absolutely living life to the max.”
That sentiment captures the property’s intended use. Bati Ni Wai Tui is not simply a large house beside the ocean; it was designed as an environment where a family could spend extended periods without needing to leave the estate for entertainment or recreation.
Vunabaka Puts a Resort and the Pacific Within Reach
The setting may ultimately be as important as the house itself.
Bati Ni Wai Tui is located within Vunabaka Estate on Malolo Island, part of Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands. The community combines private residences with resort infrastructure centered around Six Senses Fiji. Property owners are entitled to use resort facilities, including food and beverage options, activities, children’s services and beach access, according to Vunabaka’s own information.
That gives owners access to a lifestyle that extends beyond the boundaries of their individual property.
Restaurants and bars, spa and wellness facilities, water activities and other resort services are available within the broader Vunabaka environment. A general store also serves the community with household provisions and fresh produce.
The estate is also unusually well suited to owners who arrive by water. Vunabaka’s marina was completed in 2014 and can accommodate 56 vessels, with individual sites generally associated with berths for boats up to 10 meters, while larger berths are available separately.
Bati Ni Wai Tui itself comes with a private marina berth, adding another layer of convenience for a buyer who intends to explore the surrounding islands by yacht or boat.
Malolo Island is also close to some of the Pacific’s best-known surf and marine destinations, including Cloudbreak. From the international gateway at Nadi International Airport, access to the island can be arranged by boat, water taxi, ferry or helicopter. Vunabaka says Six Senses provides transfer options from Nadi, while private boats can also collect owners directly.
“First and foremost, it’s a leisure property,” Toogood said of the estate.
The distinction matters. This is a residence designed for buyers who value time, privacy and access to nature as much as the physical size of the house.
A Rare First-Time Offering in Fiji
Bati Ni Wai Tui has never previously entered a rental pool, according to current Bayleys marketing. That means the residence has been privately occupied rather than operated as a conventional holiday rental, potentially giving the next owner greater flexibility over its future use.
The incoming owner could retain the home as a private family retreat or explore participation in the Six Senses Fiji rental-management program. Current marketing also notes that an adjoining parcel of land is available separately, with architectural plans already prepared for a potential expansion that could add guest suites, a boardroom, commercial kitchen, pickleball court and additional wellness facilities.
Toogood has emphasized the scarcity of properties of this type within Vunabaka.
“Opportunities to acquire established estates of this quality within internationally recognised resort communities are exceptionally limited,” he said in Bayleys’ current marketing.
That scarcity is central to the $12.5 million proposition. There are larger and more expensive properties in Fiji, but Bati Ni Wai Tui combines several elements that are difficult to reproduce: a completed architect-designed residence, private beachfront access, extensive resort-style amenities, a marina berth, staff accommodation and proximity to Six Senses Fiji.
For the Grants, however, the decision to sell appears less about the property reaching a particular financial milestone than about moving into the next chapter.
“I love creating these things and I love moving on,” Steve Grant said.
For the next owner, that philosophy creates an unusual opportunity: a fully realized island retreat that no longer needs to be designed, built or furnished. It is already there, at the water’s edge, waiting for a new chapter.
Property Details
Bati Ni Wai Tui is located at 36 Vunabaka, Malolo Island, Fiji, within the Vunabaka Estate. The residence sits on approximately 2,484 square meters of land and is currently marketed by Bayleys Real Estate Fiji with international representation through Douglas Elliman. The asking price is FJ$27.5 million, approximately US$12.5 million.
The home offers eight bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, a private cinema, wellness suite, 25-meter infinity pool, children’s pool, central rainforest atrium, staff accommodation and a private marina berth. It is being offered as a turnkey residence.