Hidden in an ancient forest, perched on a riverbank, nestled in a secluded bay... We discover impeccable service, once-in-a-lifetime adventure and five-star scenery at New Zealand’s hottest hideaways
1. Best For Nature-Loving Adventurers
Photo courtesy of Treetops Lodge and Estate
Treetops Lodge and Estate, Rotorua, North Island
Although primarily a hunting and fishing lodge attracting a wealthy clientele with its teeming trout lakes, deer, water buffalo and wild pig, the breathtaking beauty of this forest hideaway entices plenty of non-shooting guests, too. Everyone from honeymooners and families to politicians and celebrities have found themselves smitten by this five-star retreat, tucked away in a private valley surrounded by towering 800-year-old trees, crystal-clear streams and majestic wildlife. Owner John Sax describes the ethos behind the lodge as “luxury meets nature,” saying his goal is to preserve a piece of paradise for future generations by creating a sanctuary that reflects the best New Zealand has to offer.
Guests are invited to learn more about the region’s flora and fauna through a series of guided nature walks and safaris—by mountain bike, horseback or four-wheel drive—that navigate a 70km network of trails that criss-cross the expansive 1,000-hectare estate. You can also head into the ancient woods with a Maori guide, who will teach you the medicinal and nutritious properties of indigenous herbs and plants.
Treetops Lodge and Estate, Rotorua, North Island
Photo courtesy of Treetops Lodge and Estate
With four lakes and more than 60 rivers and streams on the estate, it’s a happy hunting ground for fishing enthusiasts. For families, there’s a GPS treasure hunt, clay pigeon shooting, archery and kayaking. After yomping around the forest all day, you’ll have earned some pampering. Pop into the cosy yet plush spa cabin for a traditional Maori massage before heading to the wood-panelled lounge where mounted animal heads spectate as you nurse a tumbler of Islay malt by the blazing log fire.
With only eight villas, four rooms within the main lodge building and Pheasant Cottage, which sleeps up to eight, this exclusive award-winning resort is ideal for those craving a remote haven of tranquillity. It’s also the perfect base from which to explore White Island, one of the world’s few accessible island volcanoes and New Zealand’s most active, by private helicopter tour.
Treetops Lodge and Estate, Rotorua, North Island
Volcanic Air offers private aerial tours of White Island. Photo courtesy of Kristian Frires
After a hearty breakfast (which includes homemade venison sausages and wild boar bacon from the estate), a pilot from Rotorua-based Volcanic Air will collect you from the lodge’s helipad and whisk you off for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. During the spectacular 90-minute round-trip flight over a region that’s part of the Pacific Rim of Fire, you’ll get a bird’s-eye view of the dramatic and mystical geothermal landscape below, where active geysers and endless hot springs bubble and steam away amid a rolling patchwork of fields, forested ridges and sprawling lakes.
Upon landing on the privately owned volcano, you’ll be kitted up with a hard hat and gas mask before your pilot guides you on a highly memorable 90-minute walk around the lunar landscape of the inner crater. It’s an intense sensory experience, with a potent eggy stench emanating from bright-yellow sulphurous steam vents, boiling and bubbling mud pools, and the rumblings of the inner earth underfoot. Snorkelling and dive trips to view underwater volcanic activity can also be arranged.
Treetops Lodge and Estate, Rotorua, North Island
Photo courtesy of Pure Cruise
If you’re running short of time, combine a morning tour of White Island with an afternoon on nearby Lake Rotoiti with Pure Cruise. Your pilot will drop you at a hidden cove, where the crew of the luxurious 16-metre catamaran Tiua will welcome you aboard with a chilled glass of fizz before releasing the sails and letting the breeze carry you over the glass-like water. Sink into a beanbag on deck and soak up the scenery, or grab a rod and hook a trout. The highlight is a stop at Manupirua hot springs, which are only accessible by boat—a rare opportunity to shake the crowds and have New Zealand’s warm, mineral-rich water to yourself. treetops.co.nz
2. Best for Seaside Serenity
Marlborough Sounds is a collection of river valleys now flooded by the Pacific Ocean. Photo courtesy of Destination Marlborough
Bay of Many Coves, Marlborough Sounds, South Island
Whether you swoop in by helicopter, cruise in by yacht or chug in on the water taxi from Picton, you are guaranteed a breathtaking journey to this picture-perfect five-star lodge. After gazing out at serene, sheltered inlets and rugged peaks, you suddenly encounter the discreet hideaway as if from nowhere, tucked away in a secluded bay.
Surrounded by towering forest and thick bush teeming with birdlife, it offers views over the clear, calm waters of the Marlborough Sounds and the opportunity to commune with nature. Let the sweet ringing tones of the bellbird be your morning alarm call, dolphin-spot from your private balcony, be guided by glow worms on gentle night hikes and fall asleep to the soft hoot of owls.
Bay of Many Coves, Marlborough Sounds, South Island
Photo courtesy of Bay of Many Coves
Embracing the beauty of its surroundings, Bay of Many Coves cleverly camouflages its spacious one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments into the landscape, offering understated luxury that is perfectly pitched at eco-aware travellers. Tap water is drawn from a nearby mountain spring and instead of disposable water bottles in rooms, guests are presented with handy reusable bottles they can keep as souvenirs.
Fill one up before you venture off along one of the vertiginous hiking trails leading past a thundering waterfall and up to a viewing point where huge skies and even bigger mountains await you. Other admirable environmental initiatives include the feeding of all food waste to local pig farms, repurposing of cooking oil and composting.
Bay of Many Coves, Marlborough Sounds, South Island
Photo courtesy of Bay of Many Coves
With the water only a stone’s throw away, it will come as no surprise to hear there’s a raft of watersports on offer, including kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing, diving and fishing. Land lubbers can saddle up for mountain biking trips along one of New Zealand’s best trails—the 71km-long Queen Charlotte Track—or scenic horseback riding along panoramic pathways.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, let the culinary team showcase specialities of the region—greenshell mussels, Regal salmon and Tio Point oysters, paired with excellent local wines. If that whets your appetite for New Zealand fare, then ask the lodge manager to arrange the Seafood Odyssey boat tour and learn the secrets behind the farming of premium seafood in the Marlborough Sounds. Tasting opportunities are plentiful—paired with local wines, of course.
There’s even wine at the spa but don’t worry—your liver can take a break—this is a Vinotherapie Ritual that claims to detoxify using grape-skin extract and pinot noir massage oil. Cheers to that. bayofmanycoves.co.nz
3. Best for Victorian Decadence
Photo courtesy of Otahuna Lodge
Otahuna Lodge, Christchurch, South Island
Every September the magnificent gardens surrounding the Victorian country mansion Otahuna Lodge glow with the golden hue of thousands of blossoming daffodils. While this month proves hugely popular with nature lovers keen to witness this beguiling floral phenomenon, there is plenty to attract guests all year round, but with only seven suites, it’s essential to book early, especially if you want to bag the best.
With its private balcony overlooking the Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps, cosy octagonal lounge in the turret, plus rain shower, spa bath and sprawling super-king beds, the Rhodes Suite combines historical grandeur with contemporary comforts, while the Verandah Suite has a spacious, sun-dappled terrace overlooking the gardens.
Otahuna Lodge, Christchurch, South Island
Photo courtesy of Otahuna Lodge
Like stepping back in time to the blissfully bucolic days of Jane Austen or Thomas Hardy, Otahuna has a stately atmosphere of old-world elegance conjured by stained glass windows, inglenook seating and ornate Victorian fireplaces. The only rival to the opulent interiors is the five hectares of private grounds recognised as a Garden of National Significance by the New Zealand Gardens Trust.
Ancient oaks tower over a serene lake; lavender, pine and lemonwood scent the air in the geometrically designed Dutch garden; and 95 species populate the organic vegetable and herb garden, enabling the chef to craft the finest and freshest, seasonally inspired menus. Green-fingered guests are invited to accompany head gardener on a complimentary 90-minute tour. Grab a mallet and play croquet on the perfectly manicured lawns, take a refreshing plunge in the swimming pool or observe the constellations of the southern hemisphere with a moonlit soak in the outdoor Jacuzzi. otahuna.co.nz
4. Best For Messing About On The River
Photo courtesy of Huka Lodge
Huka Lodge, Taupo, North Island
It may have started life as a rustic fishing camp founded by Irishman Alan Pye in 1924, but today Huka Lodge is considered one of New Zealand’s most exclusive hideaways. The heavy canvas tents and spartan rooms of the past were replaced with 18 sumptuous suites and two deluxe cottages when present owner Alex van Heeren took over in 1984.
While the accommodation is now the height of luxury, the spirit of the property’s ancestry has not been lost. Over the decades Huka Lodge has won an impressive string of accolades, including UK Tatler’s Enduring Excellence Award in 2010 and Condé Nast Traveller’s Best Hotel in Australasia and the South Pacific in its 2014 Readers’ Travel Awards.
Huka Lodge, Taupo, North Island
Photo courtesy of Huka Lodge
As well as praise from some of the world’s leading travel journalists, Huka Lodge received the royal seal of approval when Queen Elizabeth II paid a visit. Other notable names in the guest book include Bill Gates, Joan Collins, Michael Palin and Barbra Streisand.
Although acclaimed for impeccable service, sophisticated interiors and superb cuisine, it’s the lodge’s magnificent setting perched on the banks of the cerulean blue Waikato River, encompassed by seven hectares of private gardens and unspoilt landscape, that’s the real showstopper. For the most spectacular vistas, stay in The Owner’s Cottage.
Huka Lodge, Taupo, North Island
Photo courtesy of Huka Lodge
A real suntrap, this secluded hideaway sits on an elevated promontory above the river, with two en-suite bedrooms offering views downstream towards thundering Huka Falls and two bedrooms with private courtyards overlooking the verdant gardens.
If you can drag yourself away from the infinity pool, there are endless activities on offer, including remote wilderness fly fishing, hiking, helicopter tours and adrenalin sports such as white-water rafting, skydiving, jet boating and gliding. hukalodge.co.nz
5. Best For Heavenly Home Comforts
Photo courtesy of Edenhouse
Edenhouse, Nelson, South Island
A visit to Edenhouse is a bit like weekending with well-to-do pals at their country estate, except you don’t have to offer to wash up the Wedgewood after supper or walk the corgies. One of New Zealand’s top luxury lodges and honoured by UK Tatler in its 101 Best Hotels of the World, this hidden gem is actually the refined home of Peter Martin and his wife Bobbie, two of the most gracious and generous hosts you’re ever likely to meet. “People may arrive as strangers but most leave as friends,” says Bobbie, the mastermind behind the bold and beautiful gardens that envelope the house and the creative spirit responsible for the elegant Downton Abbey-style interiors.
Sitting pretty in 19 hectares of gloriously green private grounds in the Orinoco Valley, slap bang in the heart of rural Nelson, and framed by the dramatic Mount Arthur range in the Kahurangi National Park, Edenhouse is the perfect place for those craving peace, privacy and that all-important personal touch. The Martins are delightfully sociable but also effortlessly discreet.
Edenhouse, Nelson, South Island
Photo courtesy of Edenhouse
Their motto is “our home is your home” and guests are encouraged to roam freely, explore the gardens, snooze on sunloungers on the terrace, curl up in a plump armchair by the fire or read in the library. When it comes to resting your head, there are two spacious, sunny suites in the main house with sprawling beds, enchanting views, a well-stocked fridge overflowing with boutique wines and sweet treats, and baskets stacked with sumptuous lotions and potions. Families wanting extra space—or couples seeking a romantic hideaway—should request the quaint two-bedroom cottage located
in the garden.
Better than any concierge service, Peter and Bobbie fizz with heartfelt enthusiasm for the region and know exactly the type of exclusive tours and once-in-a-lifetime activities their well-heeled patrons desire. A real must is a tour of the golden beaches, tranquil lagoons and pristine native bush of Abel Tasman National Park on Rod Stuart’s boat, Taranui. Snorkel, kayak, swim and watch seal pups and blue penguins play in the waves. Be whisked away on a helicopter tour of picturesque D’Urville Island and meet some of its 52 residents.
Edenhouse, Nelson, South Island
Explore Farewell Spit and Pillar Point. Photo courtesy of Cape Farewell Horse Treks
Don’t head back without a stop at the ridiculously chocolate-box-pretty Hans Herzog winery. The Martins can arrange a private lunch with owners Hans and Therese, who will share the secrets of their acclaimed wines as you enjoy a delicious five-course degustation menu in their charming eatery, which was listed in the 2014 book 1001 Restaurants You Must Experience Before You Die.
Also not be to missed is a guided ride with Cape Farewell Horse Treks over the Old Man Range with views of 35km Farewell Spit, the world’s longest natural sandbar, and fly fishing for spotted brown trout in the pristine waters of the Motueka River. Oenophiles can raise a glass in some of the 37 boutique wineries dotted across the region or join Glenn and Juliane Cormier, owners of VeloVino, on a bespoke cycling and winery tour. Don’t forget your helmets.
Or add to your art collection with pieces from the 350-strong local artist community. An accomplished painter herself, and the person responsible for adorning the walls of Edenhouse with everything from botanical prints to sensual nudes, Bobbie can steer you in the direction of the best buys. edenhouse.co.nz