Lodged in the memory

New horizons

Lodge Lorien, Glenorchy, South Island

Lodge Lorien, secreted away in the Wyuna Preserve, is what happens when you take a classic mountain lodge and give it a twist of modern flair. Sprawling across a whopping 1,100 square metres, it’s a hidden wonderland offering the kind of seclusion that would make a hermit envious. Yet, it’s just a hop, skip and 45-minute drive – or for the more adventurous, a thrilling 15-minute helicopter dash – from Queenstown.

Within its welcoming embrace, Lorien hosts up to eight guests in four suites so spacious and airy they’re like taking a deep breath of pure mountain air. Each room is a soulful retreat, named in a bout of whimsy after the majestic peaks visible through their grandiose windows – the Humboldt Range looms in the distance, while Pig (Mātau) and Pigeon (Wāwahi Wāka) islands play peek-a- boo in the stunning landscape. Meanwhile, the lodge’s outdoor area, flaunting the region’s golden tussocks, beckons guests to enjoy the hot tub overlooking Lake Wakatipu.

Crafted by the capable hands of New Zealand’s Mason & Wales architects, Lorien is a masterpiece of local timbers and schist stone, giving a nod to its roots. It’s a playground of leisure and luxury, boasting everything from a billiard table to a cinema room and even a gym and spa facilities – it’s like a Swiss Army knife of entertainment. It’s also a haven for business types, with wifi and enough space for those corporate shindigs.

The concierge service at Lorien is your golden ticket to adventures that range from adrenaline-pumping heli-skiing and horseback riding to the more serene fly-fishing and kayaking. Skiers can be whisked away from the lodge’s doorstep to backcountry bliss, a world away from Queenstown’s well-trodden slopes. And for golf nuts, there’s an exclusive par-3 hole that’s perched 1,400 metres up a Queenstown peak and is only accessible for those brave enough to take a chopper ride.

Rosewood Hotels, Bay of Islands, Hawkes Bay and Queenstown

Rosewood Hotels has added a trio of stars to its glittering portfolio. The Rosewood Kauri Cliffs, Rosewood Cape Kidnappers and Rosewood Matakauri are about to redefine luxury travel in New Zealand.

This threesome offers an assortment of natural splendour, with coastlines, hills and mountains that would make a poet weep.

The Rosewood Kauri Cliffs, perched on a pristine coastline with views of the Pacific Ocean, sits on a 6,000-acre estate near the Bay of Islands on the North Island. With 26 rooms and suites, it’s an activity wonderland, where after fishing, golfing or heritage touring, you can collapse in a heap of bliss in their sophisticated dining outlet or spa.

Rosewood Cape Kidnappers in Hawke’s Bay, south of Auckland, is where luxury meets the grapevine. Set atop hills and cliffs, it offers views where the ocean seems to stretch on forever. More than just a haven for wine connoisseurs, it’s a paradise for golfers and a sanctuary for wildlife too. And it’s intimate. With only 24 rooms and suites, it’s perfect for those seeking a peaceful retreat with the option of farm tours and nature walks.

On the shores of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown on the South Island, Rosewood Matakauri is an alpine lakeside retreat hugged by The Remarkables and Cecil and Walter Peaks. With 13 accommodations and a dining outlet, it’s a cosy nest of luxury, with spa treatment rooms and wellness facilities.

Huka Lodge, Taupō, North Island

This historic lodge along the banks of the surging Waikato River in Wairakei near Taupō – a magnet for the rich and famous right in the centre of the North Island – is gearing up for a grand transformation.

The lodge shut its doors temporarily from April 2024 for a seven-month makeover, but not to fear, it will reopen in time for its centenary celebrations in December. The overhaul includes floor-to-ceiling windows, double-sided fireplaces and the addition of rustic yet luxurious Huka Spa Huts. Baillie Lodges, the current custodians, has been consulting with former owners to ensure the lodge’s character remains intact while embracing a new era of luxury.

Auckland-based architect Christian Anderson, the brain behind the lodge’s ultra-luxury Alan Pye Cottage, is a key player in this revamp, and Huka Lodge’s former owner Alex van Heeren has given his nod of approval for the plans, ensuring the lodge’s legacy is in safe hands.

Mahu Whenua, Wānaka, South Island

Mahu Whenua Wānaka, the flamboyant peacock in New Zealand’s luxury accommodation menagerie, is enveloped in a jaw-dropping 136,000 acres of private land that stretches from the spectacular Lake Wānaka to historical Arrowtown – an area so vast you could lose a small army in it. And yet, this eco-sanctuary and ridgeline homestead nestles into nature with the snugness of a hedgehog in hibernation.

The land here spins a yarn of towering peaks, verdant valleys and rivers that meander with the casual indecision of a lost tourist, painting a landscape that’s the pulsating heart and soul of New Zealand’s South Island. But Mahu Whenua isn’t just about splendid isolation, though its seclusion is as delightful as finding a forgotten bottle of vintage wine in the cellar. It’s about plunging headfirst into luxury that reverberates with the land’s rhythms – a farm-style retreat that’s complete with all the expected comforts, such as an outdoor fireplace to toast your toes and a heated spa pool to simmer in after a long day.

A speedy 10-minute whirl in a helicopter from Queenstown Airport or a 20-minute jaunt from central Wānaka – just watch out for the local sheep traffic – Mahu Whenua is more than a mere destination; it’s New Zealand’s dramatic landscape served on a silver platter, an idyllic base camp for those itching to hike, bike, horse ride or embark on 4WD tours that will make even a rollercoaster look tame.

Annandale, Pigeon Bay, South Island

Annandale Pigeon Bay, a working coastal farm set along the scenic Banks Peninsula, has been synonymous with opulence since 1948. Sprawling across 4,000 acres like a king lounging on a chaise longue, this place is a veritable smorgasbord of luxury lodges, from the original Annandale Homestead to the swanky new kids on the block, Scrubby Bay and Seascape.

Each space in Annandale tells its own tale, from Seascape’s intimate romance to the ultra-modern charm of Scrubby Bay, perched on a surf beach.

Annandale is a testament to New Zealand’s diverse luxury offerings, a scene of escapism so surreal you’d half expect to see a hobbit scampering in the background.

Blanket Bay, Glenorchy, South Island

Blanket Bay perches at the north end of Lake Wakatipu in Glenorchy, Otago, like a queen surveying her realm. Each of its four king suites, decked out with individual fireplaces, offers views of the lake, and it’s best enjoyed from the twin hot tubs on the terrace where you can relax while taking in the scenery. In the high season, the villa even throws in a personal helper – because who could possibly want to lift a finger when you’re staying in paradise?

Wharekauhau Country Estate, Palliser Bay, North Island

The Wharekauhau Country Estate’s Owner’s Cottage, nestled in the rugged, untamed beauty of Wairarapa on the southern tip of the North Island, is a scene right out of a dramatic period drama, complete with mountains and ancient forests. There’s even a black sand beach reminiscent of a gothic novel. This estate shot to fame faster than a celebrity on a scandalous night out when it hosted the likes of William, Kate and George, and even the Dutch king and queen in 2016.

A stone’s throw from the main lodge, the Owner’s Cottage is a secluded haven where each guest room offers a view over Palliser Bay. Its patio, boasting a heated infinity pool and a Swedish cedar hot tub, is the stuff of daydreams – and simply perfect for soaking up the view or engaging in a spot of summer stargazing. For the cherry on top, whisk yourself directly to the cottage in a helicopter and make an entrance that’s sure to be as grand as the scenery.

Delamore Lodge, Waiheke Island, North Island

In those moments when you want the world to politely excuse itself, Delamore Lodge is your gloriously secluded hilltop haven on Waiheke Island, a blissful 40-minute ferry escapade from Auckland.

Here, Mediterranean chic meets Kiwi retreat in a blend so seamless it’s like olives meeting a martini. The lodge boasts four bedrooms and two apartments, each radiating a vibe so private, you’d think you’d entered a witness-protection program. From the main lodge, the views are a feast for the eyes – gaze upon the rock pool that’s more photogenic than a Hollywood starlet.

Meanwhile, dining here is a culinary celebration of local fare, where Te Matuku oysters hobnob with the island’s finest wines, and the cliff-top sunsets are so spectacular they could give the northern lights a run for their money.