New Zealand luxury accommodation has developed its own character, especially over the last 20 years. Originally there was Huka Lodge, a lovely place of style and character evolved from a fishing lodge. This was a sanctuary of quality amidst a desert of cheap motel rooms where it was considered a luxury if you had a room to yourself. Over this time, Huka Lodge developed and brought true 6-star service to New Zealand. Huka Lodge then went through a period over the last few years where it's formal approach wasn't delighting clients as much. New management has put that right and this season we are starting to promote Huka again.
About ten years ago, Huka Lodge started spawning imitators which means we now have 7 or 8 of these extreme high quality "superlodges". These have become a highway for luxury clients and sometimes attract criticism in providing a rarefied atmosphere in which well heeled tourists on the New Zealand Tour keep meeting each other and do not interact enough with the country. We have of course addressed this with our in-depth activities programmes.
Meanwhile there has been massive investment throughout the country in quality accommodation which has resulted in the appearance of mini-lodges, micro-lodges, eco-lodges, niche lodges and pseudo-lodges! What this means is that there is now a wide variety of different price levels to choose from within that form which is a small, intimate, personal experience. Some of these provide excellent value for money at a fraction of the price of the super-lodges. Others charge a fortune for rather ordinary service.
Meanwhile, our hotels have lagged behind. There is nothing in this country which resembles a quality resort, and true 5-star hotels are few and far between. There are plenty of 3-star and 4-star offerings.
So, in selecting accommodation in New Zealand, the luxury traveller has the choice of some reasonable hotels in the major tourist centres and many beautiful lodges and bed and breakfasts throughout the country of varying quality with varying prices and identical marketing!
Rather than list all the accommodation we use or have used (a never ending task) we have put together a selection of some of our favourites here together with an honest evaluation of their strengths. There are plenty of directories which present lists upon lists of accommodation - that is not our task. Our task is to understand our clients to such an extent that we put them together with exactly the right accommodation for every single night of their stay in New Zealand.
Cavalli Island
The owner of Cavalli Island Retreat (who prefers to keep a low profile) likes this place so much, he bought it twice. When he sold it he realised he could not do without the sense of peace and tranquility the island gave him, so he bought it back.
Since then he has been slowly but tastefully developing it for small groups and has some superb plans in place for the future. We believe if correctly steered over the next few years, Cavalli Island Retreat (actually on...
Claremont Estate - North Canterbury
Claremont Estate is situated an hour's drive north of Christchurch in the South Island. It's a little-known area and an unpopulated area, which is just beginning to become popular and known as a wine region. The situation is lovely, rolling North Canterbury hills, an easy drive south to Christchurch and north to Kaikoura or Blenheim/Picton.
Now focus in a little on this gentle and sophisticated piece of countryside and see an equally gentle an sophisticated...
Delamore Lodge - Waiheke Island, Auckland
Auckland is often the entry and departure point for visitors, and therefore somewhere where some time is spent. People often accept lower standards in Auckland, thinking that we have nothing as spectacular here as we do in other parts of the country. That's wrong!
Just a short scenic 10-minute helicopter ride from the airport, or a 50-minute ferry ride, is Delamore Lodge, set on Waiheke Island. Waiheke is a small island, 19 kilometres by 11 kilometres and has...
Eagles Nest - Bay of Islands
A lovely sophisticated experience in the Bay of Islands. We like to start our itineraries here with an understanding of Maori and the historical beginnings of New Zealand at the same time as some rest and relaxation in one of the warmest parts of the country blessed by beaches, islands, dolphins and excellent game fishing.
Eagles Nest is not what we call "lodge style" accommodation. It is more villa style accommodation with stunningly designed villas...
Greenhill - Hawke's Bay
The Hawkes Bay is undergoing an understandable tourism boom. Previously, most itineraries went south to Rotorua and then flew to the South Island. The emergence of Hawkes Bay as a lovely destination has added an extra step to many itineraries.
The area is relaxed - very New Zealand, beautiful coastline, established and superb wineries, and the art deco gem of Napier in the middle of it. If beaches, wine and art deco appeal to you together with an escape from...
Punatapu - Queenstown
Punatapu is our favourite lodge in Queenstown. Situated 20km outside the busy little town, the lodge is set amongst private gardens on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Although it is possible to walk down to the lake's edge, we must mention that there are not lake views from the rooms.
The lodge is a very comfortable collection of very different rooms set around a central courtyard in the style of a rambling French farmhouse. With walls of lovely yellow, the lodge...
Silver Pine - Lake Wanaka
Silver Pine is a special place. The view from this small lodge is the closest thing we have seen to the view from a helicopter, the place is owner-hosted by a delightful couple, the food is excellent and the location fantastic.
With only four rooms, Silver Pine is probably the smallest lodge we recommend. Built high up on a ledge at the juncture of Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea, the view is something which has had more than one of our clients asking for a bottle of...
