Exhilarating New Zealand
by Tony Huffman, Founder & Chairman
Having last been to New Zealand in 1988, my wife and I were eager to return. We recently made the trek with a small group of friends and a goal to spend time on both the North Island and South Island, visiting the top luxury lodges. If we urge you to book New Zealand far in advance, it is because most of these fabulous lodges only have 12-20 rooms spread over vast estates – perfect for the new, social-distant normal!
We landed in Auckland and discovered there some wonderful museums. We especially enjoyed the Auckland Museum where one gets a quick education of the indigenous Maori culture and history, a welcome introduction prior to being immersed in it as you travel forward.
On the North Island, we were lucky to stay at three incredible lodges. Two are owned by the Robertson family, Kauri Cliffs and The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, and the third property we experienced was Huka Lodge, the pioneer of the New Zealand luxury lodge scene. Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers are quite different in their ambiance and activity offerings, but both boast fantastic golf courses. Huka Lodge is a fisherman’s paradise, especially famous for fly-fishing. Be sure to experience a Maori Meeting House (Marae) ritual and have a Hangi lunch prepared by local members.
On the South Island, we first stopped in Christchurch and thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful country house hotel of Otahuna Lodge, a gourmet’s and gardener’s paradise! With only seven rooms, it feels like your own private retreat.
From Christchurch, we flew to Queenstown for a four-night stay at iconic Blanket Bay. Upon arrival, we immediately boarded a helicopter for our much-anticipated flight over the snow-capped mountains and the Milford Sound. We landed on a glacier for a picnic lunch and some Marlborough white. This day was everything they said it would be. Other activities while we were in the Queenstown area included visiting a merino wool sheep station, a thrilling experience aboard a Dart River Jet Boat, hiking, horseback riding, and visits to the towns of Queenstown and Arrowtown.
We found April (their October) a wonderful time to visit, with fewer crowds than during peak season, and the hotel rates a tad lower. The weather was spectacular, with cool evenings and sunny warm days perfect for touring and relaxing.
This was a trip of a lifetime and that is saying a lot for us world travelers.
