New Zealand is nature's greatest hits album pressed onto two islands. Glaciers, fjords, volcanoes, wine valleys and beaches all sit closer together than you'd think.
How do you plan a luxury trip to New Zealand? Give it about 14 days and build it around the lodges. Start in the Bay of Islands, spend an evening with Māori hosts in Rotorua, taste your way through Hawke's Bay, then fly south to Queenstown for Milford Sound by helicopter and a slow finish at Glenorchy.
Key facts
- How long: my dream circuit is 14 days, from Auckland down to Queenstown and Glenorchy.
- North Island: Kauri Cliffs in the Bay of Islands, Māori cultural experiences in Rotorua, Huka Lodge near Taupō, and The Farm at Cape Kidnappers in Hawke's Bay.
- South Island: Matakauri Lodge above Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown and Blanket Bay at Glenorchy.
- The one splurge: a helicopter over Milford Sound with a glacier landing.
Why New Zealand
Photo: Sarah Precious / Unsplash
New Zealand does luxury quietly. Forget gold taps. Here it means the view from your lodge deck, a guide who knows the land, and experiences you can't have anywhere else.
The Lodges
Photo: Koon Chakhatrakan / Unsplash
New Zealand's lodges are the reason many travelers come: Huka Lodge on the Waikato River near Taupō, Matakauri Lodge above Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, The Farm at Cape Kidnappers in Hawke's Bay, Kauri Cliffs in the Bay of Islands, and Blanket Bay at Glenorchy. Cape Kidnappers and Kauri Cliffs both have championship golf, and Cape Kidnappers sits near a famous gannet colony.
If I had to pick one, it's Huka Lodge. It holds two MICHELIN Keys, and the river suites have fireplaces and the Waikato rushing past outside.
Photo: Courtesy of Huka Lodge
Photo: Courtesy of Huka Lodge
Claire's NZ Itinerary
My dream 14-day New Zealand circuit starts in Auckland. From there:
- Bay of Islands and Kauri Cliffs (3 nights)
- Rotorua for Māori cultural experiences
- Hawke's Bay wine country at Cape Kidnappers (2 nights)
- Fly to Queenstown and Matakauri (3 nights, with a helicopter flight to Milford Sound)
- Finish at Blanket Bay in Glenorchy (2 nights)
A helicopter over Milford Sound with a glacier landing is one of the most spectacular things you can do in New Zealand. And a hāngī feast in Rotorua is a meaningful, delicious way to spend an evening. I go deeper on both in my Queenstown guide and my guide to Māori cultural immersion.
When you're ready to map out your own circuit, book a free consultation and tell me what you're celebrating.
Explore New Zealand with Caviar in the Air, where every view is a screensaver and every meal has a story.
Destination Guide
Destination Guide
Destination Guide