Most travellers head to New Zealand to experience some of its breathtaking natural beauty. So why visit one of the most beautiful places in the world only to stay in some random, run-of-the-mill city hotel? The always-creative Kiwis are continuously coming up with creative hotel options nestled among the most beautiful settings. For those looking for some accommodation that will take your breath away, here are five of our favourites...
Matakauri Lodge
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Located just seven minutes outside Queenstown, the Matakauri Lodge allows visitors to have their beautiful setting while not being too far from civilization. The lodge only has eleven rooms, and each one is a deluxe suite with private terrace, spacious living area and bedroom. Each of their cottages has sweeping views over Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkable Mountain Range in the distance.
When guests can tear themselves away from the scenery, the lodge hosts modern New Zealand cuisine by renowned chef Jonathan Rogers, who utilizes local seasonal produce, much of it from the lodge's own vegetable garden, into his a la carte menu that changes daily.
As the Matakauri Lodge is so close to Queenstown, better known as New Zealand's adventure capital, visitors can enjoy daring activities during the day such as bungee jumping, sky diving and heli-skiing, which are sure to get the blood pumping after a soothing night at the lodge. It is the dedication to privacy, luxury and natural beauty that makes Matakauri Lodge one of New Zealand's most breathtaking hotels.
Huka Lodge
The Huka Lodge just outside of Taupo provides the ultimate escape. This exclusive lodge hosts 25 rooms surrounded by the most pristine New Zealand wilderness. Guests are treated to unique opportunities for fishing, hiking and golfing in the region. Many of the rooms in the lodge host large romantic fireplaces that bathe the space in a dim glow while overlooking the nearby Waikato River. Each evening, guests are treated to private five course meals in their room that are paired with wine from the lodge's extensive 5,000 bottle wine cellar. There is nothing more relaxing that staring out over the Waikato River and its small rapids from the private balcony of your room. The luxury of the stay combined with the picturesque setting makes the Huka Lodge the perfect way to enjoy New Zealand during your next visit.
Eagles Nest
The Eagles Nest is a multi-award winning luxury hotel and retreat. This hotel and its 75-acre estate are perched atop their own private ridgeline, which offers spectacular and one of a kind views of the Bay of Islands. The entire hotel is designed in an international contemporary style, where the rooms and gardens blend seamlessly – giving the space an air of natural charm while still being extensively modern. All rooms offer private Jacuzzis and several of the suites come with their own heated private horizon edged lap pool.
Although the rooms also have their own private kitchens, guests should consider spoiling with the cuisine of the Eagles Nest's personal chefs. Their dishes all feature freshly caught fish, venison, lamb and lobster gathered from the surrounding area. These chefs can even be arranged to come to your room and prepare meals in front of you. They will also bring a bottle from the hotel's extensive wine cellar.
Hapuku Lodge
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The Hapuku Lodge is a luxurious resort and hotel where visitors can enjoy plush rooms that overlook the mountain landscape. However, for the more adventurous visitors, they do have more daring, but still lavish, ways to spend the night – Tree Houses. The tree house suites at the Hapuku Lodge aren't the shabby, rickety wooden affairs that visitors will find in many a residential backyard, but instead magnificently-designed pieces of art and architecture. The views from the lodge rooms on the ground are good, but the views from the top of their magnificent tree house suites are absolutely stunning.
Aside from hanging out in the trees all day, visitors to this Kaikoura lodge can take advantage of the area’s reputation for being one of the best whale watching spots in the world and head on down to the seaside. Visitors can enjoy spotting whales from the shore or on chartered boats, or just spend their days wandering the rolling hills and snow-capped mountains.
Blanket Bay Lodge
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Blanket Bay is New Zealand's ultimate alpine escape. Nestled amid the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, they provide excellence of service combined with a rugged landscape.
Through their luxurious accommodations and peaceful setting, Blanket Bay Lodge has continued to strive to make their lodge a place to nourish well-being and tranquility of the mind. The rooms each host plush, modern furnishing and host views of either the lake or the mountains. Guests enjoy a heated outdoor pool as well as private gourmet meals.
For those that don't enjoy just being in the moment and lounging in relaxation, the lodge also arranges a number of different activities throughout the area. These activities include fly-fishing, heli-skiing, jetboating, kayaking, 4WD tours, horseback riding and flight-seeing over the World Heritage Fiordland National Park. With close proximity to hiking trails leading through the Routeburn and Milford Tracks, as well as several vineyards, guests at the Blanket Bay Lodge will have no shortages of ways to spend their days.