Liz's Lines

Auckland Int’l Airport – 14 miles – 45-60 min

Best time visit Nov-Apr in 70’s, June-Sept cool winter – Curr – NZ dollar

 

WINE – Marlborough’s Pinot Noirs & Sauvignon Blancs are standards – Martinborough

Are often more nuances – Palliser and Te Kairanga make expressive reds & whites

 

NORTH ISLAND

 

Bay of Islands – N –

**Lodge at Kauri Cliffs - Pacific views (owner’s cottage – Harper)

                          3 hr drive n of Auckland – golf, beautiful – 11cottages

Cape Kidnappers – luxe, golf

 

Tara iti Golf Club – 1 ½ from Auckland – exclusive but not impossible – the best

                                 Adjacent to tranquil Te Arai Beach  

 

Russell –

*Kimberly Lodge – 130 mi n Akl

             ** Eagle’s Nest Luxury Villa Retreat www.co.nz

                  

Kerikeri –

The Summer House (across the bay)

 

 

Helena Bay – NE coast – 75 acres of forest-framed beachfront

The Lodge – sleeps 10, heated outdoor pool, spacious villa stes, impressive wine cellar

                     Doubles from $2,100

 

Great Mercury Island – west of Aukland – one booking at a time – for families or reunions

                                       www.sam@seasonz.co.nz">www.sam@seasonz.co.nz - 800-225-4255 – Private Island – 25 min

                                        Flight from Akl (Sanctuare) – 2 guest houses - $20x day fir 6 or less                                 

                              

Aukland –

**The Boatshed – above Little Oneroa Beach, Waiheke Island – exp – Hamptons meet Kiwi

       Style – book the Lighthouse with private veranda – made-to-order meals

Hyatt Regency Auckland

 Hilton Auckland – harbor views – local favorite

 Westin Auckland Lighter Quay – over harbor – mod

Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour – popular bar - mod

 *Stamford Plaza – Harper – best traditional choice (former Regent)

  **Quay West Suites – deluxe - Harper

 **Mollies – Harper – ravishing

Sky City Grand – Seabourn uses

The Sebel Suites

                   Ascott Metropolis – mod, upscale rest – has apts

                  Esplanade Hotel – 10 min by ferry to downtown, Edwardian, cheap

* #1Hotel DeBrett – pied-à-terre feel – mod – boutique – Rosemary says carpets bad

Langham – onetime jewel, needs sprucing, large rooms, great staff - mod

                 

40 minutes north

Helena Bay – coastal lodge with with main house and 5 villas – exp – Russian billionaire

 

Waiheke Island –

Delamore Lodge – nice off Auckland www.delamorelodge.com – 4 stes

                            Fossil Cove – Exclusively NZ

                             Glenora Estate

                 Nearby – Glass House www.theglasshouse.co.nz

Waingaro –

**Brooklands Country Estate – S of Aukland – Harper

 

Papakura/ Clevedon – 17 mi Akl - Inverness Estate – vineyards, Andalusian stud farm

 

Rotorua –

**Treetops Luxury Lodge (Harper ‘12) www.treetops.co.nz – spa – purchased exc golf

      Kinloch golf course – fishing & eco-adventure hideaway

 Moose Lodge – still around?

  ** Solitaire Lodge (Harper)

 

Taupo –

**Huka Lodge – Harper – see Huka falls

               Lake Taupo Lodge

               Chalet Eiger – on Lake Taupo – good rest

 

Lake Taupo – **Acacia Cliffs Lodge – exp

 

Kinloch – 20 min drive from Taupo

   Dunalistair House – in midst of Kinloch Golf Club – spacious rms – Harper ‘11

 

Hawke’s Bay – Napier – Greenhill – wine region

         **Farm at Cape Kidnappers – Kauri Cliffs owners – Harper – Exclusively NZ

                          Scenic Circle Te Pania Hotel – budget boutique - golf

 N part of Hawke’s Bay – Havelock North - Black Barn Vineyards – mod cottages 

Cavalli Island – Cavalli Island Retreat & Spa (remote -one couple or family - Harper)

 

Hawke’s Bay – Mangapapa Lodge

Hastings – *Greenhill, the Lodge

Napier – Country Hotel – on water

 

Coromandel Peninsula - *Grand Mercure Puka Park Resort – 2 hrs SE Auckland

 

Martinborough region – pinot noirs

  Wairarapa wine country – Tirohana Colonial House - mod

 

**Featherston / Palliser Bay – Nr Wellington –

**Wharekauhau Country Estate – beaches, bush walks - Pronounced for-e-co-ho –

        Deluxe, Chateau Wellington – Harper

 

Wellington – Royal Wellington Golf Club – private, some visitors can  play

 

Paraparaumu Beach Club (Pram) – 30 mi Wellington

Inter-Continental - Harper

                      *Duxton House – Harper

                     Museum hotel – Harper ’11 – ok comfortable, good rest, bad service

**Ohtel –deluxe

Bolton Hotel – town center, stylish, 142 rms, cheap

 

SOUTH ISLAND

 

Marlborough – NE tip

Marlborough Lodge

 

Nelson –

The Lodge at Paratiho Farms – cooks school, 6 suites (Harper) – 2 hrs NW Blenheim

                Lake Rotoroa Lodge - fishing, near Abel Tasman Nat’l Park

 

Ruby Bay –

Clifftops Retreat – all-inclusive cottages, high mod

Marlborough area – *Timara Lodge - Harper

                                  

Blenheim –

    **Timara Lodge – heart of Marlborough’s wine region – luxe, fine cuisine ’11 Harper

     *Hotel d’Urville – exc rest. - Mod

      Old St Mary’s Convent

 

Maruia River – 2 hrs s Nelson –

Maruia River Lodge www.maruiariverlodge.co.nz

 

Waipara –

Mountford Vineyard & Lodge

                  Old Glenmark Vicarage – wonderful, family-friendly

                  Claremont Estate – Harper ’08 award – hr Christ church – 5 stes

 

Wanaka –

Whare Kea Lodge – high on a cliff above lake - www.wharekealodge.com

        1 hr north of Queenstown in the Southern Alps

Minaret Station – very, very exp

 

Christchurch –

The George

 

Otahuna – near Christchurch

**Otahuna Lodge – cozy, old style, luxe www.otahuna.co.nz, exp, restores, exc rest

Stockman’s Camp – Exclusively NZ – helicopter in, 20 min

 

30 min west –

Bangor Country Estate – tranquil suburban oasis – Harper

 

20 min outside –

Clearwater Hotel – golf – Harper

 

Hanmer Springs – Cheltenham House 1 ½ hrs Christchurch www.cheltenham.co.nz        

                                  6 rms, thermal pools

Akaroa – Maison de la Mer – e of Christchurch – good value

 

Arthur’s Pass - Southern Alps –

 **Grasmere Lodge (90 min w of Christchurch – Harper – sheep station - SLH

                         Wilderness Lodge

 

Kumara, Westland –

Lake Brunner Lodge – down from Grasmere Lodge

  

WEST

Franz Joseph Glacier – Westwood Lodge – deluxe – Harper

 

Fox Glacier – view of Mt Cook –

                       *The Homestead sheep & cattle ranch on w coast – inexp

                       Te Weheka Inn

Moeraki – Lake Moeraki Wilderness Lodge

 

Queenstown – Remarkables, Lake Wakatipu – Over the Top Golf choppers to courses

Golf – The Hills and Jack’s Point.

**Blanket Bay – hideaway resort – Lake Wakatipu – Harper – ’10 raves for food, views

       Fantastic

QT Queenstown – shore of Lake Wakatipu

* Eichardt’s Private Hotel – in town, waterfront (can helicopter to sheep station)

        5 Luxe suites 800-525-4800 – Harper – Excl NZ

        Private luxe homes & luxe tented camp coming just outside – Excl NZ

  Nugget Point – SLH

**Hulbert House – boutique, 6 stes in Victorian villa - exp

  *Millbrook Resort – short drive 12 mi NE (Harper) - mod

                         The Spire – elegant

Kinross Cottages – simple, tasteful on vineyard with popular wine bar - inexp

 

10 min along Lake Esplanade   

*Matakauri Lodge – 11 lavish stes, stunning lake views on edge of Lake Wakatipu

      Harper ’11 – very exp, spa – new 4-br owner’s cottage

  **Azur Lodge – 5 min away but feels remote – ’12 Harper – gets raves

                         Novotel Lakeside – moderate, town center

                          Dairy Private Luxury Hotel - mod

                         Gardens Parkroyal – where I stayed?

                         Heritage – mod

                         Crowne Plaza – lake rooms

                         White Shadows Country Inn – chic, cozy www.whiteshadows.co.nz – outside

                                                                         Small B&B American owned

                         Mercure Grand Hotel St Moritz Queenstown www.mercure.co.nz

                         Remarkables Lodge – short drive from Queenstown www.remarkables.co.nz

 

 Arrowtown - 25 min Queenstown –

White Shadows Country Inn

 

Pigeon Bay –

**Annandale – secluded sheep, cattle farm – 4 luxe villas, farm-to-table cuisine

 

Southern Alps – 25 min helicopter from Queenstown – 15 min from Wanaka

Minaret Statiion Luxury Lodge – breathtaking country – 4 tented suites in verdant glacial valley

   In the mountains – working ranch, hike, fly fish, heli-ski – very exp

 

45 minutes outside Queenstown – in Southern Alps

Aro Ha Wellness Retreat – very expensive – tough program                  

 

Te Anau – 110 miles Queenstown

                   Fiordland Lodge – exp, 3 meals incl

 

Te Anau-Manapouri Loop – 26 mi – Milford sound but favor less touristy Doubtful Sound

                                    One hour boat ride across Lake Manapouri, cross 2,200 ft Wilmot Pass

                                     Doubtful Sound – small Breaksea Girl – see waterfalls, seals, dolphins

 

Milford Sound- Te Anu – Milford Track, Fiordland National Park

 

Te Anau to Otago Peninsula – 185 miles – gas stations cafés enroute

                  Otago to Queenstown – 185 miles

            Portobello – Kaimata Retreat - mod

       Dunedin – NE coast from Queenstown pronounced done-e-dun  - statue of R Burns

                         4 hr leisurely drive Queenstown

                         Dine at Mach Café

                     

 

Great Mercury Island – 800-225-4255 – Private Island – 25 min flight Auckland

 

New Caledonia – known locally as Kanaky

 Grand Terre – Main Island – Dine L’Eau-Vive – rich French, Jade Palace - seafood

Nouméa (capital) –

 Le Meridien Nouméa – deluxe, chic French families, stylish

 Novotel Surf Nouméa – mellow & airy, a mini museum - inexp

 Kuendu Beach Resort has indiv bungalows – best over-the-water – good for families, kitchens