Long-isolated deep in the Pacific, New Zealand’s seclusion has only intensified its strengths: natural wonders, remarkable wildlife and a distinctive culture and identity. You can cruise pristine fjords, walk atop glaciers and zipline through ancient forests without even scratching the surface of what awaits in the wild.
Adventure, culture and cuisine
If outdoor experiences are New Zealand’s bread and butter, Māori culture is its heart and soul. Its rich Indigenous history is on full display wherever you explore, while its diversity also leaks powerfully into the fabric of this country. It’s helped New Zealand become a rising star in the world of gastronomy, with a growing swarm of experimental eateries pushing the scene forward in unexpected ways.
From bungees, beaches and breweries to hot springs, heli-hikes and hobbits, this is a vibrant country not afraid to embrace its unique and quirky wonders. Aotearoa – the Land of the Long White Cloud – will leave you feeling like you’re floating among them.
Where to eat and drink
Tala
Chef Henry Onesemo plates up exquisite modern Samoan dishes with an experimental touch, such as umu chicken, spatchcocked and roasted in banana leaves, and nostalgic raw ramen. The sleek interior is balanced by the blazing heart of the restaurant, its open-umu fire oven producing smokey goodness that has turned heads in the Auckland scene.
Kemuri Hi-Fi
Game-changing cocktails and moreish Japanese bites are set to the soundtrack of a vinyl’s distinct crackle and pop at this low-lit, high-end record bar in Auckland. Whisky headlines, especially in the Kemuri cocktail with three whiskies, tamari, brown sugar shochu, black walnut bitters and chocolate, inspired by Kyoto’s candied apples.
Amisfield
Chef Vaughan Mabee has driven this prestigious restaurant’s journey to three hats, developing inspiring dishes bursting with Central Otago flavours and plated to fine-art perfection. Match each dish – maybe wild boar snout or titi (muttonbird) roasted with wild honey and seaweed – with world-class wine from the property’s vineyard.
Ahi.
This Auckland icon celebrates the best Kiwi produce, with unpretentious fine dining and homely comfort favoured over pomp. Discover delectable dishes using the freshest ingredients, from wild-shot deer and just-shucked oysters to smoky duck breast and lamb loin, paired with organic vegetables grown in Ahi.’s own garden.
Fergburger
There’s a reason this burger joint with snaking lines has become a household name and one of the most sought-after Queenstown meals. Its mouthwatering burgers are among the world’s best, and their success has seen the business expand into the bakery and bar scenes.
The Dining Room at Rosewood Matakauri Lodge
Few venues boast a better view than the one at this tucked-away lodge. Delight in a wine-paired tasting menu including local lamb rump and snapper carpaccio with rhubarb, saffron carrot and caviar, all as Lake Wakatipu laps the shore.
The best time to go to New Zealand
Summer
New Zealand’s unique geography means the country has cooler climates than its often-baking neighbours. Yet summer is perfectly toasty, for days enjoying white-water rafting, kayaking and surfing. Long daylight hours maximise each day of adventure as the afternoon spills into evening rooftop cocktails and beachside bites. February 6 is of particular importance, celebrating New Zealand’s National Day, Waitangi Day, with a multitude of events.
Autumn
Festivals are bursting at the seams in lively autumn, from Auckland’s bustling Pasifika Festival, celebrating Pacific Islands culture, to the diverse musical and artistic offerings of WOMAD Aotearoa in the Taranaki region. Pristine weather also signals the perfect time to winery hop, bouncing across the iconic Central Otago and Marlborough wine regions to indulge in their world-renowned produce, with unforgettable meals and tastings nestled among fiery autumn leaves.
Winter
Winter means snow season, and the nation is dotted with world-leading ski resorts and cushion-soft powder. You might even fancy a helicopter flight or guided ice walk at the towering Franz Josef Glacier. It’s the best time of year to scan the ocean’s surface for humpback and sperm whales, among others, as the gentle giants return on migration to warmer waters. And if you’re into sport, you’re in the depths of rugby, netball and local football seasons.
Spring
Cities and landscapes come alive with colour in spring. There’s no better time to admire the sights and smells of native and international flora, from dazzling lakeside lupins in the south and Hagley Park’s famous cherry blossoms in Christchurch, to the beautifully manicured Hamilton Gardens and lush forests of Te Urewera. Drive past spring lambs hopping about rolling fields and maybe catch a glimpse of kiwi chicks at the National Kiwi Hatchery.
Where to sleep and stay
Hotel Britomart, Auckland
Sleek, sustainable, striking; this highly decorated hotel is the epitome of sophistication. The design elements of this property are all meaningful, from the staff uniform buttons carved from shells and nuts to the recycled-glass chandeliers. Ranked 23rd in The Telegraph’s The 50 Best Hotels in the World 2024, this is one fine stay.
Huka Lodge, Taupo
Lush gardens, cosy nooks and the soothing trickle of the Waikato River await at this renowned luxury lodge. A NZ$25 million renovation in 2024 only enhanced its glittering reputation, pairing an expanded dining room with a spanking-new wellness zone. Huka Lodge sings riverside serenity at its best.
Rosewood Kauri Cliffs, Northland
Inside, the warm fireplace beckons. Outside lies scenery fit for a classical painting. Take an indoor or outdoor dip, pop to one of three private beaches, sneak in a round of golf or delve into the vast property’s rich Māori heritage on a guided tour. It’s a Bay of Islands celebration.
Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, Napier
Perched atop the towering cliffs that frame the jaw-dropping Hawke’s Bay coastline, this icon is the beating heart of a 6000-acre property of rolling North Island hills. A world-class golf course with world-class views, sublime farm-to-table dining, an opulent spa and homely accommodation are just the tip of the iceberg.
ROKI Collection Queenstown
Opened this September, ROKI Collection Queenstown is the in-demand new kid on the block in Queenstown’s luxury hotel scene. At this architectural marvel you can find staggering views from every vantage point, a pristine spa, refined and elegant suites, and peerless fine dining that reflects the South Island’s haunting beauty.
Gibbston Valley Lodge & Spa, Central Otago
Magnificent wining and dining and a tranquil spa – former winner of the World Spa Awards’ New Zealand’s Best Resort Spa for each of the last five years – take centre stage in this stylish haven. The setting overlooks the Gibbston Valley vineyards, snow-capped peaks and the snaking Kawarau River.
What is New Zealand known for?
Natural jewels
New Zealand’s natural beauty and outdoor adventures are its pride and joy. Aoraki Mount Cook, Milford Sound Piopiotahi and the Bay of Islands are just the start. Beaches, volcanoes, rainforests, glaciers, plains, hot springs and caves dotted with Milky Way-like glowworm ceilings – you name it, New Zealand has it.
The isolated country’s diverse environments are home to unique fauna and flora, particularly its endemic birdlife. The flightless kiwi is a national treasure, while other species including the kea, kākāpō and takahē are also of vital importance to culture and conservation. You can try to catch a glimpse of these special creatures on an adventure into the wild or, if you’re after a more comfortable experience, perhaps visit the Auckland Zoo or Queenstown’s Kiwi Park.
Māori culture
Since seafaring Polynesians landed in Aotearoa and in the time since, Māori culture has only strengthened in adversity, and is now rightfully enjoying greater nationwide representation through language, ritual and return of Indigenous sites and names. You can explore the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the nation’s most poignant and important cultural site, where modern New Zealand was born when Māori chiefs and British Crown representatives signed the historic treaty on February 6, 1840.
New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa in Wellington, also provides a fascinating insight into the country’s rich Māori culture, while you can further embrace the culture through kai (Māori cuisine), feasting on a hearty hāngī meal – prepared in underground ovens.
Middle-earth
Aotearoa New Zealand to some, Middle-earth to others. This spectacular country was the magnificent stage chosen to represent J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary fantasy world in Peter Jackson’s award-winning Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film adaptations. The movies put New Zealand in the spotlight, and tourism spiked. At some stages in the mid-noughties, the original trilogy was partially or fully responsible for one in five visitors to New Zealand.
There are endless ways to take a deep dive into Middle-earth, from guided tours at Wellington’s world-leading visual effects company Wētā Workshop, to tours and feasts at the Hobbiton Movie Set and quests discovering spectacular filming locations across both the North and South Islands.
Things to do in New Zealand
Cruise Milford Sound Piopiotahi
No Kiwi bucket list is complete without a peaceful voyage along the glass-like waters of Milford Sound/Piopiotahi. Behold the towering cliffs that enclose this magical spot, admire playful fur seals and come face-to-face with the awe-inspiring waterfalls that tumble into the fjord.
Take a leap
Kiwi A. J. Hackett popularised the modern bungee jump and New Zealand has since become a mecca for adrenaline junkies. Join in the fun at the world-famous Nevis Bungy jump near Queenstown. This is big-league stuff – with a height of 134 metres, it offers a spine-tingling 8.5-second freefall for those daring to take the plunge.
Admire Auckland’s best views
Standing 328 metres tall, Sky Tower is the second tallest freestanding building in the Southern Hemisphere and an icon of Auckland’s skyline. It offers unmatched views and a range of experiences, from observation decks and 360-degree-view dining to hair-raising SkyWalk and SkyJump experiences.
Family-friendly holiday ideas
New Zealand will never leave you or the kids bored. Remove language barriers, then add convenient transport, safe streets and warm hospitality, and you get a destination primed for family exploration.
Beaches for every kind of family day
You’re never further than 120km from the ocean, and with the ninth-longest coastline of any nation, the diversity of the beaches is matched only by their beauty. Striking rock formations are found across New Zealand’s coast, with Motukiekie Beach, Castlepoint Beach, Moeraki, Wharariki Beach, Tongapōrutu and Cathedral Cove sure to inspire all generations.
Piha Beach, Shipwreck Bay and Raglan’s iconic Manu Bay are among your go-to surfing spots, and if you’ve got little ones, the pleasant waters of Mount Maunganui and Hahei Beach and even the lake beaches of Wānaka are perfect for a safe, fun day out.
Adventure beyond the beach
Other outdoor activities are bountiful, such as ziplining and canopy walks through ancient rainforests, zorbing down rolling hills, horse riding, and taking to the slopes when the air grows crisp and the mountains turn white.
Back in civilisation, the Wellington Cable Car in the hilly capital is a delight, while the whole family can enjoy a fun day out at Auckland’s Rainbow’s End, New Zealand’s largest theme park, with high-octane thrillers down to pleasant chillers assuring day-long entertainment for all ages.
Sport, wildlife and local heroes
Nowhere is a national sporting team so synonymous with its country as in New Zealand with its beloved All Blacks. Catch the Kiwi Rugby Union side live if you can, but if timing isn’t in your favour, discover what it takes to be in the team with an interactive All Blacks Experience in Auckland.
The International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch is a drawcard for young and old, with a range of attractions including an immersive Antarctic storm, rides on all-terrain Hägglunds, and meetings with its adorable little penguins and resident huskies.
Gaze into the galaxy
In few places can you stare deeper into the reaches of space than New Zealand. Almost entirely devoid of light pollution, the vast Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve allows stargazing you need to see to believe. The Southern Lights also frequent the skies here, with dazzling pink and green brushstrokes fanning across the dark canvas.
Explore Wai-O-Tapu
The Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland lies just outside Rotorua and is literally bursting with natural geothermal attractions. Set out on your choice of walking tracks across the site, strolling to the multi-coloured, otherworldly Champagne Pool, and the Lady Knox Geyser, which erupts daily at 10.15am, shooting water up to 20 metres high.
Take a day trip to Scotland
Proudly known as the Edinburgh of the South, Dunedin (Scottish Gaelic for “Edinburgh”) is an underrated jewel. Admire the magnificent 19th-century architecture forged by Scottish settlers and dine on haggis washed down with a wee dram of whisky in this historic city that truly celebrates its bonny heritage.
New Zealand is a sporting behemoth
With a population teetering just over 5.2 million people, New Zealand punches well above its weight when it comes to all manner of sports.
This sporting prowess was on display at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, when Kiwis returned home with a staggering number of prizes. The Olympic team won 20 medals, including 10 golds, placing it 11th in the medal table and fourth for medals per capita (behind the tiny Caribbean nations of Grenada, Dominica and St Lucia).
New Zealand’s undisputed sporting heroes are the iconic All Blacks, who have won three Rugby World Cups and are considered the sport’s most successful team with a win rate of over 76 per cent.
Among many more achievements, New Zealand has also won five Netball World Cups, claimed cricket’s inaugural World Test Championship and the 2000 Women’s World Cup, bred 42 winning horses in the Melbourne Cup, and sailed to victory five times in coveted America’s Cups (including the last three on the bounce).
The country’s healthily competitive, sibling-like rivalry with Australia has only driven its sporting exploits forward. New Zealand is represented by teams in Australia’s national soccer, rugby and basketball leagues, and has five teams in the multi-nation Super Rugby competition. Its broad love for NRL club the New Zealand Warriors is particularly widespread, with the team becoming a symbol of Kiwi pride and culture.
Discover New Zealand
This issue originally featured in Issue 10 of Dream by Luxury Escapes.
