Find luxury hotels in New Zealand

There are luxury 5-star resorts all over New Zealand, in both the North and South Island. They cost anywhere between A$188 to A$2034 a night, based on two people sharing. Look out for additional handpicked inclusions from Luxury Escapes, including daily breakfasts, food and drinks credit, late checkout, welcome drinks and spa treatments.

It all depends on what type of escape you’re after. For alpine adventures amongst glaciers, try the West Coast’s Rainforest Retreat (in the South Island), or for a five-star Queenstown getaway, don’t miss Eichardt’s Private Hotel. On the North Island, QT Auckland in New Zealand’s largest city of Auckland offers a luxury city base, while Sofitel Wellington is perfectly perched for all your adventuring needs.

The ideal time depends on what type of adventure you’re looking for. Ski enthusiasts will want to visit New Zealand in winter to hit the slopes, whereas hikers, walkers and explorers will love the temperate conditions of Autumn and Spring. Summer brings days of blue skies, perfect for sailing, kayaking and other water-based activities.

Like many holiday destinations, New Zealand can be as expensive or as cheap as you make it. When on the ground, it is around the same cost as travelling in Australia, but the high season may make accommodation and travel a little more expensive. To avoid this, aim to visit in the shoulder season – for the winter, this is outside of school holidays, while for the summer, this is March-May and September-November.