New Zealand

“Snowcapped peaks, deep fjords, sparkling ice fields, pristine beaches, dense rainforest, live volcanoes, sheep-dotted valleys – all in an area smaller than Italy.”

  • Horseback farming cowboys with sheep in New Zealand
  • Whale tail coming out of the water, New Zealand
  • Snowy mountains in New Zealand
  • Heli-skiing in New Zealand
  • Heli-skiing in New Zealand
  • Water and landscape at sunrise, New Zealand
  • Glacier lake in New Zealand

Discover New Zealand

Whether you’re looking for active escape, family adventure or a blend of culture and breathtaking scenery, there’s more on offer here than you could experience in a Kiwi lifetime. However, New Zealand represents the kind of geographical paradox that’s all too familiar: a country that arguably offers the planet’s greatest concentration of natural beauty, yet it’s inconveniently parked about 2,000 nautical miles southeast of Tasmania. Then again, if a luxury adventure in New Zealand were more accessible, it wouldn’t have the same magic.

To find Tolkien’s Middle Earth, walk the cone of Ngauruhoe in Tongariro National Park or trek around Mount Sunday on the South Island. The famed Milford Track and the even more stunning Doubtful Sound are great options for exploring dramatic landscapes on foot. Or we’ll fly you by helicopter for a mountain picnic, complete with a vintage gramophone for romantic serenades.

The sea, of course, is never far away. Watch for whales in Kaikoura, greet seals from your kayak in Abel Tasman National Park or try wreck diving at one of Jacques Cousteau’s favourite sites. Then keep an eye out for dolphins as your yacht cruises the lagoons of the Bay of Islands. Afternoon options? Spotting kiwi (of the feathered variety) in Trounson Kauri Park or swimming at a secluded warm-water beach.

New Zealand also has plenty for the culturally curious: Maybe a tasting with the vintner at an acclaimed winery near Marlborough, arriving in chauffeured antique cars. Then treat yourself to a hangi, where our hosts will explain the rituals of this Maori feast. Set out from Auckland aboard an America’s Cup yacht, either crewing or just taking care not to spill your mimosa. An All Blacks rugby match is another must – complete with an eye-bulging, tongue-poking haka dance to get pumped beforehand. And we’ll even teach you which body parts to rub together in a traditional hongi. Then, after all this exertion, head back to an award-winning lodge or a working ranch in spectacular surroundings.

For a few adrenaline-fuelled days, choose any activity that begins with the favourite local prefix: heli-skiing in the Southern Alps (the best runs in the hemisphere), heli-hiking on the Franz Josef Glacier, heli-rafting along the wild Landsborough River or heli-biking almost anywhere. Plus bungee jumping and jet-boating, two Kiwi passions that make us question the sanity of people who otherwise seem quite reasonable. But that’s the thing about New Zealanders: they speak our language (more or less) but otherwise seem to live in an entirely different world. Small wonder.

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