Indulge New Zealand

Ahh, luxury. For clients who demand nothing but the best, New Zealand offers experiences beyond compare.

Accommodation of Note

When arranging an itinerary for your elite clients, you can be assured that the facilities on offer in New Zealand will more than fulfill their expectations. From first-class international hotels to boutique B&Bs;, New Zealand delivers. And for an experience that’s extra-special, why not consider a luxury lodge? A local specialty, New Zealand’s lodges offer individuality, exclusivity and the utmost in luxury, all in a pristine natural setting.

Luxury Lodges
For discerning clients, New Zealand offers an increasing number of luxury lodges that serve only the finest in food, wine and accommodation. Luxury lodges form an exclusive category of accommodation. Part of the charm of these establishments is their individuality, but all share a dedication to luxury, intimacy and attention to detail. Many luxury lodges are tucked away in remote or spectacular parts of New Zealand – so your clients can be assured of as much privacy as they desire.

Guests who are privileged to enjoy a luxury lodge experience will soon find themselves unwinding from the stresses of everyday life. A range of activities is often available on-site or can be organised by lodge staff – anything from horse riding to fishing or a scenic helicopter flight. Then again, the surrounding scenery is likely to be spectacular and guests may prefer to simply sit back and soak it all in. Either way, your client’s every need will be catered for. The luxury lodge experience is usually all-inclusive, and guests will enjoy the talents of an in-house chef. Many are renowned for their top-class cuisine assembled from the finest of produce. The service in luxury lodges is guaranteed to be superb. Hosts will comfortably accommodate the most discerning guests by offering as much space and privacy, or social interaction, as their guests prefer. They will happily share their local knowledge to ensure that guests get the most out of their stay and will go out of their way to ensure they feel at home. Some lodges offer additional pampering such as spa treatments.

New Zealand Lodge Association
'For a truly unique escape to somewhere special', try a New Zealand Lodge Association property. See www.lodgesofnz.co.nz for more information.

Getting There in Style

The beauty of New Zealand’s scenery means that any journey will be memorable – but what if your clients want that something extra? Let the journey be as spectacular as the destination, and indulge in the best of New Zealand’s luxury travel options. Using a private jet or charter plane company, visitors can avoid queues, crowds and waits in airport lobbies and simply take to the air in style, comfort and privacy. The view from the window will be perfectly complemented by a glass of fine New Zealand wine, and as the landscape unfolds far below, they will be transported, literally and figuratively. For a more hands-on air travel experience, visitors may prefer to take a helicopter flight deep into the heart of New Zealand, to otherwise inaccessible areas. They will feel like the only people on the planet as they fly over mountains and glaciers untouched by human hands. Helicopter transport providers can be found all over the country, from the Southern Alps to Waiheke Island.

There is nothing like the taste of a freshly caught fish or lobster cooked and eaten on deck, set against a backdrop of clear water and fresh sea air. A luxury yacht charter is a wonderful way for visitors to have their own floating hotel with all the indulgences of five-star accommodation. They can explore remote islands, hidden coves and beaches inaccessible except by boat, or just watch the sun set while they sip on a superb New Zealand wine. On land, whether your clients just need a comfortable journey from airport to hotel, or whether they want to take a chauffeured tour around the country, they can sit back, relax and enjoy the company of an expert limousine driver. There may be opportunities to stop off for wine-tastings, a champagne picnic or even a round of golf! Bodyguards are also available through many limousine companies, if necessary, and you will find that New Zealand companies are competent and experienced in dealing with the challenges of transporting celebrities, dignitaries and top-level management.

Spas and Retreats

New Zealand has often been
described as a paradise on
earth, hence the joking local
name ‘Godzone’ (God’s own
country). Relax and indulge
your body and soul in this
most pure, natural and
beautiful environment. Whether your clients want to recover from adrenaline-pumping pursuits like skiing
or bungy jumping, or whether blissful relaxation is the main purpose of their visit, they’ll find just what they need here in New Zealand.

New Zealand is situated on the meeting point of two plates in the Earth’s crust. That makes for a large amount of geothermal activity. This is most obvious in places like Taupo and Rotorua, where steam vents and bubbling mud pools hint at the activity beneath, but there are actually thermal pools throughout the country, in both North and South Islands. Opinions vary on just how significant the health benefits of thermal spas are, but there is no disputing the fact that soaking in a warm thermal pool is wonderfully relaxing for body and mind! For Maori, geothermal features hold spiritual significance, and visitors will certainly feel the atmosphere of rich history, culture and soul-restoring peace.

Mineral pools in New Zealand range from small natural mineral pools to large complexes with multiple pools in landscaped settings. In addition to pools in Rotorua and Taupo, Hanmer Springs in the South Island is the setting for one of New Zealand’s most well-known thermal pool complexes. As with other large complexes, here visitors will find a range of both public and private pools, as well as pools for children and a hydro-slide. The complex also offers an extensive range of health and beauty treatments.

Note This!

World-class Luxury
New Zealand is widely regarded as a good value destination – for good reason! – rather than a high-end hideaway. But those in the know are having trouble keeping the secret. New Zealand’s most exclusive lodges, such as Huka Lodge in Taupo and Kauri Cliffs in the Bay of Islands, are steadily gathering a world-wide reputation.

An Exclusive Grade
Qualmark New Zealand Ltd is New Zealand tourism’s official quality agency. Grades range from 1 to 5 star for all styles of accommodation, but their Exclusive category is in a league of its own. Whether they are private lodges encompassing golf courses, fishing, fine dining or wilderness adventures, or stylish urban hotels, properties in this category are guaranteed first-class. Judged to offer the finest of locations, peerless facilities, unforgettable activities and faultless service by extremely competent staff, these are properties that meet the strictest of criteria. First they must achieve a five star grade with a score of at least 90%. Then they must achieve additional requirements such as stability of management, track record, international marketing practices and inspection by an anonymous assessor. The rigid criteria means that such properties are not common, but then again, that is part of the appeal. Book your clients into a Qualmark Exclusive property and you can be assured that their experience will be nothing short of perfect.

Even if they’re not visiting a thermal pool, your clients will find plenty of opportunities for rest and rejuvenation. Everybody has a different way of relaxing, whether it’s lying on a beach, taking a forest walk or enjoying an early morning round on a picturesque golf course. For a more hands-on approach, there are health and beauty clinics, day spas and resorts that specialise in holistic nurturing dotted right throughout the country. New Zealanders value their relaxation time, and know just how to leave their worries and daily stress behind – visitors can breathe a sigh of relief, kick off their shoes and unwind, whatever their chosen destination.