Did you know New Zealand is among the first places in the world to see the sun? As we begin the new year, what better way to wake up than in the embrace of New Zealand’s morning landscape. The hotels and lodges in New Zealand have a well-deserved reputation for offering the best experiences in the world.
Here are some top stays that will definitely make it hard to leave in the morning.
Romance on the farm at Kamahi Cottage, Waitomo
Kamahi Cottage – New Zealand’s only five-star boutique farmstay – is a romantic, just made-for-two getaway amidst rolling Waikato farmland. Sitting on top of a hill, the self-contained heritage cottage has an upstairs queen bedroom, with downstairs spacious living, kitchenette and bathroom.
For those visiting Kamahi Cottage, wake up to freshly picked flowers, homemade baking and fruit schnapps distilled from the farm’s orchard fruit. Spend the day exploring some of the farm’s walking tracks, and admire the new season blooms that lie within pristinely landscaped gardens, all while taking in nature’s peace and quiet.
Never lift a finger with the ‘smart’ mi-pad Queenstown
How about a hotel so smart you don’t have to lift a finger? The mi-pad Queenstown is New Zealand’s first fully ‘smart’ hotel, and is described as a next generation, energy-conscious hotel experience for the smart traveller bringing together technology, sustainability, comfort and convenience. The key to mi-pad Queenstown is that there is no key. Guests booking their stay download the hotel’s personal app ‘mia’ and their smartphone becomes a room key, meaning physical check ins (or check outs) are a thing of the past.
Once guests are settled in, mia transforms into a personal digital concierge – making it hard for you to want to step out with all these conveniences right at your fingertips. The hotel’s best kept secret is its huge rooftop terrace with an outdoor fireplace, plentiful seating and wraparound 270-degree views of Lake Wakatipu and surrounding mountains.
Keeping you busy with the quirky QT Museum Wellington
QT Museum Wellington is a hotel with so much personality you’ll find hard to tear yourself away from. In the heart of Wellington, the hotel embraces the culture of the creative capital city with a blend of art, design and a dash of the absurd. With the modern traveller very much in mind, QT Museum Wellington features high-tech spaces, private event venues and a foodie’s paradise with the acclaimed Hippopotamus Restaurant & Bar and Hot Sauce, a Japanese-Korean street food bar.
Brimming with personality, there is so much to discover in the hotel itself that it’ll take more than a morning to explore. The rooms even include perks unique to the brand – from night caps to emergency bow-ties and other quirky amenities.
https://www.qthotelsandresorts.com/wellington/
Wake up to nature with PurePods, Christchurch
Who says you can’t enjoy the wonders of nature from the comforts of your hotel room? Enjoy your perfect morning in, in the most comfortable way to be fully immersed in nature, with PurePods. A PurePod is pretty special and pretty much unique to New Zealand. When we say immersed, we mean immersed – the “pods” are made entirely from glass, and this includes floors and ceilings.
While they don’t have television or internet coverage, they do feature the most advanced environmentally-friendly tech available for the generation of power and disposal of waste. PurePods are integrated into the breath-taking natural environments they inhabit (there are six locations around the Christchurch region) and feature views of sea, mountains, rivers and the glorious southern night sky.
Rejuvenate your morning at Split Apple Retreat, Nelson
Split Apple Retreat is one of the most relaxing places to wake up to. Built by Lee Nelson, a retired doctor, and his wife Pen, a chef, Split Apple Retreat combines both relaxation and gourmet food into an experience unlike any other.
Featuring three luxurious suites, all with 180-degree views of the ocean and the Abel Tasman National Park, the retreat opens onto two golden-sand beaches, one with a rock formation that resembles a split apple, thus its unique name.
Start your morning by the infinity pool that spills over the horizon. If you want to be a little bit more active but within the confines of the retreat, there are wellness packages ranging from nature hikes to cooking lessons, Pilates, massage and even guided mindfulness meditation – there’s never a dull moment in the retreat.
