Blaire's Been - New Zealand
I think if you look up “bucket list” in the dictionary, a picture of New Zealand pops up…
My husband and I take a bigger trip together each year, and when I asked him where was on his bucket list, his number one spot was New Zealand. That paired with the increasing desire of my clients to travel to this incredible destination solidified the obvious - we were going to New Zealand this year! And while I knew New Zealand was beautiful and had tons of adventure + amazing lodges + access to food and wine, I didn’t really understand HOW MUCH there is to do in this incredible country. I was eager to get there and experience what made New Zealand one of the most sought out destinations in the world.
Getting to New Zealand is easier than ever. We took the DIRECT roundtrip flight Houston > Auckland, like soooo easy! And once we got there, we changed planes (yall, the airports are a piece of cake here!) and were quickly on our journey…
I partnered with my preferred tour operator who’s based in New Zealand to curate the perfect trip for my husband and me. They are so incredible because we work together to custom tailor every trip I plan to this amazing country based on my clients’ preferences. And really yall, there is so much to do in this country that you can totally find something to fit every traveler’s needs! That’s where a travel advisor comes in - no need for googling or reading endless TripAdvisor reviews, I can listed to what you’re looking for and propose the perfect trip after our conversation!
I think it’s easiest if I talk about each destination + where I stayed + what there is to do there, so without further adieu …
Wellington
We flew straight to Wellington after our international flight and quickly understood where it got its nickname “Windy Welly”. Yall, the wind was crazy! I was very happy we were on a jet and not a propeller plane! While there, we stayed at Wharekauhau which is a 2 hour drive or 15 minute helicopter from the airport. While I don’t recommend making this your first stop after your international flight (even if you book a helicopter, they’re often cancelled due to the wind!), it was a great first stop for us nonetheless.
En route to Wharekauahau, our guide talked to us about Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. There’s an incredible, new museum here for tourists to learn more about New Zealand history. There’s a budding foodie scene in Wellington. There are great hikes and access to nature as well as a beautiful bay to do boating activities (Wellington is at the very South of the North island!). It’s just a great spot for people who want to take a pause from the adventure in New Zealand.
We then arrived to Wharekauhau (pronounced “forry-co-ho”), and we were blown away! This incredible lodge is located on a working sheep farm, and its expansive farm land overlooks the sea. We were quickly checked into our room, and it was definitely my favorite. Our patio has the same views as the main house - farmland + the sea.
We spent that afternoon going on a walk around property which led us into the sheep pasture (don’t worry - they’re more scared of you than you are of them! haha!) and to the sea. We were a bit wind blown by the end of the walk, but it was a great way to get over jet lag and get some fresh air. That night, we met in the library for a drink and also spent time with other guests, the extremely friendly and personal staff and the GM prior to going to the dining room for dinner. This was the first night of MANY multicourse meals :) and of course this one did not disappoint. Prior to leaving the next day, we went on the farm tour to see the massive property from different vantage points. While we were unable to sheer a sheep (which is a common thing you do on this tour), we really got a great appreciation for the property!
During a stay at Wharekauhau, you can also ATV around the property and even check out the neighboring wine country for a lovely day out!
Christchurch
The city of Christchurch has been rebuilding the past few years after a massive earthquake essentially destroyed the city center. This huge natural disaster rocked this city, but they are overcoming it. And you could never tell since every person I encountered in Christchurch and the surrounding areas was lovely, friendly and positive.
From the Christchurch area, you can easily access so many wonderful spots in New Zealand. We were supposed to hike Arthur’s Pass, but unfortunately a winter storm from Antarctica (!!!) had made its way to New Zealand which hampered our outdoorsy plans. Instead we went into Akaroa, which is a super cute coastal town, and went dolphin watching and explored the town. It was a great alternative and so fun to see such a unique town!
While in Christchurch, I stayed at Otahuna Lodge. Yall, I can’t say enough good things about this place. I’ve mentioned in a few other blogs that there are certain places that have a feeling and an emotional connection. It’s something you can’t quite explain but you know it’s there and you want everyone to experience it at some point in their life. That’s Otahuna!
This beautifully restored home only has 7 rooms but is on an incredible garden (there are even garden tours!) on the outskirts of Christchurch. The lodge is really cozy, and each room is individually decorated to preserve the history of Sir Heaton Rhodes’s former home.
The food at Otahuna was absolutely outstanding. The chef, Jimmy, was recently chosen to represent New Zealand at the Relais and Chateau meeting in France (and yall - that means a lot!), but we were so lucky that he arrived back to Christchurch right before our stay! Each course was paired with a carefully selected glass of wine, and everything was just so perfect. And the breakfast - you show up in the morning and they literally ask you “what do you want?”. They can basically make anything based on what you’re feeling. Again, totally feels like you’re in someone’s home.
And yall, the staff! They were some of the most lovely people I’ve ever met in all of my travels. You truly were treated as family. Again, this totally goes back to a feeling that is so hard to explain but something that’s so incredibly special. It’s a total MUST on any New Zealand itinerary!
Queenstown
After a couple of nights in Christchurch, we headed down to Queenstown which is the iconic New Zealand “must-do” destination. It’s also the adventure sports capital of the world! As mentioned above, the winter storm from Antarctica hampered some of our outdoorsy plans, but we still made the best of it!
While in Queenstown, we did a lot, especially given the weather. We went on a run around the lake which started from downtown Queenstown, and that was a great way to see the sites but also get some exercise (which was much needed after eating so many multi course meals!). We did the shotover jet, we went on a hike and my husband did this torpedo submarine under water as well as bungy jumped! We also hit up a cool brewery/winery and checked out Arrow Town which was super cute. But there is so much to do in Queenstown. I can’t even imagine being there when the weather is lovely - it’s probably insanely awesome! Some of my favorite activities to propose are hiking, helicopter tour of Milford Sounds, mountain biking, kayaking, white water rafting, fishing, taking a gondola tour for amazing views, wine tasting, to name a few!
I stayed at two hotels in Queenstown while there - Eichardt’s and Matakauri.
I loved my stay at Eichardt’s. Yall, if you want to be in town, you can’t get a better location than this! Eichardt’s is right on the water’s edge and overlooks the heart of Queenstown. The balconies are so smartly designed with heaters on the patio. That way, you can hang out outside while not freezing your booty off! The design is so modern and sleek and just cool! I personally really liked staying at Eichardt’s because it was a great break from a lodge experience and so fun being in the heart of the buzzing town!
I also stayed at Matakauri which was located about 15 minutes outside of Queenstown. This is a great spot if you want to be close enough to the action but still have a lodge experience with awesome service, more seclusion and incredible views. The rooms at Matakauri were huge and each had floor to ceiling windows of the mountainscape. Our room (and most if not all of the rooms) had this incredible chaise lounge right by the windows and fireplace was the literally the most perfect place to take a nap after a day of adventure (and I should know because I totally did it!!).
Taupo
Our last stop of this trip was Taupo on the North Island. Taupo is a COOL place! When we arrived, we took a helicopter ride around Taupo which was stunning. We saw the rivers, the mountains and the geothermal power station. We also got really close to the Mauri carvings on Lake Taupo to see the craftsmanship which honored the native people to New Zealand.
There’s tons to do in Taupo! Right by our hotel was Huka Falls which is one of the most popular tourist attractions in New Zealand. You can walk to the falls or take boats to get close to it. We did this a few times because it was such an easy walk for us - only 7 minutes! We also went on a fishing/boating trip on Lake Taupo. It was so great to see the town by the water, and I can only imagine how amazing it is in the summertime. The lake is supposedly like glass and is crystal clear and a popular spot for tons of water activities. On the boat, we went trout fishing. Did you know it’s illegal to catch trout to sell? If you want to eat trout, you won’t be able to pick it up in the grocery store but rather need to catch it for yourself! We had the most amazing time with our fishing crew while we drank rose, had some snack and caught some fish (which we later enjoyed at dinner!)
Taupo is a great spot for fishing enthusiasts or those who like to be on the water. There is also a ski field close by as well as many hikes and access to nature. I love including this spot on any New Zealand itinerary!
While there, I stayed at the incredible Huka Lodge. One of the first things that was mentioned to us was options of where we will be having our private dinner together on the first night - we chose the wine cellar which was romantic and all ours! We even played our own music and just had an incredible night! The lodge is an old fishing lodge and is naturally located on a river. It even has fishing poles in case you wanted to catch and release during your downtime! The staff at Huka were incredible and warm and made us feel at home. The décor comprised of forest green and navy blue and deep red - just so cozy! I loved everything about the accommodations here and quickly caught on that this spot is beloved by many kiwis! I thought my stay at Huka was so well rounded and totally an essential to include in a New Zealand itinerary!