On the north island, near Rotorua—the heart of Maori country—the charming Solitaire Lodge sits on a private peninsula in Lake Tarawera. The resort offers gourmet meals and grand lake views, as well as a private dock and helipad (deluxe from $986; solitairelodge.co.nz). An hour’s drive from Wellington, the sheep station Wharekauhau houses a luxury estate with 12 gloriously designed cottages. Guests can partake in horse trekking, clay-pigeon shooting and archery (doubles from $1,057; wharekauhau.co.nz).
With stunning Lake Wakatipu as a backdrop, the Azur feels completely removed from the bustle of Queenstown—though it’s only a three-minute drive away. The rooms feature fireplaces and plasma TVs, as well as tubs overlooking the mountains known as the Remarkables (rooms from $1,000; azur.co.nz). An apt name for the lodgings, too.
