Best Time of Year to Visit New Zealand

TRAVEL SPECIAL: Kamana Lakehouse

Kia ora and welcome to Kamana Lakehouse, a high altitude, inspiring place of elegant comfort, and the perfect setting to immerse yourself in iconic views.
Our story is about Queenstown.

It is about lakeside holidays,winter sports, great food and soaking tubs.
It’s about keeping it real, slowing down, and stopping to talk to strangers.
It’s about trying new things, taking in the views, skis on snow and the water.
It’s about bikes, beautiful walks and fireworks during Winter Festival.
It’s about living in paradise every day.
It’s about you, living your best life.

TRAVEL SPECIAL: Blanket Bay

Relax within our elegant yet rustic lodge surrounded by majestic alpine scenery.

Nestled amidst rugged snow capped peaks of the Southern Alps on the shores of Lake Wakatipu is New Zealand's finest Lodge – Blanket Bay. Here we celebrate the art of pure relaxation.

In this spectacular corner of New Zealand discover endless ways to restore your physical and spiritual well-being. There is nowhere else on Earth where there are so many activities so close by – fly-fishing and heli-skiing, the country's best hiking on the Routeburn or Milford Tracks, jetboating and kayaking, 4WD tours, horse riding, art trails and vineyards, plus flight-seeing over the World Heritage Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound.

We invite you to stay and find out why Blanket Bay is consistently voted one of the world's best Lodges by many prestigious publications and organizations such as Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic, The Discovery Channel, Virtuoso, Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report, The Robb Report and Small Luxury Hotels of the World, to name a few.

TRAVEL SPECIAL: Aotearoa Lodge

Aotearoa Lodge & Tours is situated on two and a half acres of tranquil gardens and within a five minute stroll to beautiful Buffalo Beach.

A perfect base to explore the whole of the Coromandel Peninsula being close to Cathedral Cove, Hot Water Beach, New Chums Beach and the magnificent Coromandel bush.

TRAVEL SPECIAL: Hermitage Mount Cook

From an intrepid journey through glacial valleys to a mouth-watering culinary dining adventure, The Hermitage Hotel is the perfect 'base camp' to discover your Peak Experience. Choose from premium hotel rooms, motel units or cozy chalets. Add world-class activities such as Glacier Explorers, Tasman Valley 4WD and Argo Tours, scenic flights or the visual extravaganza of the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre and you have a unique, year-round alpine adventure perfect for the family holiday or your next romantic getaway.

TRAVEL SPECIAL: Hotel St Moritz

Idyllically located in the heart of delightful Queenstown, New Zealand’s premier four season lake and alpine resort, Hotel St Moritz embodies the spirit of its location. With breathtaking views overlooking Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables mountain range, Hotel St Moritz has gained somewhat of an iconic status.

Combining a refreshing blend of stylish understatement overlaid with warmth and genuine hospitality – there is little pretence here, allowing guests to immerse fully into the natural alpine environment of the Queenstown region. Sophisticated interiors are reminiscent of an upscale mountain lodge, and the classic lodge facilities include an outdoor hot tub garden, boutique gymnasium, and sauna. Hotel St Moritz offers a choice of rooms, suites, and apartments, each handsomely appointed to cleverly blend timeless classics with modern essentials.

The multi award-winning Hotel St Moritz was honoured to be inducted into Tourism New Zealand’s Hall of Fame in 2004 for winning ‘Premium Hotel’ in New Zealand for three consecutive years. After a mandatory stand down period, the hotel was the first to re-enter the awards to celebrate the hotel’s 10th birthday, refurbishment and entry into Accor’s exclusive MGallery collection – winning ‘Best Hotel and Resort’ and ‘Best Visitor Accommodation’ at the 2008 New Zealand Tourism Awards.

Queenstown is considered New Zealand’s capital of adventure – a destination for a voyage of discovery at the bottom of the world. The resort is a popular destination with skiers and snowboarders in the winter and cyclists, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts year round.

The interior design and decor of Hotel St Moritz’s 134 rooms, suites and apartments convey an understated elegance which is complemented by richly decorated and wooden furnishings. An eclectic mix of colour and texture create a sense of warmth set against the backdrop of dramatic lake views.

The spaciousness of the guest rooms are a defining element of the hotel, with the suites and apartments a true residence from which to explore the surrounding region. All guest rooms at Hotel St Moritz feature king size beds, ensuite bathrooms, bespoke bathrobes, high speed internet access, a dedicated work area, spacious dining and living areas in suites, iPod docks, a mini-bar and luxury Aigner bathroom amenities.

The award-winning Lombardi Restaurant boasts enthralling views of dramatic mountains, lake and the charming township of Queenstown. Attracting locals and in-house guests alike, the offering here is compelling. From the relaxed and convivial bar to the brassiere-style dining room, Hotel St Moritz offers a choice of dining style to suit mood and moment. The Library also serves as a private dining room for intimate occasions. Lombardi Restaurant and Bar presents a carefully crafted wine list that focuses on the famous Pinot Noir variety renowned in the Central Otago region. Hotel St Moritz has won numerous accolades for its fare including Best Restaurant in Queenstown, Chef of the Year – Monteiths’ Wild Food Challenge and most recently, Best Lamb Dish in Central Otago at the New Zealand Beef and Lamb Awards.

Catering to conference and incentive groups, Hotel St Moritz launched an informal Private Dinner menu named “South”. Served in The Den, the fare is entirely organic and matched with an organic wine selection. Perfect for up to 40 guests, dishes are served to the table in a succession of courses in classic St Moritz style to taste and share. Drawing on all the senses, this dining experience is made complete with its own soundtrack and scent (from fresh thyme).

Hotel St Moritz has been awarded the highest accolade for responsible tourism in New Zealand, the Qualmark Enviro-Gold certification. St Moritz has implemented a raft of environmental initiatives, some of which are designed to encourage guests to become more involved in reducing their impact on the environment. For example, each room has recycling bags for paper and plastics, a guest recycling receptacle is situated in the car park, and guests can opt to reuse towels and sheets as part of “Trees for Survival”, an initiative by Accor that involves the local primary who will grow and nurture native seedlings for planting in key neighbourhood areas. Lombardi Restaurant sources local produce where possible and even makes homemade house feta. The unique South dinner also features organic local fare.