New Zealand's best quirky accommodation
Abra DunsbyFrom eco-friendly glass pods to gravity-defying treehouses, New Zealand is brimming with unique accommodation options for clients to bed down in, says Abra Dunsby.
The fairy-tale cottage
Clients will feel like they’ve stepped into a fantasy world with a stay at The Boot, a cute one-bedroom cottage located just outside Nelson on South Island.
John Lightwood, managing director of Silver Fern Holidays, says: “This is for couples looking for a unique, cosy retreat that’s good value. The Boot is beautifully and luxuriously furnished, with a wood-burning fire for winter evenings and a Juliet balcony.”
The Boot’s owners also run The Jester House, an award-winning cafe next door, and they can bring over breakfast each morning on request. Nelson makes the perfect pit stop for clients arriving in South Island from North Island on the Interislander ferry, explains Lightwood: “It’s a terrific little town with a sunny microclimate, and a great base from which to discover Abel Tasman national park by boat and on foot.”
Book it: The Boot is offered as part of a tailor-made package by Silver Fern Holidays, starting from £175 per night based on two sharing, including breakfast.
The nature haven
Clients looking for an off-the-grid experience can snuggle down in an all-glass PurePod. The pods have no televisions or Wi-Fi, instead guests are given binoculars or a telescope for bird-watching and stargazing.
The eco pods run on solar power and use filtered rainwater, but luxurious linen, underfloor heating and power showers ensure comfort remains paramount. Six PurePods are scattered across remote, scenic locations on South Island, including. coastal Atatu PurePod, north-east of Christchurch, and Greystone PurePod, less than an hour’s drive north of Christchurch, perched above a winery in Waipara.
Book it: Austravel can arrange a stay at PurePods from £278pppn as part of a tailor-made New Zealand multi-centre trip.
The treehouse
Perched high above the treetops Hapuku Lodge offers bird's-eye views of the Kailkoura Seaward mountain range and the Pacific Ocean. Clients can choose from three one-bedroom treehouses or two family treehouses, each with a private hot tub, balcony and fireplace. Food is prepared by Hapuku’s executive chef, Fiona Read, a former MasterChef finalist. The proximity of the treehouses to the famed eco-marine town of Kaikoura means it’s easy for clients to enjoy activities such as whale-spotting and swimming with dolphins.
Book it: Travel 2 offers a three-night stay at Hapuku Lodge Kaikoura on full-board, staying in an Upper Branch Treehouse. Prices start from £2,759pp for a nine-night New Zealand trip, based on travel from May 6-20, 2019.
The glamping spot
Clifton Glamping’s luxury tents look out across the Maraetotara river and countryside, with the beach town of Te Awanga a five-minute drive away, and Havelock North, Hastings and Napier a 20-minute drive away.
Each African-style safari tent features a semi-outdoor kitchen and a large outdoor deck, plus an outdoor shower and bathtub with excellent views of Clifton. The tents are situated on a 2,000-acre working farm, near local wineries, cycle tracks and Cape Kidnappers – home to its gannet colony and famous golf course.
Book it: A stay at Clifton Glamping starts from £154 per night with a minimum two-night stay.
The architectural gem
The Lindis sits on South Island’s Ahuriri Valley, surrounded by 6,000 acres of wilderness and three conservation parks. Built of timber and glass, the property is composed of five suites, kitted out in sculptural, minimalist handcrafted furniture, and offering impressive views from its designer baths.
Paul Done, Australasia product manager at Audley Travel, says the lodge is suited to wilderness lovers: “The floor-to-ceiling windows reveal dramatic skies, stars and weather patterns.”
Guests can try out everything from hiking and mountain biking to horse-riding and worldclass fly-fishing nearby.
Book it: Audley Travel has a 21-day trip from £6,325pp based on two sharing, including all flights, accommodation, including two nights at The Lindis, plus transfers and car hire.
Abra Dunsby
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