Whitebook: Luxury Travel in New Zealand

Glimpse at any map and find New Zealand tucked away by the wayside, retreating with its relatively small population of just over 4.5 million people. The small scale is only a façade for what’s within - a stunning array of scenery, wildlife and a vastly lush pastoral landscape that runs on endlessly. Over 400 golf courses spread

NATURE AT ITS FINEST A DREAM DESTINATION FOR THE PASSIONATE GOLFER

NEW ZEALAND

evenly from one end of the country to the other, braced with hilly interiors and thin coastal topography that offer a rich legacy of courses ranging from classical links - scattered along the coastlines - to more traditional parkland courses further inland. Nature is one thing, but it is nurture that perfects New Zealand.

088 089

The journey commences south in Queenstown, a premiere destination of the South Island boasting three championship golf courses. This resort town in Otago is known to the adventurous spirit who will spend hours upon hours bungee-jumping, jetboating, skiing and white-water rafting. Tucked into a picturesque bay on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, the Queenstown region retains its richness of untouched nature protected by national parks and conservation areas. Marrying the natural landscape with golf is a key aspect of the region and none more so than Jack’s Point, a golf course created with

Nature and Golf at its absolute Peak minimal earth movement in order to harmonize with nature. It is just a 20 minute drive from downtown Queenstown beneath the Remarkables Mountain Range on the edge of Lake Wakatipu. For the ultimate course designed by nature, try the Over the Top heli-access only Par 3, high in the mountains above Queenstown. This is truly nature and nurture at its absolute peak.

090 091

Towards the north of the North Island, soak up countless hours of sunshine along the turquoise waters. Punctuated by 144 pristine islands that give the region its name 'Bay of Islands', the ocean is Northland’s most important resource. From Cape Reinga – the turbulent meeting place of two mighty seas – to the plentiful opportunities to swim, dive, surf, fish or kayak amongst this subtropical paradise, this is utopia for any thrill-seeking aficionado.

It is within this Nirvana where Eagle’s Nest finds a home. One of New Zealand’s premiere luxury retreats, this 75-acre estate, atop its own private ridgeline, offering spectacular views of the Bay of Islands. Of its eclectic selection of suite accommodations, none is more exhilarating and meaningful than Rahimoana, Maori for ‘Sun God Over The Ocean’ – a true testament in every literal sense. Lined in soft shades of pale grey and white, Rahimoana epitomizes the refined elegance of modern minimalism with its 300-degree views of the ocean, islands,

Architecture and Environment

in Perfect Harmony sunsets and landscapes that it so literally boasts. One eminent architect described Rahimoana as what Frank Lloyd Wright would have designed on this site if he were still alive today, a perfect balance between the iconic visages of architecture and the environment.

Looking up from the water below, the structure appears to be hunkered into the hilltop as if it was always meant to be there.

092 093

In this stunning template of a new world order, every voyage to New Zealand presents an amalgam of landscapes and cultures that are at once familiar yet uniquely diverse, a beauty that can only be truly experienced and appreciated by visiting. Scattered along the two islands in-between a sparsely populated nation, one will find these gaps filled with a host of sublime forests, mountains, lakes, beaches and fiords, all serving to position New Zealand as one of the most picturesque regions on the planet. Every corner turned presents a host of new activities, and for those who seek solace and sanctuary, there is no more serene retreat. Any given trip to this far

The Ultimate Equilibrium

of Landscapes and Experiences corner at the tip of the earth will undoubtedly be an unforgettable one so to follow legendary undersea explorer Jeacques Cousteau’s lifelong creed, “Il faut aller voir,” or “We must go and see for ourselves.”

Text = Nicole Chan

More information about Luxury Travel in New Zealand: Lightfoot Travel www.lightfoottravel.com / Country Holidays www.countryholidays.com.sg Quotient TravelPlanner www.travelplanner.com.sg / Holiday Tours www.holidaytours-sin.com

094 095