NZ Travel Bans Are About to Lift: Book These Ski Trips Now
The past year has been a strange time for Australia. With almost every one of our neighbouring countries closed for tourism, it has felt very stifling for anyone who enjoys travelling abroad.
Thankfully, COVID has been pretty well under control since the year’s end, and the latest news out of Wellington hints that New Zealand may be willing to open to bilateral travel as soon as April this year. Just in time for their world-class skiing season!
If you're going to be booking a trip once the news is announced, keep reading. Here, we've listed a small handful of premier lodgings where you can hang up your skis in style this southern winter.
New Zealand Ski Accomodation to Consider in 2021
Whare Kea Lodge & Chalet
Image: Whare Kea Lodge & Chalet
Whare Kea Lodge & Chalet are the premier luxury destinations for any avid skier and sightseer. The lodge is just outside of beautiful Wanaka town and overlooks the shores of its eponymous pristine lake. With floor to ceiling windows, the stunning lake and mountain vistas flood each of the six stately bedrooms of this first-class lodge.
Originally built as the private holiday residence of Australian retail titans Martyn and Louise Myer, who remain owners today, this lodge is the premier location for a top-tier trip among some of the world’s most dramatic and breathtaking landscapes.
The famed ski resorts Treble Cone, Cadrona, and Snow Farm lie just 40 minutes outside of the town, which situates new and experienced snow-chasers perfectly.
Carve the slopes of the Southern Hemisphere’s most renowned peaks by day, and enjoy a truly classy après-ski by the fire, in your very own private lodge by night.
Image: Whare Kea Lodge & Chalet
For the intrepid mountaineers among you, the Whare Kea Chalet offers a wilderness experience that will be hard to forget. Accessible only by air via Aspiring Helicopters, this secluded mountain chalet on the edge of Mount Aspiring National Park takes luxury adventure to new heights. Heli-skiing and hiking tours are available for all guests, and charters to Wanaka are just a 25-minute flight away. At Whare Kea, you're sure to get the full experience of nature’s majesty and history’s charm in New Zealand’s premier location.
Eichardt’s Private Hotel - Queenstown
Image: Eichardts
Few places in the Southern Hemisphere can boast such astonishing beauty and rich history as the town of Queenstown on Lake Wakatipu. And the most luxurious base from which you can experience this special place in privacy and style is Eichardt’s Private Hotel. Built upon the site of one of the very first European buildings in the region— a humble wool-shed— the hotel today commands unmatched views of the serene, fathomless Lake Wakatipu and historic Queenstown on its shores.
Eichardt’s Private Hotel offers a range of suites and apartments to suit any occasion imaginable. The renowned Penthouse offers premium rooftop accommodation, with uninterrupted views of the lake and the stunning mountains above.
Be prepared to receive the royal treatment the moment you touch down in Queenstown, as a chauffeur ports you to your suite in a private Land Rover, which is yours to drive during your stay. With premium cocktails and Eichardt’s signature pinot noir served in-suite, you’ll be in the lap of luxury in the heart of this southern paradise.
The nearest ski resorts, Coronet Peak and the aptly named Remarkables are just a short drive from Queenstown, and you could find yourself on these pristine slopes within an hour of walking through your door.
After a long day of carving up the mountainside, what better way to recharge your batteries than with a wonderful meal? Luckily, Eichardt boasts Queenstown’s premier dining destination: The Grille. You can indulge in the very best of the local fare in this unpretentious yet sophisticated French-style brasserie, taking the time to simply enjoy.
Image: Eichardts
Whether you’re a thrill-seeker or a history buff, Queenstown’s finest at Eichardt’s Private Hotel will surely be a place you’ll want to return to, year after year.
Otahuna Lodge
Who wouldn’t want to stay in such a regal Victorian manor as the Otahuna Lodge? Nestled among pristine gardens and vineyards in Central Otago region, the Otahuna Lodge offers a uniquely immersive and historical experience of New Zealand’s award-winning wine country, just outside of Christchurch. This premium relais and chateau offers the ultimate luxury accommodation in beautifully appointed suites, each with their own rustic fireplace.
The Otahuna Lodge allows countless experiences for the adventurous traveller and slow-paced wine connoisseur alike. With a full complement of seasoned guides, the Otahuna Lodge will take you and your loved ones fly-fishing and hiking through the majestic uplands of Canterbury, or traipsing through the immaculate gardens and vineyards in the surrounding country.
The nearby Mt Hutt area is home to many renowned snow parks, where you can showboat over impressive jump-lines and rails in Gunners Alley, or set your own pace on the gentle slopes of Broadway. Back at the lodge, enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner like a noble, in the inimitable Victorian Dining Hall.
New Zealand’s South Island has the very best to offer, in natural scenery as well as opulent luxury. With everyone on the edge of their seats for the reopening announcement, these premium accommodations are sure to fill up quickly. Be sure to keep an eye on the beautiful luxury lodgings above to secure your long-awaited holiday adventure in New Zealand this year.