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Bishops Suites, Nelson
For the ultimate in opulence and indulgence, consider the newly opened Bishops Suites in Nelson – located in New Zealand’s North Island.
The Bishop’s Suites are annexed to The Bishopdale Estate homestead, a grand Victorian home built on a charming 20 acre estate. Originally built by Bishop Suter in 1925, the estate has been restored to its former glory.
Access to the Suites is easy – only 10 minutes from the airport or 5 minute drive from the town centre. On arrival you are welcomed by the hosts Mary & Peter Dallison who are friendly, inviting and love entertaining their guests.
The main estate is tastefully decorated and sits on the estate’s well-manicured gardens, complete with swimming pool and spa room. In the evening a sumptuous five course dinner is served in the dining room of the Homestead.
The Bishop’s Suites are luxury stand-alone apartments accessed by pathways from the suites down to the homestead (approximately 50 - 100 metres away). Generously appointed, each has a warm and inviting style of its own, with rich fabrics, elegant furniture and beautiful Irish linen. There are numerous thoughtful touches – soft and enveloping bathrobes, L’Occitane toiletries, fresh fruit, scented candles, handmade chocolates, even shortbread made in the homestead’s kitchen.
In these generous but cosy suites it’s easy to immerse yourself in the peace and quiet of the estate’s more relaxed pace. Each suite has an open fireplace, air conditioning, flat-screen TV, DVD player, radio, and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi connection. The rates are fully inclusive and offer exceptional value for money.
For more details and pricing, please speak to a Travel Specialist.
The Black Swan Lakeside Boutique Hotel, Rotorua
The Black Swan Lakeside Boutique Hotel is a beautifully appointed hotel that offers the discerning visitor the opportunity to experience the comforts and hospitality of personalised luxury hotel accommodation, whilst enjoying an exclusive and intimate environment. The expansive grounds include rose gardens, sweeping lawns, swimming pool, secret grotto, sandy beach, private jetty, heli-pad and eight suites.
Although situated in an oasis of calm, the Black Swan Lakeside Boutique Hotel is only a 5 minute drive from Rotorua City Centre and a 15 minute ride from Rotorua International Airport. For guests who’d rather not leave the haven of the hotel, there are plenty of recreational activities to enjoy including lake cruises, fishing trips and float plane scenic flights from the private jetty or a helicopter sightseeing trip from the onsite heli-pad.
The chic décor is tastefully designed with black, white and dark purple tones with opulent wallpapers and elegant chandeliers and accompanied with stunning views over Lake Rotorua, great service and food (the restaurant is getting fantastic reviews from guests and local diners). If you want to stay somewhere with stately home furnishings in contemporary finishes and fabrics then you won’t be disappointed.
Rooms are well appointed with flat screen TV's, minibars, tea/coffee making facilities, large and well-presented bathrooms, in neutral tones, separate large shower, double sinks and large deep bath. We recommend the Lakefront rooms (for which there are 2) as their large windows open fully to uninterrupted views over lake.
NEW: Art Adventures, Queenstown
Art Adventures enables you to design your exclusive and personalized art experience in and around the lake and alpine resort of Queenstown. No art experience is necessary. Professional tutored excursions can offer you the opportunity to learn about art, sketching or painting, and to create your own original artworks that record your outdoor experience.
Light refreshments are provided on half day tours and lunch + light refreshments are offered on full day tours.
Tour options:
1) Artists’ Studio / Art Gallery Tours: Minimum 2 guests
View creative works of established and emerging New Zealand artists with a professional guide for a half or full day. Travel by luxury transport through scenic landscapes while visiting some of the best local artists in their studios and
regional dealer art galleries.
Tour Inclusions:
- Personal guiding and commentary by a professional guide
- Customised to your interests. (e.g. traditional, contemporary, landscape)
- Small intimate groups for personal attention
2) Learn to Sketch Excursions (Tutored): Minimum 2 guests
Half and full day sketching excursions where you are taken to scenic locations to learn to sketch. No art experience is necessary. Tutors explain and demonstrate how to record their holiday experience with artistic tips and techniques that can be used long after the excursion ends.
Tour Inclusions:
- Tuition by professional artist. Note - tutors are subject to availability; one per group of 2 - 6 adults
- Moleskin Travel Journal and a pencil case of high quality sketching equipment all provided in an eco carry bag
- Comfortable outdoor seating provided
- Visits to artists’ studios or dealer art galleries can be included in full day combo
- Small intimate groups for personal attention and instruction
Tranz Scenic – Coastal Pacific rail journey
This outstanding train journey between Chistchurch and Picton in New Zealand’s south island, stops at Blenheim and the renowned whale watching town of Kaikoura. Travelling along 98 kilometres of ruggedly beautiful coastline you’ll get astonishingly close to the swelling Pacific Ocean and steeply rising Kaikoura Ranges. You’ll also travel through beautiful wine growing regions, across broad rivers and the rich patchwork farming landscape of the Canterbury Plains. The views are breath-taking!
Brand new scenic carriages have now been introduced on this journey to bring guest comfort to a luxury new level. The features of the new carriages are the large panoramic and sky windows opening up the views of the mountains and hands free doors and swiveling seats allowing passengers to face the direction of travel. New train enhancements also lend to a smoother ride and there is also now commentary available in five languages (English, Japanese, Mandarin, German & French).
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NEW: Explore Marlborough by boat
Explore the stunning Marlborough Sounds aboard a 53ft luxury yacht. The relaxing day tour includes a cruise to the end of Queen Charlotte Sound to Motuara Island and Ship Cove. On Motuara take a short walk to the top of the island for stunning views of the Queen Charlotte Sound. The island is home to a number of New Zealand’s endangered birds which can be spotted while walking. The tour includes a gourmet lunch of local produce with a focus on local seafood. The balance of the day is spent cruising back towards Picton with canapés, a glass of Marlborough wine and the setting sun. Throughout the day your experienced skipper and Explore Marlborough guide will entertain you with stories of the area’s history, wildlife and landscape and local personalities.
Includes:
* Experienced skipper.
* Morning tea or coffee with locally roasted coffee and fresh home baking.
* Gourmet lunch on board the yacht.
* Bottle of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc per couple
* Knowledgeable guide
* Pick up from and drop off to accommodation
* Visit to Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary and Ship Cove.
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Top 5 Adventure New Zealand
When deciding between luxury & adventure for your holiday for this year, look no further than New Zealand – the destination that provides arguably the best adventure options as well as some of the most renowned luxury lodges internationally.
White Water Rafting - The Kaituna River makes for an exciting forty minutes of pure adrenalin rush and includes the world famous 27-foot (7-metre) waterfall - the largest rafted waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere!
Zorb Rotorua: Experience the inside of a bouncy ball! Zydro – this is the ride that has water added so you can run, tumble, flip or slide inside, as the globe hurtles downhill at speeds of up to 30 km/h.
Four Wheel Drive (4WD) Safari: Travel to the Mamaku Ranges where a truly unique experience awaits you. Take the wheel and drive in convoy on a four-wheel drive track that is full of obstacles and challenges such as water-filled tunnels, logs and swamps. At the end of your experience your helicopter your way to The Farm at Cape Kidnappers.
Bungy Queenstown: The Nevis High Wire Bungy is the younger brother to the original Kawarau Bungy Jump and is the same height as the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge!
Sky Dive: It takes a certain kind of person to jump from an aircraft at 15,000ft into thin air. It takes courage. Harnessed by space age materials to an experienced qualified jumpmaster, you step out that aircraft door and for some 60 seconds you plummet toward the ground at 200kph, Terminal Velocity.
With a selection of superb lodges awaiting you after your adventure, the only question is when do you arrive? Contact A&K for more information and to tailor the right itinerary for you.
Eagles Nest
Located on a headland above the sea with sweeping views of the bay, the well-secured, exceptional luxury escape comprising of five villas in New Zealand’s Bay of Islands, a few kilometres north of Russell is not boasting when they say they are “Somewhere between seven stars and heaven”. Recently voted the World's best "Luxury Coastal Hotel" by the World Luxury Hotel Awards, there is no doubt of Eagles Nests unsurpassed facilities and services. The World Luxury Hotel Awards are regarded as the pinnacle of achievement for luxury hotels worldwide. This award was established as a celebration of the ultimate achievement in the worldwide hotel industry. It is about recognizing hotels that have taken the ultimate step and distinguished themselves as truly exceptional hotels. This award is by no means the first for Eagles Nest who already have a full mantelpiece of international and domestic accolades from the likes of Conde Nast Traveller, Elite Traveller, Tattler Magazine and Kia Ora Magazine. When staying at Eagles nest, there are many things to do in the area if you can bear to leave your villa. Let us arrange a private sailing or fishing charter for you. Or perhaps you would prefer a private scenic flight over the spectacular region. For a more outdoors approach, let us arrange a guided walks with gourmet picnic lunch or private touring to the regions historical highlights including Waitangi grounds.
Whakarewarewa Thermal Village
Whakarewarewa Thermal Village: Te Whakarewarewatanga O Te Ope Taua A Wahiao' - Meaning “The uprising of the warriors (war party) of Wahiao" Set amidst a landscape of erupting geothermal activity, hot thermal springs and hot bubbling mud pools is the Living Maori village of Whakarewarewa situated in Rotorua, the heart of the North Island. Meet the people of Tuhourangi - Ngati Wahiao (a Maori family tribe) who have lived in and around the geothermal activity of Whakarewarewa for over 200 years. This tribe have opened up their village to show visitors their way of life, a legacy passed down from generation to generation. Let us arrange a private experience for you to truly discover this lifestyle designed to incorporate the unique thermal environment as well as the culture and traditions of this tribe. The people of this area have been hosting visitors and welcoming guests into their homes since the early 1800’s. The Tuhourangi/Ngati Wahiao people have a proud heritage which they have shared with visitors from around the world. As the Maori Tribe say, Nau mai, haere mai, whakatau mai - Welcome, Come In, Make Yourself At Home.
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