With over 15,000 km of pristine coastline, sheltered bays, stunning fjords, clear water and abundant marine life, New Zealand offers something for everyone. For yacht owners and charter guests, with a penchant for adventure, for the wanderers and trailblazers, this is the place to point the bow.
NORTHLAND
Sitting pretty at the top of the North Island, sub-tropical Northland sees lush bush tumble down to deserted white sand beaches, and holds a rich cultural heritage that has defined New Zealand. From the earliest tales of Māori discovery which speak of legendary Polynesian voyager Kupe, and as the setting for early European settlement in the Bay of Islands, to renowned 19th century warrior Hongi Hika, war leader of the Ngapuhi iwi (tribe), Northland’s place in the consciousness of New Zealanders looms large.
Northland holds many of New Zealand’s oldest settlements and, today, the yachts’ first taste of the winter less north is often Russell, a site which was once a wild hub of Southern Ocean whaling. Gracious colonial buildings spreading across the waterfront greet visitors with a friendly welcome, above a bustling beach lapped by the waters of the bay. Summer sees yachts anchor in the deep waters of Russell as they flit in and out, exploring the area’s myriad islands.After a short helicopter ride north from the international flight hub of Auckland, guests can join the yacht at anchor close to any of the uninhabited islets of the Bay of Islands. Translucent water of a startling blue greets guests as they’re welcomed into a world where relaxation is the watch word. Alternatively, for an adrenaline rush they could try their chance at the sport of game-fishing. A quick tender ride sees them taken to a deserted island beach where the crew have set up an outdoor screen for a movie night. A quick tender ride sees them taken to a deserted island beach where the crew have set up an outdoor screen for a movie night under the stars and perhaps a hangi. The traditional Māori feast is cooked in a pit where stones are heated before food is wrapped, placed inside and covered with branches, wet cloth and earth to cook.
Left to cook slowly while guests tell tales of the day and bond with their local guides, the eventual feast offers a unique taste, instantly recognisable to every New Zealander. On land, Kauri Cliffs Lodge offers sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean over Matauri Bay. The par-72 golf course, designed by David Harman and recently renovated by Rees Jones, offers a challenging layout played across cliffs which plunge to the sea. If all that sea air inspires an appetite, the Lodge offers fine dining with private dining available on request.Back on board, keen divers will relish the challenge presented by the Cavalli Islands. Here Greenpeace’s former flagship, the Rainbow Warrior, lies after being scuttled to provide a fish sanctuary and dive wreck.
BAY OF PLENTY
Reaching down the east coast of the North Island, the Bay of Plenty encompasses the white sandy beaches of the Coromandel, alongside some of New Zealand’s richest pastoral lands, and sits on a seething hub of volcanic activity.
That volcanic activity sees steaming geysers shoot up out of the earth at the country’s cultural heart, Rotorua, while around them local Māori present their rich culture and traditional kapahaka (song and dance performances) to visitors.Coastal Bay of Plenty’s largest city Tauranga means ‘place of rest or anchorage’ in Māori and while the sparkling harbour and magnificent views make it a great place to relax and recharge, there’s also plenty to keep you busy.Gentler, but no less impressive, are the turquoise blue waters of the Coromandel. This long coastline of idyllic bays and rolling surf beaches makes the perfect spot for a meandering cruise. Protected rainforests tumble down the Coromandel’s darkly forested slopes, meeting with teeming blue waters filled with sea life as the result of marine reserves. The Coromandel’s reputation as a marine playground is well-deserved with diving visibility to 30 metres, big game fish, orca, and black coral off the Mercury and Aldermen Islands and a multitude of coves and bays to choose from.
Rotorua sits in the middle of the North Island, in the midst of a glowing green network of lakes and waterways and with a cultural life all of its own. Home to Whakarewarewa, the living Māori village, here’s the place to experience traditional Māori life alongside the modern lives of members of the Tuhourangi and Ngati Wahiao people. Try a hangi, experience the waiata (songs) of the local people, then cap off the day with a white water raft adventure. Richly awarded Huka Lodge, near Lake Taupo, forms an idyllic escape next to the rushing waters of the Waikato River. Nestled in a green wonderland of rainforest and water, the Lodge sits on 17 acres of manicured grounds, just upstream from the mighty Huka Falls. Guided hiking, fishing, rafting, jet boating and golf tours are all available – this is a place to escape the world.
NELSON
Known to the locals as sunny Nelson, this idyllic spot at the top of the South Island has earned its moniker with long sunshine hours and a sheltered aspect. Abel Tasman National Park presents picture-perfect views with its spread of lagoons and islands.
Cruises of the sheltered waters are set to the backdrop of native birdsong which drifts down from the protected, bush-clad hills.Three national parks in the region teem with life, proof of the fertile soil which surrounds the area and gives rise to its reputation as a hot-bed of vineyards and artisan beer producers. Twenty-eight boutique wineries dot the region, and their cellar doors, often manned by the winemaker, are a destination in their own right.Combine that with the fresh produce and seafood served in quaint country cafes and quiet seaside villages, and this is truly a foodie’s paradise. Head to Takaka and Golden Bay for a taste of a secluded natural paradise, where long white sandy beaches vie for your attention with incredible rock formations and riotous bush growth. Head to the banks of the Anatoki River to catch your own salmon and picnic under a shady fern, and then further north to visit a world wonder. At the tip of the South Island, remarkable Farewell Spit, 35 kilometres long, is home to more than 90 species of wetland birds and is the largest sand spit in the world. Challenge yourself to one of New Zealand’s ‘Great Walks’ and take on the Heaphy Track. Stretching 82 kilometres if tackled in its entirety, the Heaphy Track offers alternating vistas of mountains, ocean and bush-clad hills. Or perhaps try a leisurely cycle tour of the area’s vineyards?Abel Tasman National Park’s clear turquoise water has made it a favourite with visitors to New Zealand. The absence of roads in the park have made this a quiet haven, with hills ringing with birdsong and dolphins and seals regularly sighted though its waters. With over 350 working artists and craftspeople within the region inspired by its exceptional beauty, private art tours will give you the opportunity to visit Nelson’s potters, artist studios and bead and glass galleries. Movie buffs will be interested to note that as well as the region serving as a backdrop to The Lord of the Rings films, it was also a Nelson jeweller who crafted the movies “one ring”.
SOUTHLAND
A place of soaring heights, plunging to lakes almost half a kilometre deep, Southland displays the earth’s most dramatic beauty to breathtaking effect. Here’s the place to experience nature in her most primal glory. Majestic peaks provide the platform for impossibly high waterfalls, which drop into sounds teeming with dolphins, seals and other aquatic life. A shoreline that curls back on itself makes for a multitude of quiet bays, where the only sound is the call of native birds and the ever-constant susurrus of water. Towering peaks give way to clear views of the Milky Way above, while to the south cold, rich waters sweep up from the Antarctic, carrying multitudes of life with them.
QUEENSTOWN
An alpine playground, which falls dramatically away to deep, dark lakes; Queenstown and Wanaka’s raw, stunning scenery is the stuff of New Zealand postcards. The Southern Alps jut up aggressively out of the fertile Central Otago earth, while beneath them, clear lakes hide hidden depths. The cold, crisp winters and hot, dry summers of the region mean it’s a top producer of pinot noir, sauvignon blanc, riesling and pinot gris, among others, and is the world’s most-southerly commercial wine region.Thrill seekers come here for the heli-skiing, bungy jumping, jet boating and more, but the region is just as well known for its quieter activities. World-class golf courses abound and the central plateau holds more than its fair share of globally leading luxury lodges.
On the ground the wonder continues. A mecca for adrenalin-pumping adventures, Queenstown is home to the highest bungy jump in Australasia, as well as the world’s biggest swing with an incredible 300-metre arc. The elegant, rustic Blanket Bay Lodge is nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by majestic alpine scenery. Guests come to Blanket Bay to escape into heli-skiing, fly-fishing, hiking, golf and vineyard tours.Wanaka is home to three world-class ski fields, which descend to its stunning name sake lake – crystalline in summer, and reflecting the white-capped mountains above in winter. Fast and furious downhill skiing is popular here, but then so are adrenalin-pumping off-piste adventures. Don’t miss the thriving apres-ski scene which makes the most of the region’s well-deserved reputation for culinary excellence and fine wine.
MARLBOROUGH
Deep, dark inlets fall away beneath the bow, promising mystery and sealife in equal abundance. This is Marlborough, and its velvety peaks, myriad deep coves and layers of Māori legend have made it a haven of tranquillity for centuries. Fringed with secluded beaches framed by native bush, the 1500 kilometres of coastline that is the Marlborough Sounds offer exploration, adventure and a time to reflect, set to a back drop of tumultuous scenery cast in shades of green and blue.Ashore, wine-producing Marlborough continues to delight the senses with award-winning sauvignon blancs, superb aromatics, chardonnays and rich pinot noirs. Explore Pelorus Sound, the largest of the Marlborough Sounds, where keen divers have the chance to look over the wreck of the MS Mikhail Lermontov. A vast array of spectacular anchorages and bays means wherever you drop anchor for the night, you’ll feel surrounded by no greater crowds than that in the teeming ocean below.
Walk part of Queen Charlotte Track which winds through native bush and overlooks deep, quiet bays. After guests enjoy a well-deserved lunch, there’s Ships Cove to explore, where Captain James Cook anchored five times, and which is the perfect quiet spot to drop anchor for the night. A quick rendezvous with a helicopter will see you whisked to the top of the Sounds’ towering peaks by one of the skilled local pilots. Enjoy a mountain-top banquet, accompanied by fine wines from the region beneath you while you enjoy 360-degree views from on high. Later, as you swoop through the Sounds, you’re likely to spot the whales, dolphins and seals that call this place home.Some of New Zealand’s finest vineyards are dotted throughout the region, where they quietly go about producing world-beating wines. On the long, rolling river valleys where Māori once hunted moa, the noble grape now flourishes and the region is widely considered to be the best producer globally of sauvignon blanc. Local helicopter pilots will collect you from your yacht and deliver you straight to the cellar door for wine tasting and a personal discussion with the vintner.
