“Trout Fishing at Lake Taupo

Created thousands of years ago by the eruptions of Mount Tauhara, this freshwater lake is renowned for being full of trout. We took a yacht charter out, and managed to catch five in the space of an hour – not bad for a bunch of jet-lagged novices! But best of all, the crew were able to use our catch to make the most delicious sashimi for our lunch on-board.

STAY

• Huka Lodge, Lake Taupo – ideal for older couples, foodies, and romantics – the Owner’s Cottage is a great option for older family groups or couples travelling together.
• Kinloch Lodge, Lake Taupo – ideal for active families, golfers and anyone with an interest in Maori history and culture.

Sailing in the Bay of Islands

From the cutesy seaside town of Russell (I loved the café-fronted harbour and old-world charm), we set sail on our luxury catamaran into the tranquil, super-calm waters in search of common and bottle-nose dolphins, past rocky outcrops, sandy beaches and an array of islands, to the majestic Hole in the Rock.

STAY

• Rosewood Kauri Cliffs, Matuari Bay – Heaven for golfers, and ladies who ‘spa’.
• Eagles Nest, Russell – Ideal for anyone planning a special occasion, couples, groups and older families.
• The Landings Residences, near Kerikeri – Ideal for families of all ages and groups.

Bike-Riding at Hawke’s Bay

With over 124 miles of smooth, wide biking trails (some natural, some purpose-built, and mostly all pretty flat), self-guided or privately-guided cycling tours have to be one of the best ways to explore Hawke’s Bay’s world-acclaimed wineries, stunning scenery, wonderful wildlife, Art Deco architecture and fabulous food.

Fortunately for us with our trip being so full-on, our tour with TakaroTrails (the region’s best, and only QUALMARK-endorsed cycle tour operator) was only six miles, taking us alongside orchards, farmlands, rivers and vineyards. As we were there in the autumn, the area, its buildings, farms and wide leafy lanes made the ride quite reminiscent of New England. We stopped at the Elephant Hill Winery for a tasting – a beautiful spot to enjoy the wine (the Syrah and Pinot Gris are delicious) and watch the sun setting behind the vineyards down to the ocean and out over Hawke’s Bay and Cape Kidnappers.

STAY

• Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, Hawke’s Bay – ideal for young families, any age couples and keen golfers.

Minaret Station, Lake Wanaka

Oh my goodness – I wasn’t expecting this! Thank you, New Zealand Tourism, for sneaking this trip into the wilds of the Southern Alps at the last minute. If only one of the experiences could stay with me forever, this would be it! Why? Well, being an extreme retreat – I’ve never felt so remote anywhere else in the world – you can only get here by helicopter.

And that – as well as the intimate, personalised service, the array of alpine activities and the memories you’ll make doing them – is what makes Minaret Station so completely out-of-this-world. Where else will a hotel transfer include a 45-minute heli-flight that hugs the coastline, follows the river through a valley until you turn a corner and are faced with a jaw-droppingly beautiful waterfall, hovering for a while to take it all in, just before landing in the valley beyond?

And that’s just the start of a truly incredible adventure. The chalets are comfy and cosy, and you can choose to dine in the main lodge at the family-style dinner table, or on the terrace of your chalet next to your private hot tub. But the main reason you come here is beyond the lodge itself.

There’s guided fishing and trekking – all of which are fantastic – while a whole host of heli-adventures give you the chance to explore the otherwise inaccessible breathtaking wilderness of the Southern Alps, with scenic flights, alpine picnics, a mountain kitchen lunch (NZ’s most remote fine-dining experience), heli-skiing, downhill mountain-biking, heli-hiking – even heli-fishing (yes, it is a thing, and the pilots are so good they can lift lobster pots out of the water!).

Ideal for the more intrepid explorer, and those who really want to get away from it all.”