When love is in the air
After a sneaky romantic retreat? Brook Sabin and Radha Engling pull together their favourite escapes.
Candles, a mystery location, sleep-ins, and good wine – you can’t beat a little romantic escape with your significant other, especially with Valentine’s Day fast approaching.
We’ve visited some of New Zealand’s most romantic experiences, and the following come with Cupid’s official seal of approval:
ROMANCE IN A RAINFOREST West Coast
When you think of a romantic retreat, I doubt the first place that comes to mind is the West Coast.
Te Waonui Forest Retreat is nestled in an ancient rainforest at the foothills of Franz Josef glacier.
Start the night with a ‘‘forest dining experience’’ – a five-course degustation that’s served next to a waterfall, surrounded by candles and outdoor heaters.
The romance doesn’t end there – after dinner, head to neighbouring Franz Josef Glacier Hot
Pools for a soak in a private cave, before retiring to your luxury room in the rainforest.
Yes, the West Coast has a romantic side and it’s seriously good.
❤ Cost: Prices from $710 a night, including a fivecourse dinner and breakfast. An additional
$375 applies for the forest dining experience.
See tewaonui.co.nz.
UN-WINE-D IN STYLE SPA WITH THE BIRDS Waikane
What could be more romantic than a tree house? Well, a tree house spa!
Nestled in the rolling hills of the Ka¯ piti Coast, in private native bush, is Te Nikau Forest Retreat.
The main chalet sits so tightly in the forest it feels like it’s been there for centuries. Walk outside to find the real gem: the candle-lit tree house spa. Turn the jets on, grab a glass of bubbles, then soak the evening away. One night is not enough!
❤ Cost: A night starts at $295 a couple.
See tenikauforestretreat.co.nz.
SEDUCED BY THE NORTH Russell
New Zealand’s most seductive adults-only retreat can be found in the Far North, quite literally underground.
Donkey Bay Inn is a three-bedroom ultra-luxury bed and breakfast hidden in the side of a Russell hill, overlooking the Bay of Islands.
And we mean hidden – it has been built under 330 tonnes of soil, with a flax plantation on top.
This hotel is designed to challenge your expectations – enter through a bright yellow tunnel into a mystery courtyard filled with plants. It’s not until you’re right inside the house that its true magnificence is revealed: uninterrupted Bay of Islands views.
Don’t miss the hidden peninsula with a ‘‘his and hers’’ outdoor bath.
There are also plenty of opportunities to get fizzical, with a winery on site.
❤ Cost: Prices from $450 a night, including breakfast. See donkeybayinn.co.nz.
PICNIC ON YOUR OWN ISLAND