See diverse New Zealand in all its glory

It’s completely silent. No noise, no people; just me and abreathtaking view.A view so spectacular, it feels like droves of tourists must be hiding aroundthe corner waiting to jump out and interrupt my special moment. But that wouldbe impossible – the only way to reach this spot is by helicopter.It’s not often we’re left alone. Especially in this socialmedia age, where we share our every moment with one another. It’s rare that youget to escape; time and space are luxuries in themselves these days. But I waswell and truly alone (if you don’t include my helicopter pilot, Rhys) on the6,100ft-high Mount Tutoko glacier. The mountain’s peak is the highest in theFiordland National Park. I’d landed here as part of a heli tour with operator OverThe Top, which started in Queenstown and combined a glacier visit with a tripto Milford Sound. The sky was bright blue, the sun was beaming down and therewasn’t a cloud in sight. A perfectly crisp autumnal day. These conditionsaren’t common during New Zealand’s colder months. Come winter, glacier landingsare often impossible. After taking a few pictures of me and the helicopter, Rhysleft me to bask in the silence. There wasn’t even the sound of the rotor bladeswhizzing overhead, because Over The Top is the only helicopter company in thearea that turns its engine off on landing on the icy surface of a glacier. The glacier is just a 20-minute heli hop to Milford Sound.The contrast between the two places was astounding, from the silent, whiteparadise of the glacier to the blue waters and lush surroundings of the fjord. Fiordland National Park sweeps along the west coast of theSouth Island – covering more than 4,600sq miles of mountains, lakes, fjords andrainforest. However, 98% of it is inaccessible by road and that’s wherehelicopters come in. Road trip fans can get to Milford Sound by car. It is aneight-hour round-trip from Queenstown but, by all accounts, the scenery makesit worth it. Milford Sound is the smallest of 14 fjords that make up thenational park and seeing it from the skies is incredibly special. But to get atrue sense of its scale, I’d recommend taking to the water too. A cruise alongthe mirror-like fjord out to the Tasman Sea (the body of water between NewZealand and Australia) and back again takes around an hour. With imposing rock faces and cascading waterfallssurrounding you, and countless wildlife-spotting opportunities, you’ll quicklyrealise why Rudyard Kipling once described the sound as the eighth wonder ofthe world. During my cruise, we watched New Zealand fur seals basking in thesunshine. And it isn’t uncommon to see bottlenose dolphins and Fiordlandcrested penguins too. If you’re really lucky, you might catch a glimpse of asouthern right whale.LODGE LIFETourism New Zealand is pushing the country’s high-endoffering, and with 32 outstanding properties making up the Luxury Lodges of NewZealand portfolio, the country isn’t short of options for affluent travellers.Each lodge is independently owned and unique, but to be a member of theassociation they must meet high-standard criteria and offer guests a consistentexperience. For example, all lodges must offer complimentary pre-dinner drinks and canapes, andbreakfast, while some also include dinner. Guests staying at multiple lodgesduring their New Zealand adventure will receive sublime service. Behind thescenes, the lodges share certain guest information to make sure any dietaryrequirements or unusual requests can be met throughout. Just an hour and a half outside Queenstown lies one of thenewest Luxury Lodge members – the four-suite Mahu Whenua Ridgeline Homestead and Eco Sanctuary. Set in asprawling 135,000 acres of land, this beautifully rustic lodge was once home tocountry music star Shania Twain and her then husband Mutt Lange. While Lange is now the sole owner of the property, which opened to holidaymakers justlast year, Twain’s influences remain. Her love of horses still shines throughwith an impressive on-site paddock, and horse riding trails she created are nowused by lodge guests. My suite, named Tui (after the native bird), brought aninstant smile to my face, with outstanding views across the countryside to LakeWanaka – all from the comfort of my freestanding copper bathtub or theglass-enclosed shower. But it’s the land itself that is at the heart of MahuWhenua, which translates from Maori as ‘healing the land’. It’s what left thebiggest impression on me. The lush green valleys, rolling hills, streams andrivers, and towering mountains all around the lodge are like having your ownprivate national park on your doorstep. And it may as well be, with more than90% of the land protected by covenants, making it the largest conservationundertaking on private land in New Zealand’s history. The owners and management team have introduced sustainablefarming practices and have embarked on an extensive plant regenerationprogramme. More than one million trees have been planted and native birds suchas weka and pukeko are also being reintroduced to the area. On your drive back to Queenstown, visit Amisfield – avineyard and bistro that serves delicious dishes alongside spectacular winesfrom the Central Otago region. Quaint Arrowtown is also worth a visit. FARMING LANDDays prior I’d called another luxury lodge home. And whileit differs greatly in style and design to Mahu Whenua, Annandale pays just asmuch attention to the wildlife roaming its 7,000 acres of farmland on the BanksPeninsula and overlooking Pigeon Bay. Annandale is made up of four villas (TheHomestead, Shepherd’s Cottage, Seascape and Scrubby Bay). They are so secludedthat each is about a 35-minute drive from another across acres and acres ofland where cows and sheep happily graze. If you want to escape and bask inabsolute solitude, this is the place to run away to. In fact, guests don’t have to see other tourists at all,even at the airport. Annandale has a partnership with private jet firm GardenCity Aviation, which has a lounge and customs facility at Christchurch airport.After landing, jet passengers can board a helicopter and be at Annandale within15 minutes. I resided at The Homestead during my short stay, which has acapacity for 12 guests. Dating back to the 1880s, it has been restored andadapted but remains in keeping with its original design. Its grounds nowinclude a private heated swimming pool and Jacuzzi, floodlit tennis courts, a gym and barbecue area. The Homestead isbest suited to families or groups of friends, just like four-bedroom ScrubbyBay, which sleeps 14. One-bedroom villas Shepherd’s Cottage and Seascape areideal for couples, with the latter a firm favourite among loved-up honeymoonerswanting nothing more than each other’s company and epic coastal views. The food across the estate is exquisite, and almost entirelylocally sourced. Even the award-winning olive oil is from Robertson’s Bay, just20 minutes down the road. Chefs are on hand to whip up an amazing privatedining experience, but Annandale also has a ‘We Create, You Serve’ concept,where meals are pre-cooked in advance and left in the fridge with easyinstructions on how to prepare. DIVERSE LANDSCAPES Annandale is worlds apart from where my New Zealandadventure started. I’d landed in Auckland and jumped on an internal flight toKerikeri. After a spot of breakfast at eco lodge and golf haven Kauri Cliffs(also a luxury lodge member), I boarded a Salt Air helicopter bound for thearchitecturally spectacular glass-cased structure that is the presidentialsuite at Eagles Nest. Four-bedroom villa Rahimoana is the top offering at thefive-villa property. The helicopter landed on my villa’s private helipad, and Iwas quick to jump head first into life at Eagles Nest and this perfect littlecorner of New Zealand. The modern and sleek villa is equipped with everything youcould possibly need, and then some.It screams extravagance and comes with a dedicated chef, unlimited alcohol, useof a golf buggy, a private gym and infrared sauna, access to a secluded beachand a private 25-metre infinity pool and Jacuzzi, heated to a balmy 38C. Butit’s the outstanding views of the Bay of Islands that make this property sodreamy, and also what it takes its name from with Rahimoana meaning ‘sun godover the ocean’ in Maori. Guests staying in this villa also get exclusive use of aPorsche Cayenne. This wasn’t something I immediately knew I needed until Cieronfrom the management team whizzed me down into the town of Russell to visitlocal institution the Duke of Marlborough, which in 1840 became the first placein New Zealand to obtain an alcohol licence. He then promptly picked me upafter a glass or two of Hawke’s Bay’s finest wines and a fish and chip lunch. Each villa is a secluded paradise, surrounded in greeneryfor added privacy. They all have a private hot tub, and all but the smallestvilla has its own infinity pool, as well as kitchens stocked with breakfastitems. During my stay I made use of the services of the private chef and, beingextremely jetlagged, I almost hugged him when he arrived at the door. I’m confident you’ll find it hard to leave the infinity poolat Eagles Nest, but there are plenty of activities nearby to enjoy. On a clearday, grab a paddleboard and head to Waihihi Bay, where you’re likely to bejoined by friendly dolphins. It’s also an area of historical importance, hometo the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, the founding document of New Zealand.Go to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds & Museums to learn all about it. Before departing for New Zealand, I’d envisaged the ruggedmountains, fjords and farmland I’d experienced on the South Island at Annandaleand Mahu Whenua. What I hadn’t expected was the exotic and tropical side ofthis diverse country, but the Bay of Islands, which sits at the top of theNorth Island, delivers just that – and getting a glimpse of this paradise froma helicopter is a sight I won’t forget in a hurry. New Zealand’s landscape is one of the most diverse in theworld, and one of picturesque extremes. No matter what terrain you’re seeking,you’ll more than likely find it. On my trip I experienced the lush,rainforest-like surroundings of the Bay of Islands; the rugged coast of South Island; the picturesque lakes of Wakatipu in Queenstown and nearbyWanaka; the dramatic scenery at Milford Sound; and a glacier. All this in aweek...and made possible in part by that most luxurious form of transport, ahelicopter.newzealand.com/luxury