Valentines in New Zealand

As a holiday travel enthusiast, I’ve welcomed the New Year in Sydney and Saigon, celebrated Easter in Japan, Thanksgiving in Borneo, and most recently, enjoyed a 14 day Valentine’s adventure through New Zealand. With February offering some of the best weather for exploring the country, a romantic getaway to New Zealand makes for a perfect Valentine’s surprise.

Direct non-stop flights from the U.S. arrive early morning, so to maximize our arrival day, we coordinated a VIP fast track through the Auckland airport, hired a private car & driver and headed south through the rolling green heartland of New Zealand.

As we navigated through the bustling city traffic, the highway swiftly transformed into a smooth, single-lane country road. The urban landscape faded away, replaced by rolling green pastures in every imaginable shade—a mesmerizing quilt of fifty different greens. We lost track of both the number of sheep and the miles as we marveled at the breathtaking beauty of rural New Zealand.

Our destination was Hobbiton, the enchanting setting from Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The village, lovingly preserved and enhanced over the years, was everything we’d imagined and more. It’s a must-visit for any fan of the films. The experience even inspired us to revisit both trilogies once we returned home.

Our next stop was the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, a natural wonder like no other. We glided in a small boat across an underground stream, surrounded by a mesmerizing display of glowworms—unique to New Zealand—lighting up the dark caves in a surreal, ethereal glow.

We continued our journey southward, passing through breathtaking pastures, towering pine forests, fields of vibrant flowers, and rolling corn crops, with grass-fed sheep and cows dotting the landscape. Eventually, we arrived at Lake Taupō, the largest inland lake in New Zealand. At last, we checked into the hilltop Hilton Resort and Spa, where we watched the fiery hues of sunset reflect off the glassy lake before succumbing to a jet lag induced slumber.

We awoke to clear blue skies and sunshine, perfect for a sail on Lake Taupō to the Māori Rock Carvings. The Māori are the Indigenous people of New Zealand, and their tribal culture and ancestral lands are deeply respected and honored. Afterward, we indulged in some of New Zealand’s finest local produce: melt-in-your-mouth, freshly shucked oysters, crisp local rosé wine, and tender grilled lamb.

Jet boat rides in New Zealand are part of the adventure, so naturally, we included a head-spinning jet boat ride at the beautiful Uka Falls before making our way back to Auckland, eager for the special Valentine’s Day planned for the following morning.

On Valentine’s Day, we hopped aboard the ferry to Waiheke Island. The best way to take in the iconic Auckland skyline is from the water, and the ferry ride did not disappoint. Waiheke Island is, to Aucklanders, what the Hamptons are to New Yorkers—charming beaches, cozy summer cottages and picturesque villages nestled among rolling hills of vineyards and the backdrop of the sea. Known for its wineries and natural beauty, Waiheke offered the perfect romantic escape. We joined Ananda’s Gourmet Food and Wine Tour and were blown away by the hand harvested, foot crushed wines. Each wine was paired with local cheeses, sausages, oysters, and chocolates.

After the tour, we ferried back to Auckland. At dusk, the harbor came alive with both locals and visitors, gathering at waterfront restaurants and bars for live music and people watching.

The finale to our short time in Auckland was the iconic All Blacks Experience — a tribute to New Zealand’s legendary national rugby team, the All Blacks, who represent the pride, passion, and spirit of the nation. This singular experience provided us with a deep understanding of the Kiwi culture and tribal foundation of this nation. Don’t miss it!

From the port of Auckland, we embarked on a two-week cruise that took us on an unforgettable journey from New Zealand’s North Island to the South Island. Cruising is an ideal way to experience the country’s coastal cities — unpack once and wake up each day in a new destination, ready to explore.

In Tauranga, we ventured inland to Rotorua, a region renowned for its geothermal wonders and deep rooted Māori culture. In Napier, we visited a local family farm and met a young couple who had left behind their corporate careers to start a thriving goat farm — now a business centered on artisan goat cheese and agritourism. We were incredibly lucky to be in Napier during their annual Art Deco Days, a community celebration with costumes, music, vintage cars, and a wonderful sense of stepping back in time.

In Wellington, a modest metropolis and the capital of New Zealand, we rode the historic Wellington Cable Car funicular up the hillside for panoramic views and a visit to the botanical gardens, then joined a local foodie tour through the heart of the city.

The bay between New Zealand’s North and South Islands linking the Tasman Sea with the South Pacific made for a surprisingly rough overnight crossing. We were especially grateful to arrive on the South Island the following day and disembark in Picton, the gateway to wine country. We hired a private wine-savvy guide to explore the celebrated vineyards of Marlborough, including renowned labels like Cloudy Bay to tucked away family-run wineries off the beaten path. We packed overnight totes and boarded the famous Coastal Pacific Rail for a five hour scenic rail hugging the wild watery coast from Blenheim to Christchurch. A white gloved hostess poured delicious local wines and served us a multi-course dinner while we enjoyed the fantastic views as the sky turned golden and the sun set.

Upon arrival in Christchurch, we checked into the cozy Small Luxury Hotels of the World property, The George. Christchurch is a leafy, colorful, highly walkable, charming city with an English village vibe. My favorite activities were punting along the Avon River, riding the San-Francisco-style red trolley around town and sitting in the chilly sunshine devouring hot fish & chips and cold local microbrew.

From the port of Christchurch, we rejoined our cruise and sailed to Dunedin, distinctly Scottish in history yet with big city bones, including winding highways, elevated overpasses and stuffy traffic. The real attraction here is the wildlife of the Otago Peninsula, home to majestic southern royal albatross and little blue penguins. We embraced adventure and joined an open air 4×4 safari through a privately held, family-owned wildlife sanctuary at the tip of the peninsula. The bumpy ride over grassy knolls and into deep ravines combined with the birds, seascape, and colorful conversation with the local Kiwi conservationist made this a genuine highlight.

We cruised the Milford Sound the following day, a scenic and spiritual experience reminiscent of cruising Alaskan waterways. The air is cool and pregnant with chilly fog, and the sound is silence- notwithstanding the buzz of the occasional sightseeing helicopters and planes.

The ultimate finale for us was our arrival in Queenstown. Cruise ships do not dock in Queenstown. Our ship crossed the Tasman Sea to dock in Sydney, Australia, so we took a flight back to Queenstown for an awe-inspiring scenic landing. The dramatic mountain scenery is spellbinding and worth the return ticket.

Within minutes of landing, we arrived a tour hotel and settled into wide Adirondack chairs overlooking the majestic grey mountains and clear calm waters of Lake Wakatipu. We soaked in the sunshine, cool summer breeze and savored New Zealand wine, local cheeses and the peaceful view. At sunset we hopped on the water shuttle to Queenstown harbor, a hub of great little corner restaurants, cobblestone streetside cafes, alleyways, rooftop bars and shops, all tucked into the elbow of seriously scenic mountains. We had a sophisticated steak and seafood dinner at Eichert’s Private Hotel and called it a night.

Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of New Zealand, so the next morning we opted for lux-style adventure by checking into Blanket Bay luxury lodge, riding horses through the forest and taking a glacial helicopter ride over the craggy snow-capped ranges to land on a glacier. The real adrenalin rush was stepping from the still-running helicopter onto the glacier at the mountain’s edge and taking our first slippery steps across the ice. It was a heart-pumping finale with the love of my life that will forever remain a valentine’s vacation to remember.