NEST TREE HOUSES, WAITAKI, SOUTH ISLAND
Hidden among the branches of a hilltop forest overlooking the Hakataramea Valley lies a treehouse stay that feels more like a boutique escape. Floor-to-ceiling windows stare out across the valley, a cedar bathtub sits snugly on the outdoor deck and a private treetop sauna offers a dash of off-grid decadence at this adults-only retreat. There's also plenty nearby to keep you busy, with farm and vineyard tours affording a taste of the area's rural charms. And come nightfall, you can just lie back and contemplate your place in the universe - the site lies on the edge of Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. This summer also saw the owners open a second treehouse, so you're now spoilt for choice. Treehouses from £251pn, including breakfast; nesttreehouses.com
CROSS HILL LODGE AND DOMES, LAKE HAWEA, SOUTH ISLAND
Plush geodomes scatter the shoreline of Hawea, one of the lesser-visited lakes wrapping Wanaka. It's certainly a setting designed to charm the camera lens, thanks to the area's U-shaped valleys carved tens of thousands of years ago by departing glaciers. The domes offer plenty of home comforts, with floor-to-ceiling windows, plush double beds and even a small kitchenette. It's a cosy affair, and the camp's lodge even dishes up meals fresh from the farm. A few relics of the area's gold-mining past survive on the slopes above, but the appeal here is nature. It's out paddleboarding on the quiet lake waters or relaxing outside in a wood-fired outdoor hot tub that Cross Hill earns its restorative reputation. Domes from £205pn, including breakfast; crosshill.co.nz
BAY OF MANY COVES RESORT, ARATAWA BAY, SOUTH ISLAND
This story is from the August September 2022 - Issue 222 edition of Wanderlust Travel Magazine.
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This story is from the August September 2022 - Issue 222 edition of Wanderlust Travel Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Vermont, USA
The Wanderlust team relocated to New England for part of this issue, as we explored a lush state filled with outdoor escapes, historic towns... and lashings of maple syrup
Unique North America
See a side to the USA and Canada beyond the big cities and discover incredible stories and special wildlife with our pick of the trips
The call of the Rockies
From historic ski lodges to rustic backcountry cabins and a mock-Scottish castle, we pick the stays in Canada's Rocky Mountains that make the most of their setting
A new dawn for the Garifuna community
When the Garifuna people settled in Belize, they had to carry their traditions and culture with them; now a new trail is inviting visitors to explore this heritage through local communities
On the edge of history
In south-west Colorado lies the largest archaeological preserve in the USA, a series of vast cliff dwellings whose residents 'vanished' overnight. But was the answer to their disappearance in plain sight?
Tigers burning bright
As India celebrates 50 years of its Project Tiger conservation scheme, we visit the reserves of Madhya Pradesh to see how its success has impacted a tiger population that once looked in danger of disappearing
SEASON'S GREETINGS
From fiery fall foliage to art fairs and harvest festivals, opens up a wealth of across the USA and Canada autumn experiences
Waking a sleeping GIANT
A slow drive along the North Wales Way, from the English border to Anglesey, reveals not only a land of incredible local food and castles, but a region that is slowly reimagining itself
The rebirth of old JEDDAH
As efforts to restore Al-Balad, Jeddah's historical district, take hold, we get an exclusive peek at how art and culture are taking centre stage
Star-studded escapes
Wilderness, history and wildlife combine at some of Britain's most iconic stargazing sites, as more and more travellers are looking to the heavens
