Blanket Bay

This small property has a deservedly outstanding reputation, attracting discerning travellers from around the globe.

Each of the 12 rooms has large picture windows to take in sweeping views of Lake Wakitpu, plus special touches like a private steam room and generous lounge room – and fewer rooms mean it’s intimate, quiet and private.

More country hunting lodge than opulent luxury retreat, it’s the ideal base to explore this part of New Zealand – Glenorchy is the best base for exploring the Otago Region.

There are outdoor activities on tap – notably wine tours and jetboating on the Dart River. The lodge offers its own activities too including horse riding, fly fishing and mountain biking.

They can also arrange a helicopter flight to Milford Sound and the Franz Josef glacier, and Queenstown’s plethora of adventures are a 45-minute drive.

Or simply surrender to the awe-inspiring landscape – the pristine alpine countryside, framed by snow-capped mountains.