For high-powered executives, carving out time for relaxation is a luxury in itself, and selecting the ideal retreat can be a challenge. When they do manage to escape, they seek destinations that blend privacy, luxury, and exclusivity, often with a dash of adventure. Australia and New Zealand are home to some of the most exquisite and secluded hideaways. Let’s explore the top choices to inspire your next escape.
Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island, South Australia
Destroyed in the 2020 bushfires, Southern Ocean Lodge began their mammoth re-build project just a year later and, after $55 million, but only 21 months, the doors were opened once again in time for Christmas 2023.
If you’re a nature lover, looking to escape and really experience what has often been called The Galapagos of Australia, this is the lodge for you. You’ll likely catch a glimpse of sea lions, wallabies, fur seals, koalas and, of course, kangaroos.
Only 10 minutes away, is the tremendous Kelly Hill Caves conservation park full of beautiful stalagmites, stalactites, helictites and towering columns; absolutely worth a visit. If you’re a lover of history you’ll be able to learn all about the narrow Backstairs Passage between mainland South Australia and Kangaroo Island and why up to 85 ships have submerged beneath the island’s surface since 1847, many people on those vessels being whalers and sealers.
I love the fact that the Lodge places a high priority on sustainability in all aspects of its operations, incorporating eco-friendly design principles and utilising sustainable materials – bravo. There is also a very impressive collaboration with the local community which is great for the island people but also means your plate will be full of the freshest food. In terms of accommodation, the suites are huge, with floor to ceiling windows and some with private pools and fireplaces; it’s really indulgent and very special.
Bullo River Station, Baines, Northern Territory
If you’re ready to venture into the unknown and experience something truly authentic, Bullo River Station is the place. Located 800 km from Darwin, with direct access by private charter, this working cattle station spans 400,000 acres in the Northern Territory, focused on conservation and regeneration. Activities range from swimming in the pool or Marlee’s Bath waterhole to fishing, bird watching, stargazing, and even a chopper flight, all complemented by delicious meals. What truly sets Bullo River apart is the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the workings of the farm.
Bullo River Station is home to a 2,000-strong Brahman-cross herd, and managing them is both fascinating and rewarding. You can join in on 4WD cattle yard work, bore checks, and lick runs, or opt to feed calves or do muster training on horseback. A dip in the pool with a beer or cocktail afterward is the perfect reward.
The station offers 12 guest rooms, each charmingly rustic and comfortable. Expect to get hot, dusty, and sweaty—but it’s worth every moment.
Pelorus Residence, Great Barrier Reef
Part of the Great Palm archipelago, Pelorus Private Island, in the coral sea, is home to a phenomenal residence that hosts guests privately with access by private yacht or helicopter. Not only is the property the pinnacle of everything luxurious, but the island itself boasts 400 hectares of reef and beautiful wilderness … and if you stay there, it’s all yours! There are five glorious suites in total and the property is almost 1000 sqm. It’s pure escapism at its best!
As well as snorkelling and diving in the shallow reef from the island and the outer reef by boat, guests can take a boat around the island for the day, visiting untouched and unspoiled landscapes and beaches, or even to Australia’s largest island national park, Hinchinbrook Island. Here you may see dugongs and sea turtles, birds, such as the white-bellied sea eagle, pied imperial pigeon and ospreys, flightless birds, such as cassowaries and maybe wallabies! It’s a stunning island.
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Seabobs, jet-skis and paddleboards await those who are up for some fun in the water and for others perhaps a massage, yoga or meditation are more your thing. I recommend the whole lot!
Your chef, Grant Logan, is a renowned culinary professional hailing from Port Elizabeth, South Africa. If you don’t want to fish for your own lunch, which you are perfectly able to do, Chef Logan will curate a personalised dining experience for you. His dishes have been described as a ‘voyage of flavours’, celebrating coastal regions with a blend of international and local culinary techniques.
This stunning property serves the purpose set out by the owners beautifully … “giving people the opportunity to disconnect from their busy lives and reconnect with the natural environment; to take people back to basics and to remember the important things in life; family, friends, food and mother nature”.
Minaret Station, Wanaka
Remote, rugged and untouched wilderness; this is what you get at the phenomenal Minaret Station, positioned in a high alpine meadow at 3,000ft. It is an alpine lodge, situated in the Minaret Burn area of the Southern Alps of New Zealand. What is in store for you here are breathtaking mountains, valleys and native bush, as well as no roads, making the property accessible only by helicopter. Once there, you’ll experience a unique combination of adventure and luxurious comfort in the form of just four private chalets.
The exciting experiences to be had at this property, which dates back to the 1960’s, include fly-fishing, hunting, heli-skiing, mountain biking, horse riding, fishing and of course as much hiking as you wish. The crème de la crème of experiences here, however, are the sensational helicopter tours, which have countless times been described as authentic and mind-blowing. You can visit the Blue ice caves at Aoraki Mt. Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak and take a trip to Dusky Sound in Fiordland, one of country’s most remote and spectacular fjords and home to marine life, bird life and dramatic and stunning natural scenery.
In terms of cuisine, Minaret Station is also a working farm and home to cattle, deer and sheep so you know your gourmet dining experience will certainly be as fresh as can be if you are a meat lover. For seafood, it’s all fresh from Stewart Island, the West Coast and Fiordland and all other ingredients are locally grown and sourced from Central Otago’s basin. I truly admire the Wallis family for being so passionate about and regenerating our ecosystem. “Our continued commitment to responsible tourism and conservation is unwavering. Our mission is to leave a lasting, positive mark on the land”.
Saffire Freycinet, Coles Bay
You may want to lose a pound or two before staying at this extremely remarkable property. Saffire Freycinet is situated in Tasmania’s beautiful Freycinet National Park with views of the beautiful and iconic scenery of Wineglass Bay.
The property is exceptional and extremely impressive in its contemporary design; the vast sweeping curved roofline, inspired by the landscape is probably the most impressive. The spaces are vast with enormous windows to appreciate the stunning views of Wineglass Bay and the Freycinet peninsula. The architecture incorporates sustainable practices which include eco-friendly materials and systems that are energy efficient. ‘Minimalistic luxury’ comes to mind to sum up the interior of the lodge. The suites all have floor to ceiling windows, decks and plunge pools all meticulously designed around the views.
What will you do when you get there? The East Coast of Tasmania is a true haven for your outdoor enthusiasts. The hiking is world class and the wildlife sensational; you may see fairy penguins, a variety of cockatoos, Tasmanian devils, wallabies, wombats, dolphins, whales and seals.
I have to say that food and wine in Tasmania is at the very top of the global list for deliciousness and, as all your meals are included at the property you may find yourself over indulging just a little! You could also venture out a little further to an oyster farm or even to partake in some wine tasting or tour a distillery.
This property makes the top 10 for being able to rejoice in immense natural beauty, for clearing the busy mind and for exploring this awe-inspiring part of the island state.
Longitude 131°, Uluru
This must be the rock of all rocks and staying at Longitude is certainly the way to go; the remoteness is exhilarating. At this luxury desert basecamp, you will be provided with a personalised itinerary of fabulous experiences to enhance your understanding of the region’s heritage and indigenous culture, such as hiking, cycling, plane and chopper flights, camel tours and superb cultural tours and when you’re done with adventure, there’s a superb spa where you can enjoy some first class treatments. There are 16 ‘tented pavilions’ with a perfect view of THAT rock from your bed. They are super luxurious and all have a deck with a day bed, a fireplace and floor to ceiling glass; it’s a surreal feeling being there, almost a privilege.
The best time to visit is between May and September when it’s about 28°C. Stargazing is a must here … well, you can’t avoid them so you may as well see them at their best, which is during a new moon.
Some of the excellent food served at Longitude 131° includes such delights as muntrie, pepper berries and quandongs! It’s a really cool experience having such an outback approach to the menu. Everything served is meticulously created and served as a piece of art – quite incredible in such remoteness.
Huka Lodge, Taupo
This stunning lodge, dating back to 1920’s, is undergoing a complete renovation ready for Christmas so an ideal time to book now. The twenty suites and two residences will all be brand new with sumptuous furnishings. Huka deserves its place in the top 10 for several reasons, but the location will make any busy executive completely forget about home life, the property being located on the banks of the Waikato River near Taupo with views of Huka Falls.
The dining is absolutely first class and the service reassuringly seamless, but the endless activities are really worth going there for. If you love water activities, the fly fishing is excellent or for a little more adventure you can go jet boating, white water rafting, kayaking or paddle boarding. Cruising around Lake Taupō is the best, not only for the views, but you’ll also get to see the Ngatoroirangi Mine Bay Māori rock carvings. If you are a golfer you’ll be very happy that there is a world class golf course to play on and if you want to fly high, the chopper trips are out of this world, with views you didn’t even know existed.
Another big attraction here is a visit to the thundering Huka Falls, where the dynamic waters crash with great power into a narrow gorge. You can watch almost 60,000 gallons of water create the waterfall; that’s a lot! All in all, this place is rather unique.
Capella Lodge, Lord Howe Island
The primary reason to visit Lord Howe Island might be its exclusivity—with only 400 visitors allowed at a time to protect its pristine environment and delicate ecosystem.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982 for its unique biodiversity and natural beauty, Lord Howe is home to species found nowhere else, including rare birds and superb marine life. Just a two-hour flight from Australia’s east coast, the island feels like a different world, formed by subaqueous volcanic activity.
Lord Howe offers activities that are uniquely its own. Ball’s Pyramid, the world’s tallest solitary volcanic peak, rises nearly 2,000 feet above sea level and is the remains of a 7-million-year-old volcano. The island also boasts 14 species of seabirds, superb fishing in a dedicated Marine Park, abundant land and water sports, stunning walking trails within its permanent park reserve, and excellent snorkelling and diving.
Capella Lodge is timeless luxury, understated; it’s unbelievably relaxing. There are only 9 suites, from all of which you’ll feel as if you are in heaven. The views of Mounts Gower and Lidgbird peaks, as well as the Pacific Ocean, are divine, especially from the infinity pool.
Of course the spa is sensational, with unique treatments on offer and as for the food, the combination of creativity and freshness is extremely impressive; shame it can’t be ordered from home!
Capella, just magic.
The Ghan train journey, Darwin-Adelaide
Clearly not one destination, but certainly worth a mention here, especially if you’re in one of the ‘Platinum’ ensuite cabins with huge windows and everything that you’d expect, such as super luxurious linens and several courses of world class cuisine, accompanied with Bollinger champagne and the finest of wines.
The Ghan is an iconic part of rail history in Australia and named after the Afgan camel drivers who travelled through the Outback. It’s one of the world’s greatest train journeys and certainly up there along with the Oriental Express and Britain’s Royal Scotsman. It provides a great insight into Australia’s very diverse cultures. The Darwin-Adelaide route,2,979 kilometres, is one of the world’s most renowned rail journeys and over 4 days you’ll visit some of the most alluring parts of the country, such as Alice Springs and Katherine in the NT, as well as Coober Pedy and Manguri in SA. You’ll travel from tropics to desert, through the Red Centre, the Outback and the Flinders Range.
There are some superb activities for when the train stops, such as a visit via chopper to see the 13 limestone formations at Nitmiluk Gorge or a visit to Uluru. The journey provides guests an insight into Australia’s rich Indigenous history and culture; the scenery is spectacular, the travel luxurious and the experiences authentic and intriguing.
Cape Kidnappers, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
Many will conjure up images of full bodied red and chardonnay when thinking about Hawke’s Bay and they certainly would not be wrong. It is a place with superb vineyards yes, but also great music festivals, beautiful cycle trails, a super local farmers’ market and home to Cape Kidnappers, one of the most beautiful properties and famous golf courses on this island and whose fencing forms Cape Sanctuary, the largest private wildlife restoration project in New Zealand. It is on a peninsula, on the east coast of New Zealand’s north island and on a 6,000 acre working sheep and cattle farm.
You will want for nothing here; the staff cater to all needs and requirements beautifully. The suites and cottage are sumptuous but in a rustic style and if golf isn’t your thing you could tour the wine cellar, venture out on an ATV, have a private guided nature tour or benefit from the hotel’s personal trainer.
Emma McCallum is the Director of Portmanteau Travel, a specialist travel planning company for high net worth individuals who seek exceptional quality and enjoy the extraordinary.
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