New Zealand is not a destination that you go to lightly, so once you get the chance to travel there, you want to make the most of it. Not only what you do, but also where you stay can set the tone for a memorable trip.
Avoid the touristy places and go off the beaten track for a unique overnight stay in New Zealand.
Remember to sort out your New Zealand visa
Before you begin setting up an itinerary for New Zealand, you first need to apply for your New Zealand visa. The New Zealand visa, also known as an NZeTA (New Zealand electronic Travel Authority), is actually an electronic travel permit that allows travellers to easily fulfil their visa requirements.
Travellers who apply for an NZeTA online don’t need to go to the embassy to have the visa inserted in their passport. Instead, the visa is automatically linked to the passport after it has been granted. The visa is on average granted within five working days.
From that moment on, you are authorized to travel to New Zealand. You can stay in the country for up to three months per visit.
With that out of the way, let’s look into some of New Zealand’s more unique accommodations.
Butterfly watching at Butterfly Bay
The Butterfly Bay lodge is located in the northernmost tip of the North Island, 300km north of Auckland. This special accommodation is situated on a hill, giving you an unobstructed view of the sea.
You will not be bothered by your neighbours. The rock formations that surround the bay give you the feeling of being completely cut off from the outside world. You even have your own private beach.
The lodge owes its name to the many butterflies that live here. The direction of the wind, the warmth and the absence of people mean that this is the largest butterfly sanctuary in Oceania and Asia.
Diving into nature at Silverpine Lodge
Silverpine Lodge is located on the South Island, high in the mountains near the town of Makarora, and is completely surrounded by nature.
From this lodge you have a wide view over some of the most beautiful lakes of the South Island, Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea. In this area, there are numerous possibilities to go fishing or hiking. It is also possible to make a helicopter flight from this accommodation over Mount Aspiring National Park or a trek to the Franz Joseph Glacier.
Wine tasting in Sleepers Vineyard
This is perhaps the ultimate accommodation for wine lovers. Sleepers Vineyard accommodation with adjacent vineyard is located on the South Island in the rural area of Kekerengu. You stay in a cottage with two bedrooms, a kitchen, bathroom and private garden, a hair away from sleeping among the grapevines.
In this vineyard, the grapes for the wines Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc are grown. The vineyard itself can be explored by bike or on foot. This accommodation is also located one and a half kilometres from the beach.
Do nothing at all in Te Papa Eco Cottage
If you really want to get away from it all, you can stay at Te Papa Eco Cottage. This accommodation is located 15 minutes from Waiuku, a rural village in the Auckland region of the North Island. From the centre of Auckland itself, it is about an hour’s drive to Te Papa Eco Cottage. The one-bedroom cottage is built on a hillside and offers expansive views of the Waikato River and the Onwhero mountain ranges.
This place is ideal for people who want to take a breather. The cottage has no electrical outlets and there is no wifi available. So take this into account when booking this accommodation. The view when you wake up makes these small imperfections more than worth it.
Stargazing in Sky Scape
Far away from civilisation is the cottage SkyScape. This accommodation is located in the MacKenzie region, which is known as one of the darkest places on earth. Set in the middle of nature, this cottage has sweeping views of the green landscape and mountain ranges of the Southern Alps.
The cottage itself is made entirely of glass, including the ceiling, so you can enjoy the lovely New Zealand stars from your own bed.
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