Top Dog Down Under
Kauri Cliffs has long been on the top. This rings true both geographically (it’s near the top of New Zealand’s North Island), as well as reputationally (is that even a word?). A killer location, phenomenal food, a world class golf course, and beautifully understated luxury all roll together to give you a chart-topping Kiwi experience. Combine Kauri Cliffs with its swish sister lodges, Cape Kidnappers and Matakauri, and lo and behold, you have a pretty stellar trip lined up. Of course, we would fill in all the sundry details between (heli flight, anyone?).
Kauri has just claimed the top spot in the Conde Nast Traveler magazine Readers’ Choice Awards. And rightfully so. This year, the honour is shared with La Residence, in Franschhoek. Frankly, we’re tickled as pink as their shell beach, and we just wanted to congratulate them.
A typical day at Kauri Cliffs can have you hitting the links in the morning, taking your gourmet picnic lunch for some alone time on their private pink shell beach, foraging for paua (abalone) in the shallows, exploring the beautiful Bay of Islands region by boat or helicopter, lounging by the pool (that view!) or touring the large surrounding farmland, watching sheep and wild quail scamper about. Your walk from the main lodge to your room takes you through a beautifully wooded area, and you can even walk a trail to visit its overwhelmingly massive kauri tree, the lodges namesake, which was mercifully spared from aggressive logging practices more than a century ago.
Whether you are there for a golf, scenery, or just a relaxing getaway, you’ll see why it was voted the best of the best.
