Luxury Travel Advisor - December 2007 - (Page 30) HOTELS RIDGE SUITES are crisp in The Farm at On the North Island of New Zealand in the Hawke’s Bay Wine Country, The Farm at Cape Kidnappers (www.cape kidnappers.com), sister property to Kauri Cliffs (www.kauricliffs. com) near Matauri Bay, is now open for business. Set amid 6,000 acres of a sheep and cattle farm, “the lodge,” as it’s known to insiders, comprises a cluster of farm buildings housing spacious cottages and suites, each boasting private balconies with stunning, sigh-inducing views of the farm, golf course and Pacific Ocean. All come with Wi-Fi access, flatscreen TVs, DVDs, CD players and iPod connections and fully stocked, complimentary minibars. Indulgent bathrooms sport double vanities, oversized soaking tubs, separate shower stalls and Evolu toiletries. Best to book are the Lodge Suites because of their size (708 square feet), location (they’re all part of the main lodge) and views. We like Lodge Suite 4’s 270-degree vistas, its fireplace, kitchen and dining table for six, not to mention its office. Ridge Suites are another good bet. A short walk from the main lodge, they are set atop the skyline ridge, and have fireplaces, too. For families, consider any one of the Hilltop Suites; they connect to Hill Rooms. Another group option is one of the two- or four-bedroom Owners Cottages. Highlights include multiple bathrooms and fireplaces, private balconies, large living rooms, open kitchens and dining areas, two sitting rooms and outdoor Jacuzzis. The full-service spa’s three treatment rooms, two of which have private balconies, include a couple’s suite. Additionally, there’s a heated outdoor swimming pool and a fully equipped fitness center. The most popular treatments are a jade-and-crystal massage (request Annabel Toogood) and the Crystal Earth Stone Facial, using products from Evolu, Decléor and Tui Balmes & Waxes. Book ahead via Spa Director Sally Doubleday (sally@kauricliffs.com). The Tom Doak-designed 18-hole, par-71 golf course sits oceanside and has been ranked by Golf magazine and Golf Digest among the best courses in the world. The concierge team does it all, including helicopter rides to remote beaches for private repasts replete with fireworks or private dinners with a famous winemaker. Luxury-level transportation to and from Napier Airport includes helicopters via Auckland, Taupo color and décor and feature fireplaces (bedroom shown here). Cape Kidnappers or Wellington. Contact Chief Concierge Jane Wright (jane@ capekidnappers.com). The property’s main restaurant is a huge hit with locals, but during the high season, availability for non-guests is limited. The signature offering is the degustation menu, which showcases beef and lamb from the farm. Insiders tell us that reservations are not necessary for lodge guests. High season runs from December 15 through the entire month of March, so it’s advisable to book three to six months in advance to avoid being placed on a waiting list. In early 2008, some accommodations will be available for booking via the GDS. Contact General Manager Julian H. Robertson, III (jay@ capekidnappers.com) with your VIPs’ particular needs. —Lauren Price 30 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | December 2007 http://www.capekidnappers.com http://www.capekidnappers.com http://www.capekidnappers.com http://www.kauricliffs.com http://www.kauricliffs.com
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