NZ road trip to search or the best luxury retreats
The omens are just right. It's the perfect weekend for being on the road in a Jucy car in June, not that far off the shortest day of the year.
The previous weekend Hanmer was virtually cut off because of heavy snow. Earlier this week there was an earthquake centre near Hanmer.
But this is a great start to a long journey.
I'm heading to Hanmer Springs on the first leg of a journey through New Zealand to taste ad sample some of the best hideaway luxury lodges.
I'll be writing an article for glossy magazine Lucire at the end of the year revealing where the hot places are; where to find the best the hide-away gems and also the yummy relaxing destinations.
So I get the Jucy keys off Damien at the Christchurch Airport depot and chat to manager Jan about how the rental business there is strong despite the fuel prices and tighter economy.
I take off in my little Daihatsu Sirion and head to Hanmer, a year-round popular get-away for Christchurch folk and overseas tourists.
The thermal hot pools that have been named New Zealand's best visitor attraction three years in a row mean which is why over half a million people head there each year.
Hanmer is just 90 minutes' drive from Christchurch, though it can be longer running the gauntlet through the Waipara Wine trail!
I hope into see Jane East at Muddy Water Wines. But she is out. Muddy Water's sauvignon blanc won best wine in Ireland recently. That's some achievement but it's synonymous for the way Mike and Jane do things.
Beyond Waipara I drive up through Weka Pass with its historic house sites and old pubs, often graced by the great Grizz Wyllie!
Then up on to the plains running into Culverden. I wanted to pop in to see Corina Hazlett at her art studio on their Hillview farm. She is a brilliant artist. See:
www.artfind.co.nz/artist/corihazl
But I was running out of time.
Then on up the Waiau Gorge. The river looks so low. I have been jetboating down there with a friend in past trips. Today you could walk the river it's so shallow.
I find my luxury lodge, Fontainbleau with wonderful hosts Virginia and John and a stunning setting. It's a great retreat for couples, lovers and partners. Virginia made the best whitebait patties and we all shared an Omihi Road wine before going out for a meal.
Fontainebleau greet you with a local bottle of Waipara wine, chocolates and stunning rooms that make you melt away. It's tailor-made for romantic couples.
Just recently opened, the purpose-built lodge captures forest, lake and mountain views from the guest suites, reflecting North American and European influences.
It's funny in town seeing the pubs face out on to the former Queen Mary Hospital which used to be a dry out centre for alcoholics!
The hot pools have been open for more than 125 years but they are superbly upgraded and a great cash cow and asset for its owner Hurunui District Council.
Hanmer is a place for couples to relax. They even have a dial a flower service here, appropriately name:
www.passionflowerhanmer.com
! Perfect for winning over a wife, partner or lover.
I'm tempted to cut across to Kaikoura to go whale watching. Whale Watch have a 95% success rate and if you don't see a whale you get 80% of your money back.
I enjoy a Hanmer forest run and a game golf and no time for quad biking, horse trekking. The weekend is over and I slip back into Christchurch before dusk; the Jucy people are waiting for me. Thanks.
The next trip is around Northland û the winterless north in July. Hmmm.
Kip Brook, Word of Mouth Media NZ journalist
Kip Brook runs a national media company Word of Mouth Media NZ.
He is writing a series of articles for Jucy about his road trips around New Zealand.
Kip has has won three NZ journalist of the year awards; was NZ Press Association's UK-Europe Bureau Chief Correspondent based in London for four years until 2001; was a Foreign Press Association executive member; he used to appear regularly on BBC tv; he has a lovely wife Chrissy and four children; he is a hopeless squash player these days.
