New Zealand luxury retreats win international accolades

Three NZ luxury retreats have picked up prestigious international tourism awards.

Takaro Lodge was voted New Zealand’s leading spa resort in prestigious 2008 World Travel Awards, judged by travel agents from around the globe, while the award for the country’s leading luxury lodge was picked up by Lake Okareka Lodge in Rotarua.

The latter pipped luxury hotel retreat, Solitaire Lodge (which last year was voted the best resort in the whole of Australasia) to the finishing post. This year, the romantic Lilianfels hotel, tucked away in Australia’s Blue Mountains was awarded the ultimate accolade.

Two further New Zealand lodges - Martinborough’s Wharekauhau Country Estate, and Rotorua’s Treetops Lodge and Wilderness Experience – also recently gained.international honours in the Condé Nast (USA) Traveler Readers Choice Awards 2008. Iconic Wharekauhau Country Estate was ranked in the ‘Top 5 Resorts in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific’, while Treetops was listed in the ‘Top 5 Australia and Pacific Hotels’ category.
The awards are based on the results of more than 32,000 questionnaires submitted by readers of Condé Nast Traveler. Results are based on the quality of activities, facilities, food and dining, overall design, rooms and service.

Takaro Lodge

Also known as Takaro Peace Resort, this exclusive luxury spa resort is located near Te Anau, New Zealand, on a 2000 acre private estates, that formed one of the film locations in Lord of the Rings. It is “located in mystical Fiordland, surrounded by evergreen forest, crystal clear water, fresh air and untouched nature, far away from cities and pollution”. Its 10 ‘element’ apartments are decorated according to the five Chinese elements – wood, fire, earth, metal and water – designed to calm guests, improve mood and strengthen energy levels. And the luxury chalets also adhere to the principles of Feng Shui to ensure that “guests rest deeply and wake totally rejuvenated”.

Lake Okareka Lodge

Nestled on a secluded peninsula, Lake Okareka Lodge rests in splendid harmony with nature and its stunning surroundings – sheltered in calm waters on private sandy beaches – and every breathtakingly picturesque view is framed in native stone, natural timber and beautifully landscaped flora and fauna.

Wharekauhau Country Estate

Wharekauhau Country Estate is situated on a 5,000 acre working sheep station in the Martinborough wine-growing region of the southern North Island. Set between mountain ranges and the dramatic southern coastline, it is within easy reach of Wellington.

Treetops Lodge

Treetops Lodge, in the thermal region of Rotorua, is an example of environmentally sustainable luxury hospitality in a vast wilderness setting that includes ancient forests, seven streams, four lakes and 70km of trails.

Source: NZ Herald

5 September, 2008

Wild Earth Wines, a Central Otago winemaker, has been awarded the trophy for Top Red Wine at the International Wine Challenge, the world’s largest competition.

It beat 31 other red wine trophy winners from around the globe in the final judging round, announced on Wednesday night in London.

Wild Earth Wines’ general manager Dave Nicholas said the win was an astounding accomplishment for a winery which was established just 10 years ago.

“It’s great that a New Zealand pinot has beaten the likes of cabernet from the Napa Valley and shiraz from Australia,” he said.

With almost 10,000 wines in contention, the International Wine Challenge is the world’s largest wine competition.

The Wild Earth Pinot Noir 2006 took five trophies in total at the event, including Top International Pinot Noir, Top New Zealand Red Wine and Top International Red Wine.

In May, at the Decanter World Wine Awards - the second largest wine show globally - the Wild Earth Pinot Noir 2006 was awarded the Top New Zealand Pinot Noir trophy and it has previously been awarded Gold Medals in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

The owners of Wild Earth, Quintin and Avril Quider, are elated with the awards.

“Central Otago produces so many outstanding wines and this latest trophy simply re-emphasises the incredible potential of the wines from our region. The award comes at the perfect moment as we’re currently seeking investment capital for expansion,” they said in a statement.

Nicholas said the awards proved New Zealand could do more than just white wines well.

“The thing with the New Zealand wine industry is that whenever someone does well the whole industry benefits.

“Any New Zealand wine that wins an award helps to put the local industry on the map.”

Established in Bannockburn in 1998, Wild Earth Wines has produced wines under the Wild Earth label since 2004.

Its wines are entirely estate grown, and are available throughout New Zealand and exported to international markets including the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Europe, China, the United Arab Emirates and Canada.

The trophies awarded to Wild Earth at the International Wine Challenge 2008 are:

* Top International Red Wine
* Top International Pinot Noir
* Top New Zealand Red Wine
* Top New Zealand Pinot Noir
* Top Central Otago Pinot Noir