Million Air Winter 2022

EXPLORE NEW ZEALAND

NORTHLAND A roughly three-hour-and-30-minute drive north leads to The Lodge at Kauri Cli ff s (robertsonlodges.com) in Northland. The region is renowned for its spectacular coastlines, marine reserves and kauri forests. On the property, there’s a par-72 golf course (hole 17 features a particularly jaw-dropping view of the Bay of Islands) as well as Pink Beach, a shell-strewn private beach. The resting place of one the indigenous M ā ori’s original seven migratory waka is also found on the Lodge’s lands. Due to its remote locale, every night there is a complimentary cocktail hour with books, wood-burning fi replaces and board games aplenty. At dinner, opt for the house-made gluten-free bread and sample a Lighthouse Gin (lighthousegin.co.nz) and Bootleggers tonic (bootleggers.nz) , both of which are locally crafted. Less than two hours’ south is the launch point for Dive Tutukaka (diving.co.nz) . Charter a private boat, equipment and personal guide, and head to the Poor Knights Islands, which Jacques Cousteau called one of his top 10 dives in the world. Sixty dive sites are scattered among the handful of islands. A marine sanctuary, creatures like Sandager’s wrasse, demoiselle, blue maomao and sharpnose pu ff er fi sh swim toward rather than away from divers, a rare but exciting reality. Underwater cathedrals and caves provide a diverse seabed, nurturing healthy reefs and ecosystems.

Kauri Cli ff s in Northland

RAGLAN Head southwest, from the east coast to the west, and arrive a handful of hours later in Raglan, a surf town famed for its left-hand point break. Check into the Round Tent (theroundtent.co.nz) , a chic yet cozy private retreat in a yurt outside town. The corner of Bow St and Wainui Road marks the center of Raglan and is home to The Shack (theshackraglan.com) and Wyld (wyldraglan.nz) . Both are local breakfast and lunch spots serving town favorites, including Raglan Food Co’s

(raglanfoodco.com) Greek-style coconut yogurt. Specializing in teas and tonics, The Herbal Dispensary and Organic Grocery Store (raglanherbaldispensary.nz) has been a town staple since 1996. With over 80 varieties of teas and a custom blending station, options abound. Hire Makarini Milroy, owner of Raglan Surf School (raglansur fi ngschool.co.nz) , for surf lessons or board hires. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of swell, wind and surf spots.

Above The Round Tent, a cozy yurt just outside Raglan Above right Raglan is a surf town known for its left-hand point break

Photos Jacob Sjöman, shutterstck.com