Nelson
New Zealand


The Experience

Set in a grassy vale, Paratiho looks out over lush ranchland where sheep, cattle and deer frolic, and beyond to the sapphire waters of Tasman Bay. It’s easy to see what lured Californians Robert and Sally Hunt here in the late 1990s to create their own nirvana. Today, Paratiho Farms is a secluded splash of extravagance at the northern tip of the South Island -- a 2,000-acre ranch on the edge of Nelson wine country that doubles as a superluxe resort for people who crave fine wine and gourmet cuisine, Oriental carpets and modern art, soothing spa treatments and the great outdoors. Drawing inspiration from the classic Kiwi farmhouse and the traditional English estate, the lodge blends colonial copper roof and Palladian grid pattern, wraparound veranda and formal gardens -- a masterpiece of modern Kiwi design that has earned architectural kudos.

The Rooms

It doesn’t get more intimate: three secluded cottages with two suites each, all decorated by a different New Zealand artist, but otherwise identical. The decor is Raffles meets the South Pacific -- Chinese rosewood cabinets and four-poster beds set against striking modern artwork and minimalist fireplaces. Each of the suites features separate bedroom and living area, roomy walk-in closet/dressing area, bathroom (with claw-foot tub) that opens onto a private outdoor garden and your own patio with views of the surrounding countryside. Heated slate floors and computerized mood lighting add a touch of 21st century to the retro elegance.

The Service

From cookies on your bedside table to four-course room service on your private patio, Paratiho is a place that goes out of its way to furnish guests with whatever their heart desires. Service is fast, efficient and friendly in a typical New Zealand way.

The Highlights

Lodge cuisine is Kiwi with a French twist -- fresh New Zealand ingredients prepared with modern Euro savoir faire and complemented by an enticing menu of local wines. And once a week the chef even throws open the kitchen for gourmet cooking classes. Relax in Paratiho Spa, proof that nice things come in small packages, among them hot-stone massage. But activity is easy to find; from tennis and croquet to an outdoor heated infinity pool, there’s plenty to keep you busy around the lodge. Or ramble through the woods and gorgeous rolling pastures of this working ranch.

-- Joe Yogerst

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