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| Photo by Helena Bay New Zealand |
Travelers looking to get off the map for a little while need to visit this remote luxury lodge, slated to open this November on New Zealand’s North Island.
Helena Bay will open its doors to guests on November 1, offering a main house and two villas ideal for an exclusive coastal getaway, as the new property was built to house no more than five couples at a time.
Due to the lodge’s remote location, guests will arrive at the property after a 40-minute transport from the Aukland airport in Helena Bay’s private helicopter. The ride provides great aerial views of the resorts four private beaches, spanning 800 acres of untouched coastline.
The shore-side property was designed to emulate early European colonial homes, incorporating new and local elements. The main house is the property’s central gathering place, including a gallery and library, a restaurant and bar lounge area complete with outdoor fire places and a spa wing including a gym, sauna, steam rooms, massage rooms, a cold plunge pool and a heated fresh water swimming pool. Also in the main house are additional accommodations for those traveling with extended family or service staff.
Of the two villas, one has two 1,450-square-foot villa suites, while the second offers three 700-square-foot junior suites. Both villas offer king beds and waterfront balconies, and amenities like hand-made European linens, hypoallergenic pillows and duvets by Hefel and Feiler towels sourced from Germany. Bath accessories are provided by Labrazel, Molton Brown and Christian Fischbacher.
The resort also boasts cuisine from Ristorante Don Alfonso 1890 of Italy, overseen by Executive Chef Michele Martino along with Chef Ernesto Iaccarino. The two chefs focus on age-old traditions of the Soreento peninsula and the Amalfi Coast to offer guests Mediterranean-inspired cuisine fueled by Helena Bay’s on-site farm. Nightly dinner is included in guest's stays, as the restaurant will serve five-course tasting menus each night, accompanied by an amuse bouche and an optional a la carte menu. The nightly wine list will vary to adequately pair with the menu of the evening, fueled by the property’s private cellar. Insider tip: Foodies can also look forward to custom culinary experiences with Chef Martino, including visits to the property’s farm and garden as well as special picnic excursions.
For those looking for activities other than pool-side lounging, the property offers a tennis court, hiking and biking trails, a farm where guests can visit alpacas, donkeys and Wagyu cattle, mountain bikes, two electric motor bikes, paddleboards, kayaks, fishing and four-wheel buggies.
Helena Bay is slated to open for guests on November 1.