Flying thousands of feet above New Zealand’s North Island, a helicopter’s blades whir to a beat–chop chop chop–that booms like a drum. That magnetic rhythm that pulls us onward, over crater lakes and tumbling waterfalls, deep greens and craggy peaks.
We’re on our way to Mount Tarawera, the (now dormant) site of the largest eruption in New Zealand’s living memory. What awaits us isn’t a rough-and-tumble adventure–although that can certainly be arranged–but instead a fabulous picnic, down to the chilled bottles of world-class Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough wine region.
“If the question involves New Zealand,” the saying goes, “the answer is always yes.”
In 2026, more U.S. travelers are visiting this South Pacific destination than ever before, drawn by the promise of new horizons but familiar comforts, and stunning nature paired with top dining. We’re sharing just a handful of our favorite things to do, mostly centered around this country’s stunning nature–and yes, many are best experienced by chopper.
Indulge in New Zealand’s Oldest Wine Region
Arriving into Auckland on a nonstop flight from New York City, take a beat in this buzzing cosmopolitan hub (we find the wild ice cream concoctions at Giapo and walks along the harbor help us get over the jetlag). Then we’ll begin our journey south, to wine country. The sunlit vineyards of Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand’s oldest wine region, rank among some of the most acclaimed in the country, rich in Bordeaux-style red blends, sophisticated syrahs, and chardonnays that hold their own.
As for where to stay, we have a soft spot for the superbly renovated Cape Kidnappers, a historic farmhouse now gracefully managed by the Rosewood hospitality team. Our team collaborates with them to provide on-site wine tastings, ‘Meet the Maker’ events, dinners down in the cellar, and exclusive tours with acclaimed viticulturalists. The best of Hawke’s Bay is about an hour drive away, so we recommend jumping into a helicopter from the cliffside Kidnappers and soaring to the vine-laced hills, where an alfresco vineyard lunch awaits.
Channel Your Inner Angler
Once a fisher’s camp on the banks of Waikato River, in a central region of the North Island, Huka Lodge is a hospitality icon that welcomes travelers into contemporary suites and cottages. (Plus, it’s fresh from multimillion-dollar renovations that wrapped up in 2025, a fitting bit of TLC to celebrate the lodge’s 100-year history.) Whether you’re deeply passionate about fly-fishing or have only a passing interest, this hideaway is easily one of the best places in the country to give it a go, with a list of past visitors that includes Queen Elizabeth II. Based on your interests, our team arranges private classes in everything from knot tying and fly selection to guided excursions in beatific backwoods streams, filled with rainbow and brown trout. When you’re not fishing, allow us to recommend hours and hours in the new spa and wellness area, which include lush gardens, a sauna, treatment rooms, and an outdoor hot tub, all surrounded by the peaceful landscape of redwoods and gingko trees.
Go Stargazing … in the Largest Dark-Sky Reserve in the Southern Hemisphere
Appreciate the open skies for another reason. In the Mackenzie region of the South Island, Rothschild travelers can board a private heli flight from the city of Christchurch for an evening in Mount Cook National Park in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, a magical place to take in nighttime constellations. Our team arranges custom tours of the Mount John observatory, curated sessions in astrophotography, outdoor hot pools to stargaze at night, and simply the absolute best places for a cup of hot chocolate, with accommodations ranging from ultra-mod “cabins” to historic, family-run homesteads.
Have Milford Sound All to Yourself
The city of Queenstown, on the South Island, is New Zealand’s winter playground, where mild days from June through October can begin on powdery ski slopes (such as Coronet Peak or The Remarkables) and end with a round of golf in the afternoon. We recommend the tasteful Eichardt’s boutique hotel as our guests’ home away from home, with its fireplaces, marble bathrooms with heated floors, lakefront address, and the excellent cocktails at Eichardt’s Bar. The clincher to this stay in Queenstown, which is also easy to navigate, safe, and has a great shopping scene, is its access to the country’s most iconic destination: Milford Sound. Leave it to us to organize a private flight in a state-of-the-art Eurocopter chopper, a favorite among travelers for its glass front and fantastic viewing, to soar over snow-capped peaks in the Southern Alps and take in the Sound. We’ll touch down in the fjord amid a breathless quiet and explore, experiencing this natural wonder with barely another soul around. After adventures like this, nothing’s better than a restorative evening back in town, whether that means cozying up in Eichardt’s or venturing out to taste the local dining scene. (Rata, the pet project of famous Kiwi chef Josh Emett, is a refined choice for à la carte and prix-fix menus. If you want to try something on the cutting edge, Roki hotel opened in early 2026 to worldwide applause, and its on-site restaurant, Essence, serves a decadent seasonal 10-course tasting menu.) For travelers with infants–or children of any age–the various winter light festivals this season adorn the city in a joyful, twinkling atmosphere.
Ready to build Fiji into your next journey to Australia or New Zealand? Get in touch with the Rothschild Beyond team to find the right island for your group.
