As I step onto the Air Canada plane and am escorted to my brand new, pod like seat that extends to a decadent bed, I breathe a sigh of relief (actually I blink to make sure I’m not dreaming and decide to push thoughts of next month’s credit card bill out of my mind).
But let me start at the beginning. As I was in the midst of planning this down under adventure for my family last year, I was fortunate enough to meet Matthew Upchurch, CEO of Virtuoso, the most luxurious of all travel consortias. He assures me that his team of travel agents and onsite specialists will provide me with experiences few people will ever have the opportunity to enjoy.
So it is thanks to my friends at Virtuoso, that I wake up from my overnight flight, feeling rested and excited to be spending a few days in Sydney. Sydney is a stunningly beautiful city, with so much to see and do. One of the first stops we make is to the Tarongo Zoo, set at the water’s edge; you couldn’t imagine a more picturesque setting. We hand feed giraffes and pet fairy penguins, thanks to a particularly special zoo staff member, who also happens to be a long time friend. It is because of Lindsay that we are in Sydney in the first place, to attend her wedding. After a day at the zoo and a beautiful harbour cruise we check into our hotel: The Four Seasons Sydney. The location is fantastic, right in the heart of The Rocks District. The rooms are contemporary and luxurious, the service extraordinary. I can’t say enough wonderful things about this hotel. The next several days are filled with wedding plans and capped off by a beautiful waterside ceremony and reception at The Botanical Gardens, which are a must-see. As the wedding night draws to a close, I bid my friend and her wonderful new husband, a teary farewell, for tomorrow, we will be heading to Southern Ocean Lodge located on Kangaroo Island. We spend our final night in Sydney at The Observatory Hotel, a beautiful, traditional, Orient Express Property, as anticipation of our next adventure makes it difficult to sleep.
After a short flight to Adelaide, we have a few hours to kill before our next flight to Kangaroo Island. We are fortunate enough to be spending those hours on a private wine tour with Ralph, from Life Is a Cabernet, exploring and tasting at some of Australia’s best vineyards in the Adelaide Hills and renowned McLaren Vale Wine region. Ralph knows the area well and takes us to small wineries off the beaten track, and between tastings we relax in the comfort of his town car, regaled with stories from his colourful life. We are sorry to see the day end when Ralph drops us at the airport for our 15 minute flight to Kangaroo Island. But once we land and see the raw beauty of Kangaroo Island, one of the last truly untouched parts of Australia, I think I may never want to leave.
We spend the next three nights at Southern Ocean Lodge, one of the most breathtaking properties in the most unbelievable, heart stopping settings. Everything about this place is extraordinary, from the modern architecture and interior design, to the outstanding cuisine. In fact, the food is so creative and delectable, I may have had the best meal of my life here, and that’s saying a lot. I’ve been fortunate enough to dine in some pretty fabulous restaurants all over the world. The lodge and Extraordinary Kangaroo Island Tours create the most incredible itineraries for guests. We have cocktails and canapés outside at night, roaming amongst several hundred wild kangaroos. The next day, we walk a beach scattered with fur seals, resting inches from our feet. A perfect day at the lodge ends with cocktails in the lounge getting to know the other eclectic and delightful guests. If you take one trip in your lifetime, this is where it should be.
We have one Australian destination left before we head to New Zealand: Hayman Island in the Whitsundays. We land at Hamilton Island Airport where we are greeted by an Hayman Island representative who escorts us to their gorgeous yacht. As we step on board we are led to a beautiful outside deck and handed a glass of champagne. I feel like I am in an episode of The Lifestyles of The Rich & Famous. The tropical surroundings are incredible, the lush green hills and turquoise waters remind me of Polynesia. We arrive at Hayman, a world-renowned, private island resort and throwback to the glamorous hotels of yesteryear. The service is very attentive, the ambience, relaxing and restorative. The suites are large with oversized balconies for viewing the out-of-this-world beach, sea and rolling green hills. We spend the next few days lounging on the beach, consuming tropical libations and out-of-this-world prawns. We venture off the island one day for a snorkeling trip to the Great Barrier Reef. This is a bit of a disappointment, as mass tourism has destroyed some of the reef’s beauty and we are happy to return for one last night at our luxurious island hideaway before we begin the last leg of our tour. The next morning we head to New Zealand.
The first location we visit is Eagles Nest, a luxury lodge overlooking The Bay of Islands in New Zealand’s North Island. Words cannot describe the majesty and glamour of this truly one-of-a-kind lodge. A labour of love for owners Daniel and Sandra Biskind, Eagles Nest is comprised of five ultra chic, modern villas, outfitted with every amenity imaginable and then some. The showstopper is Rahimoana. If you watched the recent series The Bachelor, this is where the season finale and proposal took place. It is a masterpiece of architecture and design. The other villas, though smaller, are also spectacular. We stay in Eagles Spirit, which is furnished with its own private, infinity pool and separate hot tub stretching across the lavish deck. A bottle of chilled champagne is waiting in the room and I take a decadent sip and watch a pod of dolphins swim by in the azure waters below. Every whim and wish is thoughtfully anticipated by the caring staff. A private chef is on hand to tempt my palate with culinary delights. If I choose to venture out (but why would I?) a Porsche, complete with chauffeur, is readily available to take me into the picturesque town below. Sandra Biskind says Eagles Nest is “Somewhere between seven stars and heaven.” Truer words have never been spoken.
Leaving Eagles Nest is almost painful, not just because it may be the world’s most extraordinary lodge, but because owners Sandra and Daniel are so extraordinary themselves. Eagles Nest and The Biskands may be more than 9,000 kilometres away, but they will never be far from my heart.
Our last stop takes us to Queenstown in New Zealand’s South Island. I embark on an incredible helicopter tour to Milford Sound, stopping on the way to land on a glacier and take a photo, a once in a lifetime experience for my family. Next, I take on the raging river canyons on a jet boat adventure. It’s a heart stopping ride brushing by rocky outcrops, mere inches away from the boat.
Our heads hit the pillows quickly each evening at Azur, after days filled with non-stop action. Azur is a beautiful, modern lodge, consisting of a series of one-bedroom villas, located just five minutes from Queenstown. So accommodating are Gavin, Tania and their team, that when I mention how much I like the music playing in the lodge, they download the songs onto a flash drive and present it to me as a going away present. As we walk down the steps of Azur, about to leave for the airport, I take one last thoughtful look around at the majestic mountains and crystal waters below, and then I begin my long journey home.
The Ultimate Down Under Adventure
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