Delamore Lodge

"Located on the northwest coast of Waiheke Island—a wine- and art-lover’s playground that’s a 35-minute ferry ride (or 12-minute charter flight) from Auckland—Delamore Lodge has four identical north-facing suites, each with spectacular views across Owhanake Bay. The style is Mediterranean meets Maori. The lodge’s shape was inspired by a matau, or traditional Maori fishhook (each suite has a curving stone-walled interior and a private patio); however, the muted sandy-brown color scheme is pure Tuscany. A large hot tub/sauna complex is laid out like a subterranean grotto. The rest of the lodge is open plan, with a sweeping staircase leading down to a lounge and a kitchen in which a private chef prepares hearty meals. Delamore’s real drawing card is its setting: on a hillside with panoramic views and the sea lapping gently against the stony beach far below."