{Hotel Profile} Kauri Cliffs Resort, Matauri Bay, New Zealand

Next up on Richard and Lance's New Zealand stay will be the Kauri Cliffs Resort in Matauri Bay, New Zealand. The main lodge offers 180 degree views of the surrounding scenery , including the Pacific Ocean, Cape Brett and The Cavalli Islands. Relax and enjoy the vistas from the lodge's living room. Hold an event in the meeting room, or relax with friends in the card room. You can even keep up with your e-mail in the small computer room on site. Guests can eat gourmet meals in the main dining room or on verandas while viewing the scenic landscape.

The accommodations are very private, consisting of 22 suites in 11 guest cottages. Each suite has a private porch, sitting area with fireplace and roomy closets. There are also two "security" rooms, for high profile guests who require security personnel to travel with them. These rooms are also often used for children, nanny's or drivers. There is also one two suite house known as The Owner's Cottage with a private swimming pool, hot tub and easy access to all the lodge's amenitites. The cottage has cooking facilities, and guests staying in this super luxury suite can call in the hotel's chef to cook for them. 

Kauri Cliffs Resort offers a plethora of exciting activities for everyone. Scuba Diving, Game Fishing, Snorkling, and Sea Kayaking are among the water sports offered. The grounds of the resort host two tennis courts, a swimming pool, spa and three secluded swimming beaches. Kauri Cliffs also offers tours to local tourist destinations such as Ninety Mile Bay and the historic Waitangi Treaty House. For those courageous guests looking for an exotic experience the resort also hosts guided wild boar hunting. Lastly, the resort boasts a par 72 championchip golf course with fifteen of the eighteen holes facing the Pacific Ocean.   

Kauri Cliffs also has a web of hiking and walking trails that lead to local private beaches or natural landmarks. One trail leads to the Kauri Tree, which is estimated to be 700-900 years old, and is one of the largest trees of its kind on private property. If you don't feel like walking, Kauri Cliffs also has a helicopter available for charter to view the sights from above!

For more information on Kauri Cliffs Resort or any of ClassicTravel.com's other properties, please contact Jerry Hirshon at 212-404-6777 or by e-mail at Jerry@classictravel.com.

{Hotel Profile} Blanket Bay, New Zealand

After the Virtuoso Symposium 2009 Australia, Richard Beck, President and CEO of ClassicTravel.com and Lance Stamps, Vice President of Marketing for ClassicTravel.com will travel to New Zealand to preview 3 amazing hotels.

Blanket Bay, an astonishingly beautiful property forty miles south of Queenstown, just outside of Glenorchy, a tiny village surrounded by two national parks, is the first. This was the area chosen by director Peter Jackson to be the backdrop for the famed movie trilogy, The Lord Of The Rings. It is also the starting point for 3 major walking trails, and is considered the walking track capital of New Zealand. This American owned property is modeled after an alpine Rocky Mountain lodge , which fits right in with the dramatic mountain views of the Southern Alps (New Zealand's southern island's mountain chain)

Blanket Bay is situated on beautiful Lake Wakatipu, features great amenities to help you get away from your strenuous lifestyle. Get cozy and read a book by the enormous fireplace, or gaze at the astonishing scenery through the huge windows in the common room, also known as The Great Room. Relax after a day of roughing it outdoors in The Game Room with a round of pool, and help yourself to beer or other drinks from the complimentary self serve bar. Detox in the steam room and spa pool.

Blanket Bay boasts cuisine by former New Zealand Chef Of The Year Jason Dell. The resorts food features local New Zealand ingredients, often with French and Pacific Rim influence in the dishes. The resort serves the finest local wines, and has a wine room and wine cave, where guests can experience a wine tasting.

Blanket Bay also provides guests with an array of complimentary activities including horseback riding, mountain biking and scenic hiking. More adventurous guests can also take an unforgettable helicopter flight, go heli-fishing and heli-skiing.

Blanket Bay is the perfect resort for a cozy romantic getaway or a unique destination wedding. For those of you who are looking to do something different in the summer, why not change things up and fly down under for a ski trip?

When you book at Blanket Bay at the Virtuoso rate with ClassicTravel.com you will recieve an upgrade upon arrival (subject to availability), full English or A La Carte Breakfast daily, and a luncheon for two, once during your stay. For more information about this or other Virtuoso properties, please contact Jerry Hirshon at 212-404-6777 or by e-mail at Jerry@classictravel.com.