The Luxury Travel Bible has picked the spectacular drive between Christchurch and Queenstown for our Top 10, but in truth you could spend an entire holiday road tripping around New Zealand's breathtaking South Island. Famous for its magnificent snow-peaked mountains, rolling green plains, wild fjords and a starring role in the fantastical Lord of the Rings trilogy, the South Island of New Zealand is paradise for anyone with a love of the outdoors. Leaving the picturesque city of Christchurch behind, the scenic route to Queenstown runs across the Canterbury Plains past Mt Hutt. You can do it in a day if you like, but if meandering along single-lane roads and stopping at the local Dairy for an icecream sounds enticing, you can easily stretch it to two. Rugged mountains, fresh air and greener than green hills make this part of the world really special, and when you get to Queenstown, New Zealand's adventure capital, there's a world of fun to be had.

 

Luxury Stay: Matakauri Lodge on the outskirts of Queenstown is right on the edge of the lake with spectacular views and the kind of design and service we've come to expect from the Robertson clan (who also own Cape Kidnappers and Kauri Cliffs). If you are a fan of golf and vistas Millbrook, Queenstown will tick every box. The rolling fairways do little to encroach on the wilderness of the 500-acre property, and the crisp design of the rooms and suites make a stay at Millbrook luxurious without any out-of-place opulence.