Fancy a celebrity-style holiday? It may be much easier than you think. New Zealand is the perfect place to get away from it all – as some of the biggest names in the world have discovered. Below are some secret celebrity vacation spots in New Zealand – and you don’t need a superstar-size bank balance or an entourage to enjoy them.
Auckland
Auckland covers all the bases, from land to sea. From bungy jumping from the Sky Tower (like Beyoncé) or off the city’s Harbour Bridge (like Katy Perry) to trekking along wild coastal clifftops (like Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel), this is a region that offers urban excitement and natural diversity.
To follow in Timberlake’s and Biel’s footsteps, take a guided hiking tour at remote Whatipu Beach. With its black sand beaches, native bush and hidden caves, it’s no wonder Timberlake posted an image of himself on the edge of a dramatic cliff with the hashtag #OnTopOfTheWorld. Locals are now referring to the spot as “Timberlake Point.”
Travel Tips
New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, has an international airport. Close to the Central Business District, you can climb volcanoes like Mount Eden for spectacular views across Auckland Harbour. Visit the waterfront Wynyard Quarter for restaurants and cafés or drive less than an hour to explore the wild west-coast beaches of Piha, Bethells and Muriwai.
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Waiheke Island
Taylor Swift shared a wistful Instagram of herself dancing through vineyards in a floaty white dress, captioned “Waiheke Island. Sigh.” The popular American singer-songwriter’s post perfectly captured the dreamy perfection of summer on this island just off Auckland’s coast. Along with swishing between rows of sunlit grapevines, Swift also managed to get to local favourite Casita Miro, a boutique Mediterranean-influenced vineyard restaurant, and to the renowned
Mudbrick Vineyard for dinner. (Mudbrick was also recently visited by Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria, whose Instagram photos show the moody winter grapevines sloping down to the water.)
Travel Tips
Head out to
Waiheke Island from downtown Auckland on a Fullers ferry – the ride takes only 40 minutes. Waiheke is not flat, so it’s best to rent a car, a scooter or an electric bicycle to explore the island, which has pristine beaches, excellent local vineyards and top restaurants.
Raglan
American singer-songwriters (and surfers) Ben Harper and Jack Johnson are renowned for their love of New Zealand’s beaches, especially Raglan. Harper isn’t shy about it: “I love it here… I love Raglan.” On the North Island’s west coast, near Hamilton, it’s easy to see how Raglan captured Harper’s heart: it has a famously laid-back culture. And for surfers, it arguably offers the world’s longest and most consistent left-hand break at Manu Bay. At the other end of the musical spectrum, locals say members of heavy-metal band Metallica have also stopped in Raglan on visits to New Zealand.
Travel Tips
Hamilton is about a two-hour drive south from Auckland. Alternatively there are regular flights to Hamilton Airport from other regional centres.
Raglan is about a 45-minute drive from Hamilton by car or bus. Raglan offers cafés and walks such as Bridal Veil Falls. The beautiful
Waitomo Glowworm Caves are a two-hour drive away.
Queenstown
With its dramatic landscapes, snowy peaks and beautiful lakes, Queenstown is the perfect setting for a fairytale, so it makes sense that it was on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s recent New Zealand itinerary. Popular myth suggests Queenstown was so named because it was seen to be “fit for a queen.” William and Kate seemed to agree as they spent a day touring vineyards and, less sedately, taking a hair-raising jet boat ride on the Shotover River.
Travel Tips
Air New Zealand flies to Queenstown daily. Alternatively, the drive there from Christchurch International Airport makes a sensational scenic road trip over a few days. With some of New Zealand’s best ski hills, Queenstown is a well-loved winter wonderland, although the area’s lakes, vineyards and adventure activities make it an excellent year-round destination.
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Stewart Island
Prince Harry got down to earth on the remote idyll of
Stewart Island. Although located in a sparsely populated region at the bottom of the South Island, this special place is easily accessible and, in its seclusion, offers things not available on the mainland. Spend some time spotting native kiwis or follow Prince Harry’s lead and get to know the unassuming locals. And simply take in what the fifth in line to the British throne loved about the island: “There’s no traffic, there’s peace and quiet, and beautiful sunrises.” Prince Harry enjoyed a stroll around
Ulva Island – an offshore ecosanctuary – and stayed at Stewart Island Lodge.
Travel Tips
To get to
Stewart Island, you can catch a short flight from Invercargill on
Stewart Island Flights or, alternatively, Stewart Island Experience Ferry runs a catamaran across the strait from Invercargill or Bluff. Nearby, Stirling Point – a 20-minute drive from Invercargill – is the southernmost point of mainland in New Zealand, marked by an iconic signpost. Sample New Zealand’s famous Bluff oyster in the town with the same name.
For more information about New Zealand, please visit:
www.NewZealand.com
