How the A-list do New Zealand: Bay of Islands Edition

A recent Bay of Islands escape for a group of high-profile guests gave our Travel Designers the opportunity to bring together some of the very best the region has to offer.

How do you plan a New Zealand escape for guests accustomed to travelling exceptionally well? It starts with understanding the brief, and asking what they haven’t done yet. Often, the answer is an experience that doesn’t exist until we create it. With its sheltered waterways, secluded beaches and exceptional private residences, the Bay of Islands is an ideal setting for a stay that feels a world away from the everyday. For this particular group, the priorities were clear: privacy, plenty of time together, exceptional golf, days on the water and experiences that offered a genuine sense of New Zealand.

From finding the right private residence to bringing together the finer details of the itinerary, here’s a closer look at how it all came together.

A home away from home

For a group travelling together, finding the right place to stay is about more than the number of bedrooms. It’s about having the space to come together, somewhere to retreat to, and a setting that makes the destination part of the experience.

The Landing was a natural fit. Set across 1,000 acres at the tip of the Purerua Peninsula, this remarkable private estate has its own collection of residences, six private beaches, a vineyard and working farm, with the waters of the Bay of Islands stretching out in every direction. It’s a wonderfully self-contained setting, where days can be spent exploring the estate, taking to the water or simply enjoying the privacy of having so much space to yourself.

The group made their home at the Cooper Residence, the estate’s impressive private residence. Designed by renowned New Zealand architect Pip Cheshire, the home makes the most of its spectacular headland position, with sweeping coastal views and a considered collection of New Zealand art and Māori taonga. A stone tower houses the wine cellar, while the interiors strike that lovely balance between architectural presence and the feeling of a genuinely welcoming private home. The Boathouse, overlooking Wairoa Bay, provided a second residence for the group, offering a more relaxed waterfront setting just a short walk from the estate’s private jetty. Having two distinct spaces meant everyone could come together when they wanted to, while still having room to enjoy their own time.

A private chef looked after dining across both residences, with each meal arranged around the group’s plans for the day. And with the jetty so close, heading out on the water was as simple as stepping outside.

Two residences, each with their own character, brought together to create one very special private stay.

Making the Bay of Islands your own

One of the pleasures of staying at The Landing is that you can spend an entire day on the estate without needing to go anywhere. A private chef took care of meals across both residences, leaving the group free to settle into their own rhythm.

When it was time to explore, a private boat became the preferred way to get around. It’s hard to beat arriving somewhere by water, particularly when the destination is a quiet beach or a favourite spot among the islands.

For longer distances, private aviation kept the itinerary moving without sacrificing time at the destination.

A little further afield: golf

For this group, golf was firmly on the agenda.

A short flight south brought the group to the dune coast near Mangawhai, home to Te Arai Links and Tara Iti. With courses by Tom Doak and Coore & Crenshaw, Te Arai has quickly established itself among the world’s most celebrated golf destinations. Tara Iti, meanwhile, remains one of the most exclusive golf experiences in New Zealand.

Three exceptional courses, without spending half the day getting there.

Beyond the expected

Some of the most memorable experiences are the ones that don’t necessarily make it onto a standard itinerary.

At The Landing, an opportunity to explore the estate by buggy and connect with the stories of the land offered a different perspective on the destination. With its rich Māori and European history and ongoing relationship with local iwi, the estate has a story that extends well beyond its extraordinary setting.

This experience was created especially for the group, and had never before been offered.. It became the part of the stay they loved most, and it’s exactly the kind of experience our Travel Designers often go looking for: finding what isn’t available, and shaping it around the people we’re hosting.

An evening across the water

One evening, the group headed across to Russell by boat for dinner at the Duke of Marlborough.

Established in 1827, it’s a New Zealand institution and a lovely change of pace from private dining at the residence. After days spent exploring the coastline, an evening on the waterfront felt like a natural way to experience another side of the Bay of Islands.

The details that make it

Of course, an itinerary like this is about more than where you stay or what you do.

It’s the way everything fits together. Knowing when to arrange a boat rather than a car. Having the right people on the ground. Making sure the golf, dining and experiences all work around the group, rather than the other way around.

And leaving enough room for the plans to change.

For our founder Jacqui Spice, that’s always been central to how the team approaches travel.

“For this group, the real luxury is an experience nobody else could have had. The best parts of this trip weren’t available to book. We found them, or created them from scratch, and shaped each one around what the group wanted from the week. What I loved about this itinerary was the variety. You had the privacy and space of The Landing as a base, but could be out on the water one day, heading south for golf the next, or across to Russell for dinner. It was about making the most of everything the Bay of Islands has to offer, while ensuring the logistics behind it all felt effortless.”

New Zealand, your way

The Bay of Islands is just one example of what happens when a destination is approached with the right connections, a little imagination and an understanding of how people want to travel.

Whether it’s a private residence, a day on the water or an experience that brings you closer to the place itself, the best itineraries are rarely about doing more.

They’re about getting it just right.

Planning a New Zealand escape? Our Travel Designers would love to hear what you have in mind.

Explore bespoke travel with Touch of Spice.