Winter holidays are about to start. If you’re not a skier, nor heading off to island sunshine, then curling up by a lake is a pretty good way to enjoy winter.
Here are some special lakes around New Zealand that would make the best winter escapes.
Sharon Duncan of NZ Sotheby’s International has a clutch of four titles on one amazing property on nearly 1.2 hectares on the shores of Lake Tarawera, Rotorua.
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There’s the pristine lake and bush, the backgrounds of the mountain and your own jetty and boat house. The two living pavilions, one more traditional brick and the other a modern barn, have luxurious living that blends with the natural environment. There’s the indoor-outdoor living you’d expect, plus spa experiences of an infinity pool, spa pool, sauna, lawn tennis and lovely outdoor terracing.
You can explore the bays and hot pools, waterfalls and glow worm caves by kayak, water ski, trout fish or hike the bush trails. Totally private, but only 20 minutes from the restaurants, mountain bike trails and activities of Rotorua.
Gather your friends to create your lakeside getaway.
Head down the Waikato to New Zealand’s premier rowing lake, Lake Karapiro, ten minutes out of Cambridge. You can rent kayaks at the boat shed, cycle the amazing Waikato River trails or test your skills at New Zealand’s home of cycling, the Avantidrome. The Te Aroha hot pools are only 50 minutes away, Hobbiton movie tours 30 minutes and the inland nature sanctuary of Maungautautari is worth a visit.
And to base yourself, David Soar of Cambridge Real Estate has a huge four bedroom home on park-like grounds and views across the lake, asking $1.76 million. Maungautautari Mountain views dominate. Naturally there are cosy living areas one with a wood fire, terrific kitchen and sun soaked patios. Pile in the crowds for a busy winter.
Check out your Lake Karapiro retreat.
Keep on driving past Taupo to the southern end of the lake where Harcourts Taupo agent Matt Davis-Goff is bringing a super architect-designed spread on 1.2 hectares at Kuratau to auction on July 14.
The house is cleverly divided with two bedroom wings on either side of the main living. It could easily convert to amazing boutique lodge, as there’s also a separate study and den. Kitchen and lounge open to patios with beautiful landscaping that cascades down to Pukawa Bay, the southern edge of Lake Taupo. There are even fruit trees to keep you busy, Taupo is 55 minutes away, the fishing of Turangi only 15 minutes away, or soaking in the Tokaanu hot pools is a 10 minute drive away.
Check out year round nature on Lake Taupo.
The South Island always wins for jaw dropping lake holidays. Lake Hayes, with views beyond to the wonderful Wakatipu Basin is less crowded, more natural than the busy lakeside towns of Queenstown or Wanaka.
Mark Harris and Julian Brown NZ Sotheby’s International are marketing an astounding architecture-designed house on Wilding Road, five minutes from Arrowtown, Millbrook and The Hills golf course.
The five bedrooms, no-expense-spared house is layered in a series of wings that mean views from just about every room (including the bath). Add in an indoor swimming pool, complete with swimming jet system, movie theatre, fire pit tucked into the side of the hill and you’ll be hard put to pull yourself away to anywhere else in New Zealand’s favourite holiday spot.
Make Lake Hayes your Queenstown hideaway.
