7 Luxury Activities for a New Zealand Honeymoon

Private Lake Tarawera Cruise and Hot Water Beach

One of the “best kept secrets” of the central North Island’s Taupō Volcanic Zone and geothermal region, pristine Lake Tarawera is home to gorgeous scenery and stunning secluded bays. 

None is more romantic than “Hot Water Beach”, a section on the lake’s northern shores where natural thermal springs gently rise through the lake bed and warm the water. The effect of steam rising off the water and shrouding the cliffs lining the lake is truly magical. Given the seclusion and lack of crowds here, it’s a truly magical spot for a romantic swim, spa and/or picnic.

Take a private charter boat cruise across the lake to this spot, taking in the magnificent scenery or partaking in some fishing along the way. You can choose to return via the stunning Tarawera Trail, an easy walk through native bush with beautiful views over the lake and Mt. Tarawera. Another highlight is the short, picturesque walk to the spectacular Tarawera Falls, where water plunges 65 meters (213 ft) down a sheer cliff face and tumbles into rapids disappearing into the forest.

Milford Sound Cruise and Scenic Flight to Queenstown

A visit to Milford Sound, the “Eighth Wonder of the World”, is a popular option for any New Zealand honeymoon. And this option lets you do it in luxury and style.

Starting in beautiful Queenstown, New Zealand’s adventure tourism and fine-dining hub, this trip takes you on a luxury charter drive deep into the heart of Fiordland National Park. An area of sublime natural beauty, you can explore the incredible Mirror Lakes, glacier-carved sunken river valleys, iconic Mitre Peak, and other sights from the comfort of a purpose-built sailboat. See both the stunning cascading waterfalls and pond-like tranquil waters of Milford Sound’s mysterious tree-lined, glacier-carved fiords up close, as well as spotting penguins, seals and dolphins, who regularly follow and play in the boat’s wake.

Enjoy an elegant champagne picnic lunch before making the return trip to Queenstown in style – a private scenic flight over the alpine lakes, rugged mountains, gushing rivers and dense forests of this breathtaking region. 

Luxury Lake Taupō Cruise & Tongariro Heli Flight

The region around Lake Taupō, the Waikato River and its magnificent Huka Falls are a shoe-in for inclusion on any list of the best luxury activities for a New Zealand honeymoon. 

The region is rich in dramatic, romantic scenery that is full of cultural heritage. The otherworldly volcanic landscape of Mount Ngāuruhoe was used as Mt. Doom in The Lord of the Rings, while the incredible, 30-ft high Māori rock carvings at Ngatoroirangi Mine Bay are a truly awe-inspiring sight that can only be seen by boat. 

The ultimate luxury experience for honeymooners here begins at Huka Lodge (one of New Zealand’s premier luxury lodges, which also houses one of its most prestigious, award-winning restaurants). Enjoy a luxurious, three-hour cruise on the lake, taking in any number of water activities you desire or simply enjoying the romantic setting. 

Then hop aboard a private helicopter and explore the wonders of Tongariro National Park from above. Soar over gushing rivers and rugged mountains, spotting wildlife and enjoying an exquisite lunch along the way, before landing back on the lawn of Huka Lodge in time for a gorgeous sunset. That sounds like romance.

Private West Coast Glacier and Mount Cook helicopter tour

You won’t only simply “see” astounding landscapes on this luxury New Zealand honeymoon activity, but get the chance to get inside and experience them first hand.

Sleep in the wilderness in style at the luxury 5-star Te Waonui Forest Retreat in Franz Josef. An exquisite slice of luxury hidden within dense native rainforest, this ensures unblemished privacy and elegance, perfect for honeymooners. Having seen the West Coast’s pristine rainforests up close, it’s time to do the same with its stunning glaciers and mountains.

Take an exhilarating private helicopter flight from Franz Josef town over the jaw-dropping rugged terrain up to the glacier face, where you can land and explore the glacier’s many intriguing ice formations, caverns, crevices, icefalls and neves on foot, in complete solitude. Enjoy a well deserved glass of champagne and take in the spectacular alps-to-ocean views. 

It doesn’t end there, though – get back in the helicopter and scale the spine of the mighty Southern Alps all the way to circle the summit of Aoraki Mount Cook, the highest peak in Australasia, before returning to your luxury hideaway in the Franz Josef forest.

Waiheke Island Cruise & Private Wine Tour

Only a short private boat trip from Auckland, this luxury New Zealand honeymoon activity feels a world away from the city.

Beginning in central Auckland, board your luxury charter yacht for a gentle, 17 km (11 mile) cruise to Waiheke Island, home to some of New Zealand’s most beautiful beaches and best wineries. Follow your own personal sommelier around several vineyards for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes experience. 

Take your pick from several premium wineries like Te Whau, Obsidian, Mudbrick where private tastings with the winemakers can be arranged. Barrel tastings are also available seasonally, as well as a delicious paired meal at one of several award-winning dining options on the island.

After lunch, you can choose to take one of several fabulous walking trails to get panoramic views over Waitemata Harbor and beyond, or spend a few hours at a beach or cove of your choice. If you are artistically inclined and fancy inquiring about a New Zealand honeymoon memento, you can visit the studio workshops of a well-known local ceramic artist or bronze-casting studio. You can either return to Auckland on your luxury yacht, or spend the night on the island. We know it can be hard to leave.

Luxury Lodge and Cape Reinga Scenic Flight

The beautiful Bay of Islands is a dream spot for any luxury New Zealand honeymoon, with countless beaches, coves, and stunning subtropical landscapes to explore and lose yourselves in.

Settle into luxurious accommodation at Paihia’s renowned Kauri Cliffs, a stunning luxury lodge set among 6,000 acres of land and surrounded by pristine native Totara forest. Enjoy expansive Pacific Ocean views from the verandah, make the most of their full-service day spa and stunning infinity swimming pool, or take one of several fabulous hiking trails into the forest. At your own leisure, take a private 45-minute scenic flight to Cape Reinga, passing high above the 144 islands that make up the Bay of Islands. 

This flight takes you to the very northern tip of New Zealand, via Northland’s many gorgeous bays and harbors. Touch down near the famous 90-Mile Beach, then board a luxury air-conditioned minivan to take you the rest of the way on your tour around the top of New Zealand. 

Stop at marvelous Tapotupotu Bay for a romantic lunch and beach stroll, see where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean collide at iconic Cape Reinga Lighthouse, then take the one-hour flight back to Paihia and the comforts of Kauri Cliffs.

Whale Watching, Spa Treatments and Romantic Mountain Picnic in Kaikōura

The rugged Kaikōura coastline is home to some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the world, with fur seals, dolphins and whales regular inhabitants. There are plenty of ways to enjoy them in luxury and style, too.

Kaikōura is most famous for whale-watching, since a number of different species use the massive Kaikōura trench on their seasonal migrations between Antarctica and the tropical Pacific. Take a private boat charter or cruise to spot whales from on the water; or indulge in a scenic plane or helicopter flight for an impressive view of their majestic 15 m (50 ft) length, from head to tail, from directly above.

Continue your luxury Kaikōura experience with a helicopter flight climbing 8,000 ft up towards the magnificent Seaward Kaikōura Ranges, taking in stunning mountain and sea views en route. Stop for a romantic private picnic, and to take in the views, from the summit of Mt. Fyffe. Return to Kaikōura’s exquisite Hapuku Luxury Lodge and Treehouses for an afternoon of pampering and spa treatments at their Studio Spa. Their specialized couples’ massages and on-site fine-dining restaurant provide ample opportunities for enhancing the romance of an already memorable honeymoon day.

Next steps: How to curate your own luxury New Zealand honeymoon

Any or all of these experiences – and many more – can be included in your own luxury New Zealand honeymoon. For more information on how to do so, contact First Light Travel’s NZ honeymoon experts. They will listen to your preferences and help you create your own ideal itinerary. First Light Travel have more than 20 years of experience in working directly with couples, curating bespoke luxury New Zealand honeymoons. And they can take care of everything, from flight and accommodation bookings to meeting you at the airport upon arrival, making for an absolutely stress-free process. 

Make an enquiry today, and start putting together your perfect New Zealand honeymoon!