You’re no doubt familiar by now with the ways you can seek deeper, more meaningful connections across New Zealand. We shared the delicious ways to seek new flavours and countless opportunities to seek New Zealand’s diverse and thrilling wildlife. Of course, we couldn’t stop there. Not without asking If You Seek ? If you do, Aotearoa has it by the bucketload, and agents, you could WIN a trip to experience it for yourself.
If You Seek Relaxation
Wellness is more than just a deep tissue massage or a yoga class. It’s a reconnection of mind, body, and soul that occurs when you slow down, take deep breaths and disconnect from the busyness of our world.
With the pressures of life right now, there’s never been a more important time to cultivate a sense of wellbeing. To connect to nature while forest bathing. Or unwind during a sunrise soak in a hot pool overlooking the beach. Or to curiously seek the extraordinary to counteract the mundane.
Thankfully, New Zealand extends an open invitation to travellers ready to seek more. We reveal the best relaxation experiences across Aotearoa.
If You Seek Relaxation, read on.
If you seek a different kind of therapy
Nature has an astounding ability to loosen the tightest shoulders and unwind the most wound-up souls. Terra & Tide, located on high-vibing Waiheke Island, know exactly the benefit of time spent in nature. Founder Gabrielle, an internationally accredited nature and forest therapy guide, sees it when she leads her inspiring wellbeing-focused guided tours.
Terra & Tide see the shift in their guests when they take them on an intimate sailing adventure around the Hauraki Gulf islands. They know that incredible vistas and hair-in-the-wind boat trips clear all stresses away.
Terra & Tide also know the benefits of connecting to the native flora and fauna: they dedicate their Forest Therapy Wellbeing Walk to it! As they guide people across stunning Waiheke Island, sharing the local ecology as they go, they watch a sense of ease and flow return with every step.
If you seek a luxurious retreat
If a 5-star luxury resort in a 5-star destination sounds like your kind of wellbeing program, a trip to Bay of Many Coves in the magical Marlborough Sounds is an #NZMustDo.
With a dreamy location in the heart of Queen Charlotte Sound, Bay of Many Coves is nestled between stunning native bush and the secluded bay. It’s a sanctuary in every sense. The lack you feel in everyday life – lack of time, lack of money, lack of joy – does not exist here.
It is, instead, a place filled with great abundance. Whether that’s world-class cuisine, bountiful experiences in nature, or an abundance of activities that support renewal, you will find it here, whatever the season.
If you seek the first light
Watching the dawn of a new day over the Pacific Ocean is special enough. Doing it from the soothing salt water hot pools of He Puna Taimoana in Christchurch is next level.
These beachside New Brighton pools are an idyllic spot for relaxing, thanks to their sweeping ocean vistas and stylish, modern facilities. With five luxurious pools of varying temperatures, a cold plunge, steam room, and sauna with impressive floor-to-ceiling views, a visit to He Puna Taimoana is good for your entire wellbeing.
He Puna Taimoana offers a Sunrise Soak with mocktail and optional guided meditation. The additional health benefits of sunrises’ infrared light are (naturally) included.
If you seek a glimpse of the universe
For the cluttered mind, a night under the stars helps with a shift in perspective. Add in a night under the stars with a hot pool soak, and you’d be hard-pressed to come away with any cares!
When you go to Tekapo Star Gazing, you experience the soul-warming hot pools of Tekapo Springs alongside the outstanding Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve! This is the ultimate in stellar relaxation and the only guided hot pools and star gazing experience in New Zealand!
The first half of this 2-hour experience introduces guests to Tekapo’s incredible night skies, plus astronomy and storytelling. Once familiar with the stars overhead, don your togs, pick a floating hammock, and drift across the hot pools as you wander the expansive night skies overhead, and ponder your place in the universe.
If you seek renewal
Rotorua’s healing mud and sulphur waters have been used by local Māori for centuries to soothe weary limbs and tired souls. At the historic Hell’s Gate, travellers seeking relaxation and rejuvenation can also experience this unique geothermal spa ritual.
Mud bathing at Hell’s Gate is two-fold. There’s the physical mud bathing in the rejuvenating mud and mineral waters, a chance to thank your body for all its hard work.
Then there’s the ‘mud bathing’ concept (think forest bathing only with mud), where being close to the bubbling pools and sulphur steam further carries away any worries (note how we said close, not in it, we’re not crazy – ouch!). A guided walk of New Zealand’s most active geothermal reserve gets you all these benefits, as well as a visit to Māori carvers working on their traditional craft.
If you seek to recharge
With the tagline “taking your breath away so you can catch yours”, you can be sure of a rejuvenating stay at Castaways Resort in North Waikato.
With its wild coastal cliff tops overlooking Karioitahi Beach, this remote destination offers a true sense of escape – yet it’s only an hour from Auckland Airport!
Expansive coastal vistas, the indulgent Bersantai Spa, and delectable dining make it effortless to switch off from the routine of life. The sweeping beach and Tasman Sea views at sunset are particularly breathtaking.
Agents, seek this famil
Are you seeking to experience New Zealand for yourself? Yes? Then become the ultimate seeker on Tourism New Zealand’s 2023 If You Seek Global Famil!
That’s right, in just six months (17 April), you could be one of the curious ones, seeking the magic of New Zealand. If you’re ready to go a little further, ask more, immerse, embrace, respect, and discover, you’ll want to sign up today and start earning your spot.
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