Having attained the approval of the benchmark of luxury travel, Conde Nast Traveler magazine, The Farm at Cape Kidnappers in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, ranks in the brand’s prestigious 2017 ‘Hot List: The Best 20 Hotels in the World.’ The lodge’s Founder, Julian H. Robertson Jnr, envisioned providing experiential travel in the midst of some of New Zealand’s most dramatic scenery, and this he has certainly achieved. Guests can partake in games of golf, 4WD Can-Am farm tours, horse trekking tours, mountain biking, walking and clay target shooting in an elemental landscape comprising 6,000 acres of spectacular pastureland. The Farm at Cape Kidnapper’s Doak-designed par 72 golf course has helped to place New Zealand at the fore of international golfing, ranking 16th in the world.

Resembling a cluster of farm ranch buildings, The Farm at Cape Kidnappers and its twenty-two Suites exude rustic-chic. Befitting the rural vision, interior designer Linda Bedell has made excellent use of tweed and leather, complementing the carefully curated farm-related objects such as tractor seats, metal cartwheels and wooden grain boxes. The four-bedroom Owner’s Cottage hosts up to eight guests and has ample space for relaxation and socialising. There is a large living room, private balconies, walk-in closets, two smaller sitting rooms, an open plan kitchen and even an outdoor Jacuzzi.

Under the helm of talented Chef James Honore, The Farm at Cape Kidnappers brings together all of New Zealand’s bountiful produce in a celebration of great food. Armed with a fantastic array of seasonal ingredients grown locally, including mushrooms from Napier, cheese from Havelock North, Hawke’s Bay lamb and home-grown vegetables from the onsite garden, dining here delivers a sublime take on the New Zealand food scene. There are two dining rooms in the main Lodge, and a covered loggia brandishing a gourmet á la carte menu. A dining experience in Hawke’s Bay without excellent pairings of the region’s striking wine offering would be remiss, as close to the Lodge, the celebrated Hawke’s Bay wine lands are an oenophile’s dream.