If you’re heading south to Queenstown this winter, you likely have plans to hit the slopes, but there are plenty of other worthy pursuits to further your journey of discovery into this ultimate winter wonderland. From sky gazing to e-bike trails to thrill-seeking adventures, we round up a few of the off-piste activities worthy of your attention.
Aurora Australis
A wintertime highlight that very few have the luck of experiencing. During the months of April through to September, the electromagnetic phenomenon known as the Southern Lights puts on a spectacular display in the night skies. Best seen from a high vantage point and looking south, the atmospheric show can be seen in the early morning (many of the recent displays have been between 4am and 6am) on a clear night, typically during the waning (darker) phases of the moon. Get updates from a local group of Aurora enthusiasts by following the Queenstown Aurora Australis Facebook group.
Oxbow Adventures
Set amid the spectacular backdrop of Nevis Bluff in Gibbston Valley, Oxbow offers an unforgettable day of adventure like no other. Upon the banks of the Clutha River, land owners Lloyd and Julz Ferguson have set up the ultimate thrill-seeker’s playground on their expansive farm, with the idea of creating an unmatched experience that inspires fun, adventure, and camaraderie among friends and family. Offering a full day of activities including jet sprinting around a purpose-built lake, clay target shooting, and ultimate off-roading vehicles, Oxbow is the adrenaline junkie’s paradise.
For another great friends and family adventure among beautiful scenery, head into Arrowtown to one of the many bike rental shops, and saddle up on an e-bike for a picturesque peddle through the Gibbston Valley. The e-bikes take away any need for serious exertion, allowing you to take time to marvel at the beauty as you bike alongside the Arrow River. Traverse swing bridges, ride past vineyards and through valleys, to your final destination— Gibbston Valley Winery, or the Gibbston Tavern. After a gentle one hour ride, settle in for a well deserved lunch and a glass or two of the region’s finest wines. Then simply call to have your bikes and yourselves transported back to Arrowtown.
Offering a raft of intrepid day-trips including heliskiing and guided hikes, as well as scenic flights over some of Central Otago’s most exquisite landscapes — including the Milford Sound, Fiordland, Dusky Sound and the Mt. Aspiring glaciers — Alpine Helicopters are the experts to turn to if you want to get out of Queenstown and immerse yourself in the surrounding areas.
Embark on a half-day adventure through Mt. Aspiring National Park with the Wilderness Jet. An exhilarating ride that will see you take in breathtaking scenery along glacial rivers, you’ll also learn about the Māori legends attached to the landscape, and be given the opportunity, when the boat moors up, to explore the ancient beech tree forests on foot.
Consider this your shortcut to off-duty polish. Whether you’re running errands, grabbing a coffee, or just leaning into laidback luxe, this shopable edit has you covered. From chic sunglasses and statement-making accessories to elevated sneakers and timeless trenches, each piece is designed to add instant edge to your everyday. Think relaxed, but refined.
Art Direction Amber Armitage Photography Melanie Jenkins
This season, embrace the calming quality of sage green. Subtle yet sophisticated, it’s the perfect hue to refresh your home with balance, softness, and a touch of nature-inspired tranquillity. In a world where stillness is increasingly coveted, sage green is emerging as a serene staple in modern interiors. The shade’s muted, misty palette evokes a sense of rest and renewal — offering a gentle, grounded antidote to overstimulation.
Understated but never dull, this verdant shade captures the quiet luxury of nature and lends itself effortlessly to both minimalist and layered aesthetics. More than just a trending tone, sage green has become a go-to for its unique ability to soften spaces without sacrificing style. Whether enveloping a living room in organic calm or adding freshness to a bathroom or bedroom, sage shades feel both elevated and approachable.
To enhance its quiet charm, pair soft hues like Resene Peace with dusky whites, pale timber, and warm metallics. For a more defined contrast, look to pair deeper tones like Resene Spanish Green with natural textures — think stone, linen, or rattan. The beauty of sage lies in its adaptability: equally at home in a country-style kitchen as it is in a sleek, modern space.
Its cool undertone keeps things airy, while its green base subtly connects the indoors to the natural world. Balanced, bold, and ever-relevant, sage green is the modern neutral that brings fresh perspective — no matter the room or inhabitant’s aesthetic leaning.
Chaise Longue À Réglage Continu by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand for Cassina, Clarissa armchair and Gogan sofa by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso, Capitol Complex chair by Pierre Jeanneret for Cassina from Matisse. Esedra ottoman by Monica Förster for Poltrona Frau from Studio Italia
Reimagining a grand Victorian villa with a thoughtful contemporary addition, Mim Design’s Adelaide Villa draws its stunning surrounds in, elevating the experience of home.
Nestled in Melbourne’s bayside suburb of Brighton, Mim Design’s Adelaide Villa transforms a grand Victorian home into a modern family sanctuary, harmoniously blending historical charm with contemporary design. The clients, captivated by the house’s period allure, enlisted Mim Design to expand the residence into a light-filled haven, with the business of family life in mind. Enveloped by lush gardens, the home plays into its incredible surrounds, maximising the outlook at every turn.
Capturing views across the garden was key, according to Charlotte McGill, Director of Interiors at Mim Design — part of the clever team tasked with the home’s architecture, interior design, furniture, and styling. Mim Design approached the project holistically, opening up and expanding on the back of the home, while ensuring a seamless transition between old and new.
The Victorian villa’s original scale and potential is honoured in the new addition, with lofty ceilings creating a sense of openness and inviting light into the home.
At the street frontage, a simple concrete wall introduces the pared-back and sleek design codes of the property, continued in the extension that, while calling on contemporary materials, mirrors the original home’s grandeur. The Victorian villa’s original scale and potential is honoured in the new addition, with lofty ceilings creating a sense of openness and inviting light into the home.
Cab chair by Mario Bellini, Sengu table by Patricia Urquiola both for Cassina from Matisse
Tre Pezzi armchair by Franco Albinifor Cassina from Matisse
At the home’s entrance, an ornate, arched hallway, lined with bedrooms, a bathroom, and a reading room, preserves the home’s traditional elegance, meeting the extension with steel-framed, full height windows. Bridging the gap between old and new, oak hardwood floors and lofty 3.5 metre ceilings seamlessly connect the historic front with the contemporary addition. By creating a material separation between the extension and the existing home, Mim Design was able to maintain the full scope of the heritage home’s integrity. An airy atrium at the intersection between old and new acts as a conduit, borrowing elements from each to create a stunning and seamless separation.
Capitol Complex chair by Pierre Jeanneret for Cassina from Matisse
A richly finished study, designed to embrace the view of the lush verdant gardens designed by Kate Patterson Landscapes sits to the east, offering a refined retreat. While the addition’s open kitchen, living, and dining spaces feature a pared-back monochromatic palette, complemented by sculptural furniture, delicate pendant lighting, and contemporary art punctuating the serene ambience and hinting at its inhabitants’ character. In the light-filled kitchen, a monolithic Bianco Lana marble island serves as an anchor point; its design echoing the charred, timber-clad Sugi Ban blades of the home’s rear facade. Expansive glazing connects the interior with the outdoor landscape and pool, while a garage and discrete studio apartment rendered in concrete and timber offers a private retreat for guests at the property’s end.
Roll armchair by Patricia Urquiola for Kettal from Studio Italia
Throughout, Adelaide Villa’s cohesive and calming palette, softened by considered landscaping, unifies the home’s disparate parts. Mim Design is known for their thoughtfulness and finesse when it comes to giving new life to heritage buildings, and here, in Adelaide Villa, the team has masterfully bound the old and new, judiciously creating and evolving the home’s unique narrative.
Adelaide Villa is built on the traditional lands of the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation.
For anyone who covets the intoxicating, opulent taste of truffles, you will be pleased to know that the time has come, once again, to celebrate gastronomy’s black gold in all its glory. Whether showcased in a dedicated dining experience or shaved over a bowl of handmade pasta, the truffle takes centre stage across a number of exceptional dining venues in Auckland, offering a raft of irresistible creations that celebrate the best of the season.
Truffle season has arrived — and Kingi is celebrating in style. On Thursday 31st July, settle in for a one-night-only, four-course dinner where black and white truffles take centre stage (yes, even in dessert). Jax Lee-May of Kings Truffles — Kingi’s supplier and truffle expert — will share stories, secrets, and her passion for these coveted delicacies. Grown organically in North Canterbury, her truffles are among the country’s finest. Secure your spot for $189 per person.
At Ben Bayley’s beloved Commercial Bay restaurant (where seasonal, locally-sourced fare is given an innovative, culinary twist), fresh truffles can be added to any dish on the menu for an additional $10. Promising to enhance this restaurant’s already-impressively interesting and balanced flavours, Ahi’s optional truffle topping is the perfect way to elevate your next meal here.
At Queens Rooftop, truffle season arrives with a decadent twist. Their truffle pasta layers hand-rolled saffron fettuccine with a rich creamed pāua bolognese, finished with a generous shaving of black Périgord truffle. A lush, uniquely local take on the season’s most luxurious ingredient.
Truffle season has arrived at Soul, and the team is making it a moment — serving fresh truffle tableside for an irresistibly indulgent upgrade. Add it to the signature mac & cheese (a cult favourite for good reason), the rich duck risotto, or any dish of your choosing. In truth, the possibilities are endless — because everything tastes better with a little truffle on top.
One place that is leaning into truffle season in a big way is Esther. Outside of the eatery’s ‘Dinner Delicacies’ — comprising rotating truffle specials and the option to add extra truffle to anything you fancy, Esther’s infamous truffle lunch is back and better than ever, with Tewnion Truffière from Canterbury and George’s Truffles from Riwaka both featuring across the menu. A treat for all the senses, guests are invited to dig into a six-course menu laced with extra truffle oomph. Chef Sean Connolly and Executive Chef James Laird have created a menu that sets the divine delicacies centre stage for midday dining throughout the season, for just $69 per person (min two diners). Available Wednesday to Friday, between 12–3pm.
The Grill is celebrating truffle season in full flavour. Choose the indulgent five-course truffle menu ($150pp), with an optional cheese course for $20, launching next week. Crayfish lovers can opt for the Surf & Turf special: half a fresh New Zealand crayfish with garlic butter, paired with a Maple & Marble grass-fed sirloin and a side, for $125 — with the option to add freshly shaved truffle for $20. And for the true truffle devotee — fresh truffle shavings can be added to any dish for $20.
At Remuera’s Spiga, the truffle season offering keeps beautiful Italian food at the forefront, where diners can indulge in a special stuffed pappardelle with freshly sliced truffle on top, or simply add fresh truffle — shaved to order — to any dish that takes your fancy, taking the always-excellent experience of dining here up a notch.
Bossi’s beloved Fettuccine alla Ruota — tossed in a Parmigiano Reggiano wheel and finished with truffle oil — gets an extra flourish this season with freshly shaved truffle for $12 a gram. In fact, you can add fresh truffle to any dish on the menu. Whether you’re after a subtle hint or full, flavour-packed indulgence — they’ve got you covered.
Huami brings a luxurious twist to a signature favourite with its black truffle peking duck — crispy, succulent, and infused with earthy richness. For an extra hit of indulgence, fresh truffle shavings can be added to any dish for $20. A bold, flavour-packed way to experience truffle season with a Chinese fine-dining flair.
One of the best places to go for a taste of delicate truffles is always Elmo’s. This Ponsonby Road hotspot pulls out all the stops in honour of truffle season, with delectable pizza taking centre stage. The ‘in truffle we trust’ pizza pairs béchamel, wild thyme, mushrooms, black truffle, chives, mozzarella, and egg yolk — and is not to be missed. We recommend booking a table at this Ponsonby Road hotspot immediately.
Where better to celebrate the indulgence of truffle season than at one of our favourite Auckland dining destinations? Viaduct Harbour’s Bivacco is embracing winter truffle season wholeheartedly, offering a number of tasty ways to celebrate the arrival of these delectable morsels in fitting fashion. An edit of exceptional dishes highlighting freshly shaved Périgord Truffles are joining the menu — from delicate beef carpaccio with truffle, salsa verde, pickled baby onion, chive, and ricotta salata, to the mushroom pizza with truffle, gorgonzola, walnut, and rocket.
Gilt is unsurprisingly celebrating the season in style with a decadent Riwaka truffle spaghetti, pairing freshly shaved truffle with butter and parmesan. This delectable dish is available on the menu for lunch or dinner — providing a sophisticated salve for the gloomy weather.
Takapuna Surf Club is serving up a coastal spin on comfort with their neapolitan cacio e pepe pizza. Topped with shaved black truffle, cracked pepper, and a golden egg, it’s a simple yet indulgent ode to truffle season — best enjoyed with sea views and a crisp glass of something delicious.
Truffle season has arrived at Voco, bringing earthy indulgence to Mozzarella & Co. and rooftop favourite Bar Albert. Celebrate winter with the trattoria’s signature truffle pizza or add freshly shaved truffle to any main for a decadent upgrade. At Bar Albert, sip the exclusive truffle cocktail — an elevated blend of vodka, Amaro and citrus — or top off bar snacks with a $12 hit of black gold.
While the details are yet to be announced, we have it on good authority that Lebanese Grocer has received their first truffle delivery of the season, and we can’t wait to see what they whip up. Known for turning out some of (if not the) best Lebanese food in town, we’ve got high hopes.
Offering long-lasting colour with a lightweight, natural finish, lip stains are the ultimate low-maintenance beauty hack. Providing a subtle flush of colour that stays put, consider this your foolproof formula for all-day wear.
An essential addition to any Southern itinerary this winter, Ayrburn has firmly established itself as the jewel in the region. The world class hospitality precinct is the place to be, offering something for every age and proclivity. This winter, Ayrburn comes into its own with a calendar filled with magical and unmissable events and celebrations all honouring the season of snow.
At Ayrburn, nothing is done by halves, and the precinct’s spectacular Winter Wonderland is no exception. Back for a second year running, bigger and better than ever, the exceptional experience will see the grounds adorned in striking light displays and larger-than-life decorations, with an ice skating rink popping up to fully enliven the white Christmas experience. If last year was anything to go by, guests can expect a number of events taking place, with festivities suited to every age and proclivity — from Après-ski sessions to bespoke brunches and more.
The Barrel Room, Ayrburn’s exclusive private event space designed for intimate gatherings and memorable celebrations, is the perfect quaint and cosy spot to gather a group over the winter months. Surrounded by 56 aging wine barrels and complete with a grand piano, this hidden gem offers a cosy, sophisticated ambiance perfect for seated soirées or lively gatherings for up to 50. Guests can indulge in a thoughtfully crafted shared plate menu in an atmosphere that marries opulence with privacy, promising an unforgettable experience.
If you haven’t ventured south since last winter, you’ll be pleased to discover that two new venues have joined to fold at Ayrburn. The Bakehouse beckons with the warmth of wood-fired pizzas, handmade pasta, and signature cocktails — an inviting spot for long, leisurely meals. Just next door, R.M Prime Produce tempts with its butcher’s cuts, hearty deli fare, and robust reds, ideal for winter feasts at home after a drink by the fire at one of Ayrburn’s lively locales.
Combining soul-stirring music with seriously good food, The Barrel Room’s Friday Night Jazz sessions are legendary. Nestled within Ayrburn’s stunning grounds, this intimate venue offers a warm, candlelit setting for live performance. Whether you’re tucked into a booth for the full two-course dining experience — think fresh market fish with beurre blanc and tender lamb in garlic jus — or simply sipping a negroni by the fire, it’s the kind of evening that carries you through the cold.
As the slopes wind down, the energy ramps up at Ayrburn’s iconic Après Ski Happy Hour. From 4–6pm daily in The Manure Room (starting Friday 27th June), expect top-tier drink specials, shot skis, and elevated shared plates in a setting that knows how to celebrate the season. Come Friday and Saturday, live music stretches the festivities till 7pm, with some of Aotearoa’s most exciting acts.
Discover a world-class destination not too far from home, where every visit feels like an invitation to unwind, unplug, and uncover a unique slice of paradise.
The Whitsundays, nestled in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, is where the undeniable feeling of being on holiday comes to life. This extraordinary destination is a paradise like no other, offering unmatched beauty, seclusion, and the perfect escape from the everyday. The region’s 74 islands, each with its own charm, promise a dream holiday experience that truly feels worlds away.
An ideal destination for those seeking both relaxation and adventure, the ways to fill a day are endless. For a truly unforgettable experience, take a day trip to Whitehaven Beach — widely regarded as the world’s best — accessible by helicopter, seaplane, or boat. Picture yourself strolling along the pristine white sands, or soaring above in a helicopter for a breathtaking view of the swirling sands of Hill Inlet.
“This extraordinary destination is a paradise like no other, offering unmatched beauty, seclusion, and the perfect escape from the everyday.”
For those eager to explore, one of the great wonders of the world — the Great Barrier Reef — awaits, easily explored from the air or the water. Fly over the iconic Heart Reef, then dive in to snorkel among the vibrant corals below, or take a boat trip to discover the secluded coves.
The Sundays
Heart Reef
Qualia Villa
A stay in the Whitsundays offers the ultimate in both luxury and relaxation. Newly opened, The Sundays boutique hotel on Hamilton Island perfectly captures that holiday feeling. Designed with understated elegance, it provides the ideal blend of comfort and style, where every moment feels like an indulgence. Or, for those seeking the lap of luxury, Qualia is a private, paradisiac world centred on exquisite design and exceptional hospitality. Here, days unfold in a relaxed rhythm, with everything you need within arm’s reach.
Qualia Villa
Whether you’re sailing the 74 islands, indulging in the tranquil luxuries of a resort, or experiencing the Reef in all its glory, the Whitsundays leaves nothing off the dream holiday checklist. Fly via Brisbane directly to Hamilton Island, and within moments, you’re ready to experience a destination that feels like no other — where that holiday feeling becomes a way of life.
Who needs a jaunt to Europe when Somm Wine Bar & Bistro is pouring the finest reds this side of the equator? Tucked into Princes Wharf with front-row harbour views, this wine-savvy spot is the kind of place you plan to pop into for a glass — and somehow end up staying all evening. The cellar is a love letter to New Zealand’s best producers, and the team here know exactly how to steer you toward your new favourite Syrah or Pinot Noir.
Feeling adventurous? The newly-launched red wine flight is just the ticket. Feeling indulgent? Settle in with a host of delectable share plates and a bottle that demands your full attention. Equal parts laid-back and luxe, Somm makes mastering the art of wine feel like a walk in the vines.
After years of pared-back minimalism and the omnipresence of beige, colour is making its triumphant return — and it’s not doing so quietly. Across interiors, we’re seeing a confident embrace of richer, moodier palettes, with deep, royal blues, jewel-toned greens and sumptuous terracotta reds ushering in a new chapter of visual decadence.
These hues aren’t simply decorative — they’re emotive. A deep blue stair or sumptuous sofa anchors a room with both calm and drama, while decadent green marble adds a calming sense of elegance to a kitchen or bathroom. Terracotta, once relegated to Mediterranean holiday homes, now feels utterly current — especially when rendered in plush upholstery or used on a feature wall, its warmth offering both comfort and depth.
Importantly, these colours aren’t being used timidly. Designers are embracing monochromatic palettes and tone-on-tone layering, allowing texture and materiality to bring nuance — think velvet, lacquer, brushed metal, and intricate marble playing off one another in a symphony of saturation.
The effect is both intimate and opulent. A shift away from sterile perfection, this return to rich colour speaks to a deeper desire for self-expression — and for interiors that feel personal, expressive, and lived in. Whether you’re ready to paint the walls or start small with soft furnishings, these shades offer a timeless richness that can totally transform a space.
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