Delamore Lodge

Delamore stands on a headland above Owhanake Bay at the western end of Waiheke, with the Hauraki Gulf spread out below and Auckland's skyline visible on a clear day. It is deliberately small: four suites and a two-bedroom apartment, which means the pool and terraces are rarely shared with more than a handful of people.

Rates include ferry terminal transfers from Matiatia, pre-dinner drinks and canapes, a cooked breakfast and full use of the facilities - a heated infinity pool cut into the cliff, a jacuzzi, a cedar-lined sauna and a courtyard pool with a waterfall and cave-like spa. Dinner at the lodge is optional and charged separately.

Waiheke itself is the point of coming. The island has more than thirty vineyards within a short drive, several with restaurants that rank among Auckland's best, plus Oneroa and Palm Beach for swimming and a coastal walkway that starts near the property. The ferry from downtown Auckland takes about forty minutes.