Top vacation hotspot: New Zealand’s upper isle. It is a study in delightful contrasts: it’s smaller than its southern counterpart, yet more populous, and the scenery varies widely, from geothermal geysers to mud pools to white-sand beaches. The rugged South Island has long been the traveler’s go-to for its mix of adventure and wine, but in 2020, intriguing new developments should draw them north. The Landing — a four-villa property staffed entirely by Kiwis and already a draw for its pristine private beaches and walking trails — will open its own winery and tasting room in April to immerse guests more fully in its award-winning vineyard. And come November, the secluded, ultramodern Owhaoko will open in the Kaimanawa and Kaweka Forests for adventurers willing to fly in by helicopter. Until then, head to Tongariro National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where the new Sky Waka gondola, the largest of its kind in the country, takes visitors into the clouds of Mt. Ruapehu.
From Global Travel Writers (Travel & Leisure)—Sarah Bruning
