NewZealand

When your bread and butter is acquired by trotting around the world to tell tales of man- and womankind's finest offerings, you get used to the finest. Akin to being a jeweler, when everything you touch sparkles because everything is a gem, it takes a jewel of the extraordinary variety to get your attention. After hopping on four planes to spend 24 hours in the air traveling from London to New Zealand, all to visit lebua's Lake Okareka Lodge, we expected to encounter another fine, shiny object.

What we did not expect – but what we got – was a the finest 4-day stretch of living we've had in years, and a persistent lesson in what the best living is like. We hadn't been on the property two minutes, and upon seeing the view from our suite we realized we had discovered one of the universe's finest secrets: this is where God goes on vacation.

Magrette of New Zealand presents the Tane "Lord of the Forest" hand-engraved watch. Part of a very limited edition of just 10 pieces, the watch is decorated by a single master engraver and displays a classic Maori myth as seen in images all over the watch. While Magrette offers high quality reasonably priced watches, their higher end collection specializes in these beautiful engraved works of art. The 44mm steel case is almost totally covered in engravings. This includes, the bezel, case, lugs, and even on the exposed rotor of the automatic Swiss movement. Despite all the decoration, the watch is still very masculine.

The detail is stunning, and so are the images. In addition to native Maori decor, the watch has faces and characters that really liven it up. New for Magrette is an upgraded dial done by American LUM-TEC. This means the dial has their special in-house MDV GX luminant for impressive darkness viewing and visual appeal. Magrette fans will notice the upgraded dial immediately. The watch is attached to a black leather strap with red stitching. Inside is a Swiss ETA 2824-2 automatic movement that has a decorated rotor like you've never seen before on any other brand's watch. The watch is available now, and each of the 10 pieces are priced at a reasonable $4,485.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

The Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice nominees for the Best Luxury Family Winter Vacation include a luxurious family safari in Kenya where you'll see the wilds up close. The second nominee is a family trip to the Rockies in Colorado where just about every winter sport can be enjoyed. The third nominee is a paradise for families located in a picture-perfect stretch of beach on the Big Island's Kona Coast. The fourth nominee offers a once-in-a-lifetime educational cruise to the Galápagos Islands. The final nominee is nestled in a rugged 2,500 acres of native forest on the edge of the Mamaku Plateau in New Zealand; it boasts a game reserve, seven trout streams, four lakes and more than 70 kilometers of hiking trails.

Abercrombie & Kent Family Safari in Kenya, Africa
For families with a thirst for adventure, a safari trip to Africa may be the ideal cure to the winter blues. Leave the planning to Abercrombie & Kent, a luxury travel company that's been at it for half a century, now nominated for a Readers' Choice Award in the Best Luxury Family Winter Vacation category.

Founded in 1962 by a British family living in East Africa, Abercrombie & Kent offers an unparalleled family safari in Kenya. The 11-day itinerary starts with a flight to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya and cultural, economic and political hub of East Africa. Once there, you'll start your journey with a visit to Daphne Sheldrick's Baby Elephant Orphanage, where keepers sometimes sleep with lonely animals at night. Proceed to the Giraffe Center, where you'll feed long-necked beauties from the palm of your hand.

Next, you'll head out into the wilds with a drive to the Sweetwaters Reserve, one of the best places to spot a rare chimpanzee or black rhino. Then delve deep into bush country with a trip to the Samburu game reserve, rife with buffalo, lion, leopard among others; meet with members of the nomadic Samburu tribe and track game, catch butterflies, or even ride a camel.

The next day, you'll spend the first of three days on the Masai Mara Game reserve, sleeping in tents near the Talek River and witnessing the vast expanse of the African savannah. Travel to a nearby village to learn about tribal culture and discover the proper way to throw a spear or light a fire with sticks. For amateur aviators, consider the optional hot air balloon safari before heading home.

Vote now for what you believe is the best international ski destination. Readers' Choice Awards for the Best in Winter Travel will be announced on February 1st.

Some families prefer the beach, some the ski slopes. But for those who find solace in the forest, it's hard to beat Treetops Lodge & Estate in New Zealand, a Luxist nominee for Best Luxury Family Winter Vacation.

Nestled in a rugged 2,500 acres of native forest on the edge of the Mamaku Plateau, Treetops boasts a game reserve, seven trout streams, four lakes, over 70 kilometers of hiking trails, plus mountain biking and horse riding opportunities. Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest, is less than an hour away by car; Cape Kidnappers, with its dramatic seaside golf course, is a three hour drive.

Located 140 miles southeast of Auckland, Treetops is the gem of greater Rotorua. The area is a trout-fishing mecca and is also home to some of the most colorful geothermal features in the world – bubbling mud pools, volcanic craters and geysers. Some of New Zealand's best vineyards – Craggy Range, Te Mata, Sileni – are a stone's throw from the lodge. The area is also a major hub of the Maori, New Zealand's aboriginal inhabitants, whose carefully carved meeting houses dot the landscape.

The Lodge Wing accommodates eight guests in four suites with ensuites, all sharing a "state of the art" kitchen. There are also eight privately situated villas complete with a bedroom, spacious bathroom with spa bath, lavish lounge with fireplace and a small kitchenette. Fine cuisine is an integral part of the Treetops experience with healthy dishes created by the lodge's talented chefs using locally grown produce, complemented by an array of fine New Zealand wines. Guests can choose to have an intimate dining experience in the library or with fellow guests in the main dining room.

Lodging can be had at Treetops starting at about $400 per night per person. Since New Zealand's summer coincides with North America's winter, peak season can drive rates up even further. For a family of adventurous foresters, it's worth it.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed for each of the Winter Travel categories. Readers' Choice Awards for the Best in Winter Travel will be announced on January 31st.

Hard times continue to hit the yacht industry. New Zealand Yachts located in Whangarei, New Zealand recently went into receivership. The yacht company came to Whangarei in 2001 and promised to create 1000 jobs. The company did a lot of refits on existing yachts but hadn't ramped up into much production of new yachts. The New Zealand Yachts website includes renderings of many planned yachts including the Wavepiercer shown above.

New Zealand businessman Allen Jones, who had built a large car-washing business in the United States, founded the company, but later returned to the US. HIs son, Damon Jones, was the company's marketing and sales manager. The receiver said the company still operates a first-class refit yard and has the potential to attract yacht work from around the world.

One of New Zealand's richest men, John Spencer, has put his yacht up for sale. The 49-meter (160-foot) superyacht T6 took nearly eight years to build and the interior was only finished a couple of years ago. Spencer made his money from Caxton paper mills and was worth an estimated $265 million when he commissioned the yacht. It was designed by Pieter Beeldsnijder and built by Flyghtship in New Zealand. It is said to be New Zealand's only non-military vessel that can refuel a helicopter at sea. It has five cabins and room for ten crew. The asking price is 39.5 million euros.

These days it seems like everyone has the homesteading bug. Canning classes, chickens in the backyard. Regrettably I'm far too lazy for that. Owning a share in someone else's labor is a bit more my speed. A New Zealand company, Your Pure Honey sells off shares of beehives and receive a supply of Active Manuka honey collected from a single hive. Whereas normal honey is often blended from a bunch of hives, each hive has its own distinctive flavor. It's a bit like a wine made from a single vineyard or whisky pulled from a single cask.

The idea is in the same vein as the Catch A Piece of Maine lobster trap shares, Your Pure Honey provides videos and images that show the hive in its natural surroundings. The chemical-free beehives use organic materials and are moved to remote sites around New Zealand to gather the best nectar from isolated native forests. Each beehive provides the funds to sustain five acres of natural forest.. Buyer can pick up a one-year stake in a beehive – ranging from exclusive rights to a 10 per cent share – which will produce honey for them from September to May.

There are 100 beehives total and three levels of ownership: Premium Partnership provides sole rights to a hive and all the honey it produces (about 40 500g jars); Syndicate Partnership provides a quarter share (about 10 500g jars); and Community Partnership provides a one-tenth share (about four 500g jars). Prices start at $285 including delivery. The entire hive costs $2,500 and will produce 40 jars of honey for the season.

Sometimes it's better to start at the bottom and work your way up. But what if, at the same time, you could start at the bottom and be at the top? lebua Hotel offers just that at its Lake Okareka Lodge, set on a private estate in New Zealand. And when we say private, we mean private -- the extent of the accommodations is three luxury suites that can house, all together, nine people. Total. Maximum. When you book, even if there is just your lonesome, you get the whole thing to yourself -- "yourself" being you, your private chef, and the attendants waiting to fulfill your wishes.

Each of the suites gets lake views, private balconies, Bvlgari amenities, and the services of the estate's private chef. Should you commandeer the executive suite, you'll step up to your own lounge, spa bath, private office and walk-in wardrobe. As for things to do, the suites are set in the countryside, next to a lake, on the North Island of what is arguably one of the most beautiful countries on the planet. Should you tire of the fishing, sailing, kayaking, jet skiing, hiking, or simply being, the lodge maintains a piano room, a fantastically stocked wine cellar, and a 24-hour concierge for those urgent, 3 a.m. requests.

lebua Hotel Bangkok has quarters for more guests, but the numbers don't spoil the treatment. Each room in the all-suite hotel in the State Tower, Silom district has views of the Chao Phraya River. Naturally, all-suite does not mean all the suites have been created equal: ranging from 66 to 266 square meters, opt for the premium digs and you'll sup on multi-course meals prepared by your own chef for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and that liquid meal known as "cocktails."

If you must go out, the bar and five restaurants under The Dome will reward you for the slipper-shod trek: Sirocco, 63 stories up, is the world's highest open air restaurant; the tables at Breeze sit on jutting balconies, where you can dine on modern Asian fare while descrying views of modern Asia; the Mezzaluna specializes in Italian and amore -- every proposal made there has been accepted; Café Mozu mashes up a DJ, a pool, and Italian, Lebanese, and Indian courses; and Distil is where you go to wash it all down... in moderation, of course.

What could be better than 5-star suites and food? Why, a party to celebrate their opening. lebua will be hosting a gala launch of the New Zealand property and the Tower Club addition to its Bangkok location in, of all places, Sydney, Australia. The soiree goes down in November, on a private yacht that will be moored in front of the Opera House, where lebua chefs will be on hand to tempt you to make the trip to those other points distant.

If one were tempted to wonder about flying to Australia to have a party for resorts in lands at least five hours away by plane, we must remember that ours is not to question why. Ours is only to ask, "Why not?" And then make reservations...

Back in May we wrote about the amazing 49-ft. blacked-out Marten sailing yacht made of carbon fiber. Now New Zealand's Yachting Developments has come out with a superyacht version built along similar lines at 121 ft. Designed by Philippe Briand, the Bristolian is a lightweight, low profile, super-sleek sloop with an ultra-modern lightweight foam core interior, black hull, black carbon fiber rig and distinctive black sails. The yacht boasts an owner's cabin, two guest cabins forward, a split level saloon amidships and accommodation for 6-8 crew aft. Twin pod helm stations, usually only found on offshore racing catamarans, provide all necessary control and navigation equipment and direct access to the galley and crew quarters eliminating disturbance to the owners and guests. Sycamore wood paneling and a centerline skylight keep the interior light and open despite the yacht's menacing appearance.

Sensation Yachts owner Ivan Erceg has been trying to sell the motor yacht Sensation but the 164-foot yacht has been seized by authorities in the south of France. New Zealand's Sunday Star Times describes a vivid scene with writs being attached to the mast of the yacht while it was berthed at Marseille earlier this month.

Sensation Yachts has been experiencing financial trouble for a while and Erceg has put both the yacht and his mansion on the Cote d'Azur (both of which are owned by his family trust), up for sale. He had been planning to spend time at the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix seeking buyers for the house, the boat or to find investors for Sensation Yachts. Erceq inherited the partially-built yacht after his brother was killed in a car crash in 2005 and he paid for the yacht's completion with his own funds.

The yacht was launched in 2007 from the Sensation Yachts shipyard and has five guest cabins with room for a crew of nine. The luxurious yacht, which has extravagant appointments including a marble bath in the master cabin, cruises at 18 knots. The main salon has a grand piano and a bar. A formal dining room offers seating for ten and there is also ample space on deck for dining alfresco. A Jacuzzi, bar and barbecue can be found on the sunbridge. A listing with Moran yachts shows the price at 29.5 million euros.

In times of prosperity many people like to splurge on fine wine. Discerning drinkers will find however that a tighter budget need not mean sacrificing the pleasures of enjoying the fruit of the vine. New York-based Dreyfus, Ashby & Co., a national independent importer and marketer of fine wines and spirits, has put together a list of six great summer wines from around the globe, ideal for various cuisines and all priced under $20. Here's the rundown:

From Nederburg, the most award-winning name in South African wine, comes Lyric (above left), a new blend of Sauvignon blanc, Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay. Freshly cut grass and green peppers meet aromas of peach and apricot to create a wine that is crisp, fresh and beautifully acidic, perfect for pairing with anything from fresh fruit to seafood. SRP: $10.99

Château de Campuget's Tradition Rosé (center left) is a crisp and fruity rosé wine from the up-and-coming Costières de Nîmes region of France, made using roughly 30% Grenache Noir and 70% Syrah. The color is obtained through a short maceration of two hours which gives it its distinctive shiny hue. Perfect with spicy and ethnic foods. SRP: $10.99

Enrique Foster is a top-flight operation with the objective of producing the best Malbec in Argentina, which is to say the best in the world. Ique (center right) is fresh and young with fruity characteristics and a ruby-red color. Its firm structure and soft tannins make it the perfect counterpart for ribs and pulled pork sandwiches. SRP: $11.99

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is one of our all-time favorite wines. Geisen's bottling (above right) has all the ripe fruit and the crisp, green and lively components associated with the wine, aromatic, flavorful and genuinely refreshing. Perfect with a light fish with a citrusy sauce. SRP: $14.99

This incredible watch was thought impossible given the level of detail all over the timepiece's case - but passion made it possible. Graduating from having a limited edition watch with just an engraved bezel - New Zealand's own and only watch company, Magrette, now presents "Maui's Fish." The watch is based on the Magrette Regattare model, but adds an incredible amount of decoration styled after the art and stories of New Zealand's native people, the Maoris.

What I like so much about the engravings is the level of character as opposed to just being pretty. Expressive faces peek between waves and winds, with an overall visual effect of the watch being quite satisfying and appearing grand in scale. The images actually tell a story related to a Maori mythological tale relating to the creation of New Zealand's northern island, you can learn more about it via the link above. A good story like that to share while showing off your watch is something you don't get with most other timepieces.

Inside the watch is a Swiss automatic mechanical ETA 2824-2 movement, with a legible and attractive dial similar to Anonimo watch faces. The steel case is 44mm wide, and the watch comes in a limited edition presentation box crafted from New Zealand Kauri timber. Price is a very reasonable $3985, but the watch comes in a limited edition of just 10. A really great watch with a great story. See the gallery below for more images of the Magrette Maui's Fish.

Ariel Adams publishes the popular watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Check eBay next week for an online auction. The 19 leading luxury tourism companies in New Zealand (New Zealand Luxury) are coming together to offer an amazing travel deal for the starting bid of only NZ$1 (only 50 cents in the United States). Each participant is estimated to have donated NZ$1,500 (US$855) worth of travel goods and services for this effort – for a total value of NZ$33,000 (almost US$19,000).

So, what does the winning bid get you?

Come out the other side of this 10-day auction a winner, and you'll fly on a private jet to New Zealand, stay in private villas and upscale hotels for four weeks and dash around the country on helicopters and in chauffeur-driven cars. You'll even get to hit the water on a private yacht.

The largesse from the top bid will go to the Untouched World Charitable Trust, the non-profit arm of the Untouched World clothing brand – which is kicking in NZ$2,000 (more than US$1,000) in apparel for this auction.

Save the planet, and treat yourself as you demand to be treated!

Europe – the same corner of Europe, actually – claims the first three spots in Mercer Consulting's annual Quality of Living Survey. Vienna, Austria and Zurich and Geneva in Switzerland lead the list, followed by Vancouver, Canada and Auckland, New Zealand in a tie for fourth.

Little has changed for the top half of the top 10. Last year, Zurich nabbed the top spot, and Vienna and Geneva shared the #2 spot. Vancouver is unchanged year-over-year, and Auckland's #5 finish last year is roughly the same as its tie for fourth in 2009.

Not only are the top places to live ostensibly enjoyable, you're more likely to be there for a while. Life expectancies in these cities start at 79 years. It's better than living a nice long life in a dump, I guess.

The United States doesn't appear until the bottom of the top 30, with Honolulu and San Francisco. From Asia, only Singapore picks up a spot in the world's 30 best places to live. South America and Africa are not represented at all. It's strange, I half-expected to see Mogadishu on this list.

Of the 215 places listed, Baghdad has the distinction of finishing last. Sometimes, common sense prevails.

Even in this depressed economy, everyone and their cousin seems to be keen to produce their own supercar. So in addition to flagship sportscars from established automakers, independent garages pop up in every nook and cranny looking to carve out their niche at the top of the automotive ladder and vie for the cash of the well-endowed. The latest is a New Zealand-based venture name after famous Kiwi racing driver Denny Hulme.

The Hulme supercar recently made its public track debut in neighboring Australia, where an open-top version called the CanAm (named after the famous racing series which Denny Hulme dominatedin the 70's) was seen for the first time, motivated by a 600hp 7-liter V8 engine from the Chevrolet Corvette Z06, replacing the BMW engine used until now. Both closed and open versions will be offered when the Hulme supercar finally reaches the market next year with a $700,000 price tag, with an even more powerful supercharged version to follow.