Rotorua

Rotorua. The tourism capital of New Zealand. Mud pools, hot springs, bubbling geysers, Maori dancers, sheep shearing. The works.

Then there’s Rotorua, the quiet, serene, idyllic getaway destination that most of us (even those of us who live here) wouldn’t believe existed.

Well, on Easter weekend, 2008. I found it. Like a Christopher Columbus wannabe (but with a gentle PR nudge here and there), I stumbled upon a beautiful retreat nestled into a peninsula of unspoiled land jutting out onto Lake Rotorua.

Peppers on the Point is one of a handful of luxury properties owned and managed by Peppers Retreats, Resorts and Hotels in New Zealand and Australia. They go by the quality, not quantity rule. Their stunning home-cum-retreat in Rotorua is one of their flagships and is certainly worth a visit.

Now, when we arrived, I’ll be honest and say it wasn’t what I’d expected. I had the word ‘resort’ stuck in my head, which implies infinity pools, umbrellas, butlers, and private, secluded rooms in palm trees. However, Peppers on the Point is an old family home, sitting atop the hilly end of a small outcrop of land on the edge of Lake Rotorua. It has been added to and refurbished a few times, and now the main house is surrounded by small cottages, a tennis court, a chapel and those hills that roll down to a calm lake, also playing home to 2 donkeys, a small flock of black sheep, 4 miniature horses and an Alpaca.

Like any great retreat, Peppers in hands-on as soon as you arrive. And by that I mean you’re looked after like you’re the only one there. David and his team of staff aim to pre-empt your every move and desire.

Our two-day stay at Peppers was all-too-short, but we crammed in some notable moments while we were there. Anna my girlfriend became a certified Horse Whisperer (as if that talent wasn’t there already), she also nearly beat me at pool but I psyched myself up for the greatest comeback of all time. We also met Jay, the Canadian fence magnate and muscle car enthusiast at dinner (the sweetcorn soup is INCREDIBLE! I’ve been searching for a recipe like it ever since) and I learned that part of being a kiwi is toasting your own bread even when you’ve got a kitchen staff of 3 waiting on you hand and foot.

When you go to Peppers On The Point (I know you will), ask to have a massage with either Rebecca or Pam. They work like a tag-team, massaging a couple in the same room and keeping the mood light while they inflict the most intense-but-relieving pain deep into your muscles. I was asleep on my feet when I left and my shoulders haven’t felt this good in about a year. Thanks, Bex.

Much to Peppers’ staff amazement, Anna and I didn’t want to go to the Agrodome, roll down a hill in the ‘Orb’, or scream down a narrow concrete pathway in a luge. We just wanted to relax. Peppers was a perfect place for this. The only part I would have changed is the music at the restaurant we were advised to visit. It was called ‘Herbs’ and they served a beautiful Filet Mignon and Pinot Noir. The meal was great, except I don’t really want to hear MC Hammer’s ‘Can’t Touch This’ when I’m paying $35.00 for a steak and trying to pretend I’m sophisticated.

www.peppers.co.nz