Lodge at The Hills

Set in a glacial valley ringed by snow-capped peaks, this contemporary barn-style lodge commands five hundred acres of South Island wilderness within easy reach of Queenstown. It is widely regarded as one of the region's most spectacular private estates, and the setting alone justifies the reputation.

The great room runs the length of the house under a steel-framed vaulted ceiling, walled in glass so the mountains become the decoration. The architecture mixes industrial confidence with warm minimalism — every corner holds a piece of art or an unexpected structural gesture — and six bedrooms sleep twelve in considerable comfort, with a wine cellar, gym, home office and piano completing the interior.

Outside is where it earns the tennis brief: a championship-sized grass court sits in the grounds, alongside a heated infinity pool, sauna and spa. Dinner can be taken under flowering cherry trees, or beside the fire pit in the enclosed outdoor lounge as the light goes off the mountains.

Championship grass tennis court · Heated infinity pool · Sauna and spa · 500 acres of private valley · Wine cellar · Fire pit and outdoor dining