Bay of Many Coves

First, a point of clarification: Bay of Many Coves is the name of both the hotel and the body of water alongside which the hotel is located. If the shores here were crowded with resorts, you can imagine the sort of who’s-on-first confusion that might ensue — fortunately, this is one of those New Zealand hotels where your room comes with a generous, serene expanse of the natural world and practically no one to share it with. No danger of your helicopter, seaplane or ferry arriving at the wrong hotel on the Bay of Many Coves; there’s just one here, and like its setting, it’s a stunner.

No matter how you arrive, it’s a scenic trip in, and on arrival you’re greeted by the only form of terrestrial transport available: a golf cart. There are no roads in or out unless you count the hiking trails, a state of affairs that ought to be more than fine if you’re a hiker, a kayaker, a swimmer, a row-boater, or just someone who enjoys eating fresh seafood in an impossibly pretty, only-in-New Zealand setting. And those are just a few of the activities on offer. Other options include soaking in the cedar hot tub or the heated outdoor pool, swimming with dolphins, or boating around the bay in search of orcas — not to mention fishing, sailing, wine-tasting, or, if it happens to be the sort of thing you’re into, simply walking around at night, gazing at the local glow worms. The fishing, in particular, is world-class, as are the region’s famous sauvignon blancs. (Lacking familiarity with the overseas competition, it’s difficult to assess the comparative merits of the hotel’s glow-worm program, but to the untrained eye everything appears to be entirely satisfactory.)

Clearly, the point is not to hole up in the room, but after a day exploring the outdoors, the accommodations certainly don’t disappoint. They’re not so much rooms as modern apartments dropped into nature, with kitchenettes, oversized bathrooms, dining and sitting areas. It’s all oriented toward a wall of windows and a private deck overlooking the bay and its many, many unpeopled coves.

How to get there:
Bay of Many Coves is a short 30-minute ferry ride away from the township of Picton. Sounds Air offers flights from Wellington to Picton Kormiko Airport. Air New Zealand offers regularly scheduled flights into Blenheim, which is 30-minutes by car to Picton.