Pacific Grandeur: Rosewood Kauri Cliffs, New Zealand

Lauren Ho checks into Rosewood Kauri Cliffs, a storied New Zealand lodge where colonial‑style elegance meets sweeping Pacific panoramas, championship golf, and an  indulgent sense of place.

Review: Rosewood Kauri Cliffs, New Zealand

Set on a 6,000‑acre coastal estate in Northland’s Bay of Islands, Rosewood Kauri Cliffs has long been a benchmark for New Zealand luxury. Built by American philanthropists Julian and Josie Robertson in 2001, the property was designed as much for its jaw‑dropping clifftop setting as for its world‑class golf course. Now under the stewardship of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, the lodge retains its gracious, plantation‑style architecture, deep‑rooted warmth, and connection to the land, but with the polished touches the brand is known for. Whether you’re here for the golf, the ocean, or simply to unwind in genteel comfort, Kauri Cliffs delivers the kind of rarefied escape that feels both deeply local and wonderfully removed from the rest of the world.

STAY

Approaching along the winding driveway, the lodge appears like a grand colonial‑style manor set high on a ridge, its wraparound verandas and pitched roofline surveying a panorama of rolling farmland, native forest, and the vast Pacific. From here, the views are extraordinary, with green fairways spilling towards the cliff edge, below which lie three private beaches and islands scattered offshore. Inside, soaring ceilings and large windows frame these vistas at every turn, drawing the landscape into the lodge’s elegant sitting rooms, which are dressed in soft blues, warm woods, antiques, and local art.

The 22 suites are tucked into duplex cottages that blend discreetly into the grounds, each with a private porch positioned to capture the views. Interiors balance colonial elegance with coastal informality, with rattan armchairs, and artwork that nods to New Zealand’s natural beauty. Walk‑in dressing rooms and vast bathrooms with deep soaking tubs encourage lingering, while open fires bring a glow to winter stays. For families or those seeking seclusion, the two‑bedroom villa offers a private retreat with its own kitchen and pool, while the four‑bedroom villa adds generous living spaces and infinity pools looking out across an endless sweep of ocean and sky. In every category, the connection to the landscape is constant, with the Pacific and its surrounding beauty never far from view.

DO

Golf is the headline act here. Designed by David Harman, Kauri Cliffs’ par‑72 championship course ranks among the world’s best, with 15 holes overlooking the ocean and six running right along the cliff edge. Summer brings warm days for sailing the Bay of Islands or hiking the coastal trails, while winter transforms the lodge into a cosy refuge, with roaring log fires and a glass of Northland pinot noir in hand. Beyond the fairways, a guided Heritage Discovery Tour reveals the area’s Māori history and early European settlement, while ATV tours traverse pine forest, farmland, and beaches. Private dining on Pink Beach – its sand made of crushed pink shells – is a signature experience, reached by a scenic walk through the golf course or chauffeured in style. The spa, hidden in a totara forest, is a restorative retreat in its own right, with treatments that range from deep‑tissue massages to revitalising facials. Or simply spend an afternoon beside your fireplace with a good book.

EAT

Meals centre on the lodge’s light‑filled dining room, where a daily changing dinner menu showcases the best of New Zealand produce – much of it sourced locally. Expect dishes like line‑caught snapper with beurre blanc and baby fennel, or Hawke’s Bay lamb with minted pea purée. An all‑day menu runs alongside, and in true Kauri Cliffs style, you can pretty much order what you like from vodka battered fish and chips to wholesome chicken soup. The extensive wine list is proudly New Zealand, and should you land a snapper on a morning fishing trip, the chefs will prepare it for you that evening, simply grilled with lemon and herbs.

THE FINAL WORD

Under Rosewood’s care, the charm and character that have long defined Kauri Cliffs feel not only preserved but elevated, creating a New Zealand retreat that delivers a rare balance of place, heritage and polish,  perfect in every season.

BOOK IT

Rates at Rosewood Kauri Cliffs start from NZD 2,950 (approx. £1,400) per room per night, including breakfast, pre‑dinner drinks and canapés, and a la carte dinner. rosewoodhotels.com