A Romantic Escape to New Zealand & Fiji: Volcanoes, Glaciers & Tropics

We flew in via Fiji Airways in business class—a surprisingly lovely experience with excellent food and warm service. After arriving in Christchurch, we checked into The George, a stylish boutique hotel across from Hagley Park. Spend the afternoon exploring the rose gardens and walking paths, then toast your trip with dinner at 50 Bistro. Pro tip: Try the lamb—it’s a New Zealand staple, and they do it beautifully.

We boarded the TranzAlpine Train early for one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world—and yes, it lives up to the hype. The ride through Arthur’s Pass is jaw-dropping, with wide braided rivers and snow-dusted peaks around every turn. We picked up our rental car in Greymouth and drove south to Te Waonui Forest Retreat, tucked into the lush rainforest near Franz Josef Glacier.

We explored short hikes around Franz Josef Glacier in the morning, then treated ourselves to the glacier’s hot pools in the afternoon—a heavenly reward for travel-weary legs. Dinner back at Te Waonui’s fine-dining restaurant included fresh seafood and forest-foraged herbs. Don’t skip the smoked green-lipped mussels!

After a gorgeous drive and a quick domestic flight, we landed in Queenstown and checked into the iconic Matakauri Lodge, where our suite overlooked Lake Wakatipu. This place feels like you’ve walked into a postcard. And that bathtub view? Unreal.

Start your day with a ride on the skyline gondola to get the best views over Queenstown. We spent the afternoon wandering the lakefront and trying Fergburger (yes, it’s touristy, but it’s worth it). In the evening, we sipped wine by the fireplace back at the lodge, watching the Remarkables turn purple at sunset.

We took a scenic drive to Arrowtown, a charming gold-rush village with restored cottages and fiery autumn foliage. I rented a bike and coasted through the trails, stopping for coffee and a cheese scone at Provisions Café. It’s an idyllic break from adrenaline-fueled Queenstown.

We hiked part of the Ben Lomond Track in the morning and booked a last-minute helicopter ride to see Milford Sound from above—one of those “why not, we’re here” splurges that I’ll never forget. We capped the day with a private dinner on the terrace at Matakauri.

Back to the airport for our flight to Nadi, Fiji—and then a transfer to Tokoriki Island Resort. From the first glimpse of the island to the welcome cocktail on the dock, it felt like a dream. Our beachfront bure had a plunge pool and uninterrupted sunset views.

We did very little...and it was perfect. Morning snorkeling trips, long beach walks, afternoon massages in the open-air spa, and dinners under the stars with our toes in the sand. The staff remembered our names and favorite cocktails by the second day. It was the perfect ending to a big adventure.

We left Tokoriki via boat transfer and flew back to San Francisco, hearts full. If I could bottle the feeling of this trip, I would.