One of the best things about autumn is hunkering down in front of the fire with a glass of red after a day roaming in nature making the most of the season's crisp days and blue skies. Jane Jurgens finds four of the best premium lodges to add to your wishlist.
If a safari-style lodge experience is what you're after, Singita Boulders in the remote Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa, is a very special place indeed. Named for the boulders that line the banks of the Sand River, the rustic 12-suite lodge is part of the Singita Sabi Sand conservation reserve, where all animals are protected. At Boulders, guests can enjoy the landscape and wildlife from behind glass walls, though there are several open-air areas too. Each suite has a private plunge pool, and there is a luxe swimming pool in the main lodge area as well as a spa, boutique and gallery and wine store. Rates start from NZ$2800 per person per night.
The tiny island of Lord Howe, off the coast of Port Macquarie in New South Wales, is known for its marine and birdlife. Capella Lodge, above Lovers Bay, is considered the creme de la creme of the island's accommodation, serving up stunning ocean and mountain views and what it describes as "barefoot luxury". There are just nine suites here, as well as the fine dining Lodge Restaurant serving fresh seafood and regional produce, a pool, spa with Dreamtime-inspired Aboriginal treatments, and free mountain bike use. Rates start from NZ$815pp per night.
Tasmania's Freycinet National Park is truly one of the most spectacularly beautiful places in Australia and you can enjoy it in style at this new contemporary lodge, cleverly designed to meld into the bush. With just 20 suites on site, you'll have plenty of space to enjoy its premium day spa, exquisite contemporary cuisine and views of the Hazards Mountains, Freycinet Peninsula and Great Oyster Bay. Complimentary experiences offered by the lodg include visits to vineyards, walks, encounters with Tasmanian Devils and a visit to the Freycinet Marine Oyster Farm where you'll have the chance to enjoy these delicacies at a white tablecloth-clad dining spot while ankle-deep in an estuary. There are plenty of other paid experiences on offer too, such as day cruises and clay target shooting.
In the middle of the desert on the border between Utah and Arizona is Amangiri, one of the most jaw-dropping resorts you'll ever lay eyes on. This astounding place is tucked in a valley among dramatic rock formations in the "Grand Circle", the largest concentration of national parks in the United States. Each of its 34 suites comes with an outdoor lounge and fireplace for those chilly desert nights, and some have private lap or plunge pools. If you're the adventurous type you'll be out exploring during the day — maybe kayaking on Lake Powell, horse-riding, enjoying a hot air balloon ride, rock climbing or at the Grand Canyon or another amazing national park. Or, you could just relax at this beautiful place, perhaps at the Navajo-inspired spa or with some candlelit or full moon yoga. Rates start from NZ$1915 plus taxes.
