KEY POINTS:
Bill Gates went there to play tennis four hours a day, while Bette Midler went there to marvel at the flora and fauna.
Kauri Cliffs is that kind of place. In a country that is only now following the rest of the Western world and tapping into the luxury market, the Northland resort oozes understated opulence.
In only six years since it opened, Kauri Cliffs has gained worldwide attention and enjoys a guest list to make the editors of women's magazines salivate.
Of course, there's the world-class golf course that has left golfing aficionados grasping for superlatives (although some dysfunctional hackers might use more choice words as their ball flies off the 150m-high cliffs), the elegant accommodation that also affords privacy and the spectacular setting with 180deg views of the Pacific Ocean just north of the Bay of Islands.
Now there's another reason to venture to Kauri Cliffs.
Ever since the Babylonians and Greeks discovered the benefits of bathing in hot springs and mineral waters, spas have become synonymous with luxury and indulgence.
It was inevitable, then, that Kauri Cliffs would tap into this market. In December, it opened its own extravagant $1.7 million spa facility set among a native totara forest and ponga ferns.
After experiences with a dumpy Arabian man wearing only briefs in a Moroccan hammam and a disconcertingly strong man who enjoyed the sound of cracking bones at a bathhouse in Turkey, Brenner's soothing hands were a welcome change.
The hot-stone treatment sounded a bit torturous for this delicate soul, so it was a tender massage instead.
Like everything to do with Kauri Cliffs, it was utterly pleasant and the serenity of the setting matched the experience.
The menu of treatments offers anything from facials to massages, pedicures to manicures and Vichy-water treatments (the mind boggles) to yoga sessions.
The beauty of Kauri Cliffs is that you almost feel like you're the only one there. It might have something to do with the fact there only 11 cottages, each with two suites, or that a busy day on the golf course would be 40 punters _ there are almost as many greenkeepers. There were only four who played the day the course taught this punter a lesson.
It's fair to say the golf course is Kauri Cliffs' signature dish. To suggest it's spectacular is like mentioning that Tiger Woods isn't too bad with a nine-iron in his paws. The Pacific Ocean is a constant playing companion and six holes cling to the vertiginous cliffs.
It's tough, but it's meant to be. Michael Campbell is the touring pro and he rates the fourth hole as one of the best par fives in the world.
The spa is the perfect place to repair a bruised ego and battered body after a round of golf.
Sometimes everyone needs to indulge. After all, even if you don't have it sitting in a bank account, it's nice to feel a million dollars.
Kauri Cliffs: The golf resort is on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, four hours' drive, or a one hour helicopter ride if you choose, north of Auckland.
Golf: The course is rated as one of the best in the world, while it is one of only three lodges in New Zealand listed as a Relais & Chateaux.
Spa: The spa offers a full range of individual or couple treatments. There are also a gym, a two lane heated pool and teo Astroturf tennis courts nearby.
Cost: Depending on the season, doubles start from $550 (excluding GST) per person per night. This includes dinner and breakfast and use of all lodge facitilies excluding golf. Green fees start from $180. For more information, go to www.kauricliffs.com
