Dan Ahwa checks into Millbrook Resort, in Arrowtown.
Getting there: Direct flight from Auckland on Air New Zealand. It's always a treat to fly into a picturesque Q-town on a clear day. I fly in on a crisp morning, with the snow finally set upon the Remarkables. Picked up by a Mercedes SUV transfer and driven to the resort, roughly 15 minutes away.
Check-in experience: You enter the resort gates, down a road framed by towering trees planted in 1867. On an autumnal day, it's nothing short of breath-taking. Golden leaves fall like confetti.
Attentive porters help you with your luggage as you enter reception. It's small, with no fanfare, like walking into a rustic cabin. An adjoining golf shop is stocked with everything you need — not just a luxury escape, the resort is home to a 27-hole golf course across a sprawling and well-manicured estate.
Room: There's a wide range of accommodation options including one or two bedroom suites, cottages and private two storey homes for larger families. My Deluxe studio apartment is a short stroll from reception, but golf carts and porters are on hand should you require. The room is equipped with a separate toilet, bathroom with tub, large walk-in wardrobe, and a small patio, perfect for admiring the area's breathtaking views. In a word: cosy.
