Breathtaking retreats: Inside New Zealand's most exquisite holiday homes

New Zealanders have always had a passion for architecture and design with some amazing homes across the country. This passion has now firmly found its way into the classic Kiwi bach, with some extraordinary examples developed in recent years. To prove the point, we selected some of our favourite New Zealand holiday homes, designed and created by some of the best talent in the country.

This outstanding holiday home on the Banks Peninsula is a testament to the owners' love for the natural beauty of land and sea. Designed with meticulous attention to detail, it combines simplicity with sophistication. The kitchen showcases a harmonious balance of white and black, creating a serene yet elegant space. Minimalistic yet durable furnishings ensure the home is welcoming for families and pets, while carefully selected decor transforms it into a work of art. At night, the unique trusses are softly illuminated, adding a warm glow that enhances the home's intimate atmosphere. This holiday retreat perfectly marries functionality with aesthetic appeal, making it an ideal escape into tranquillity.

This summer home with stunning views of Auckland city across the Hauraki Gulf, is the very definition of a serene retreat. Its design, featuring a pavilion that houses the main bedroom suite and living areas, emphasises transparency to promote easy access to the lush lawns while shielding against winds. The architectural masterpiece includes a mono-pitched roof that subtly changes over the living spaces, enhancing the interior volume. Bedrooms line up in a separate pavilion, offering privacy and views, connected by an enclosed breezeway to additional facilities. The use of dark-stained plywood and stone integrates the home into the surrounding Pohutukawas, ensuring it blends seamlessly with nature. Minimal landscaping ensures the natural beauty of the setting is the star, making this home a perfect blend of architectural flair and environmental harmony, ideal for both private relaxation and enjoying the outdoors.

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Between Arrowtown and Queenstown, the delightful Dalefield holiday home delivers a unique blend of rustic charm and modern technology. Perched on a plateau, it boasts breathtaking views of Coronet Peak, capturing the essence of its picturesque surroundings. The design draws inspiration from traditional lean-to-farm structures, incorporating a high-tech twist for contemporary living. Clad in zinc and cedar with stone and concrete accents, the home exudes understated elegance, concealing intricate details for a seamless look. The innovative use of a farm trough for the fireplace and kitchen server adds a touch of authenticity, making this home a perfect haven for its owners.

The RAD Pad, a coastal retreat designed for the families of two brothers, epitomises the perfect balance between communal and private living. Situated on the rugged Wairarapa Coast, it blends into the hillside, offering protection and mesmerising views of the coastline. Constructed with robust materials to complement its natural setting, the house features versatile spaces that can adapt from cosy retreats for a couple to welcoming gatherings for multiple families and generations. With sheltered courtyards ensuring comfort in any weather, it's a great holiday home for creating memories and sharing stories.

Set against the backdrop of Little Mount Iron, this holiday home near Wanaka is a sanctuary amidst the natural beauty of a Kanuka covered landscape. Designed with two wings connected by a striking corten steel and glass entry hall, it offers a unique blend of privacy and communal spaces. The central courtyard and pool create a sheltered oasis, protected from the wind. The home is thoughtfully divided, with one wing housing bedrooms and utilities, and the front wing dedicated to living spaces and the master suite, all designed to maximise the stunning views. A deep verandah and screens offer protection from the intense Central Otago sun, while the use of cedar, concrete, and plywood throughout ensures durability and a seamless connection with the environment. This holiday home is both elegant and at one with its rugged surroundings, a contradiction that speaks volumes of its sophisticated design.

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Positioned just a stone's throw from Omaha Beach, this contemporary holiday home masterfully balances architectural symmetry with the natural beauty of its seaside location. Its design, featuring two striking, plywood-clad boxes atop concrete panels, integrates seamlessly into the landscape while offering a bold statement. The home's thoughtful layout includes sun-drenched terraces and louvred sunscreens, ensuring privacy and a smooth transition from the cosy interiors to the stunning beachfront. Materials like concrete floors and anodized aluminium are chosen for their simplicity and resilience, capturing the ever-changing coastal light and creating a serene, inviting retreat that celebrates its scenic surroundings with every detail.

On the glorious Tutukaka Coast, this cedar-clad holiday home radiates warmth and charm. Designed with a keen eye for detail, its floor plan promotes seamless indoor-outdoor living, essential for holiday relaxation. The mono-pitch architecture, adorned with expansive doors and windows, bathes the interior in natural light, enhancing the spacious, airy feel. The home boasts a fully covered outdoor entertainment area with a fireplace, ensuring year-round enjoyment. Inside, the elevated cedar-lined ceilings, a beautifully appointed kitchen, and large, luminous bedrooms create a luxurious retreat. The thoughtful use of materials like cedar, concrete walls, and polished concrete floors, makes this home a true masterpiece of design and comfort.

Designed to maximise views of the bay while ensuring privacy from the coastal walkway, Karahu House is a holiday home that elevates its living spaces to the upper level for an unmatched vista. The ground level features sliding timber shutters, offering versatility between openness and seclusion around an inner courtyard. A big highlight is the sun-drenched lawn and pool area, ingeniously sheltered from winds and hidden from view, creating a private oasis. The rooms are blessed with a double-height verandah, blurring the lines between indoors and out. Embracing natural materials like timber, stone, and textured walls, the home reflects its coastal environment with warmth. Its layout fosters a laid-back atmosphere, seamlessly merging interior with exterior to celebrate beachside living, making it an idyllic retreat for relaxation and entertainment.

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This beautiful holiday home in Hahei, masterfully balances the need for communal gatherings and private retreats. Its design, featuring separate cedar-clad sections, cleverly reduces visual bulk while distinguishing between shared and personal spaces. This approach not only respects the beachside community but also integrates the home seamlessly into its scenic surroundings. Deep recesses along the beachfront facade mitigate the visual impact of extensive glazing, ensuring privacy and controlled views, while also serving as sun protection. The house boasts outdoor spaces adaptable to various weather conditions and a breezeway ventilation core that harnesses sea breezes for natural cooling. Clad in natural, low-maintenance materials, the home aims to blend into its environment, embodying the ethos of being a considerate neighbour while offering a versatile, welcoming space for relaxation and connection with nature.

Ascending from Lake Wakatipu towards Bob’s Peak, one discovers a holiday home that stands as a sculptural homage to the region, designed to accommodate a multi-generational family with a view to becoming a legacy property. Chosen for its panoramic views of the lake and the snow-capped peaks beyond, this home offers a blend of communal and private spaces suitable for extended family stays. Embodying the quintessential 'Queenstown look,' it incorporates stone, timber, and glass to create spaces that are both impressive and welcoming. The design prioritises natural light and captures breathtaking southern views, with features like a wellness area, an underground cellar, and a plush bar adding to its resort-like amenities. It's a spectacular retreat that almost defies belief.

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So there you have it. A selection of some of the finest holiday homes in the country that shows exactly what's possible with great design and quality workmanship. Whether it inspires you to refresh your current bach or start one from scratch, you'll have some great properties to reference and professionals to get in touch with to help you create the perfect holiday home for you.