With its unrivalled city views, high-end partner experiences, gourmet dining and state-of-the-art spa, the new Park Hyatt Auckland is a game changer for New Zealand’s largest city.

Traveller: Kirstie Bedford Room: Harbour Suite. Room number: 518 Address: 99 Halsey Street, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland city Date: May, 2022 Price range: NZ$400 – $12,000 per night Best for: A luxurious weekend away, business travel or a family getaway

Location, location, location. This new property on Wynyard Quarter looks directly out to the Viaduct Harbour with its bobbing boats and multiple restaurants. It’s quiet, and yet you’re only a short stroll to the centre of the city.

The design of the hotel was inspired by the Māori wharenui (house). The exterior was created to represent being wrapped in a Māori cloak. Native totara pouwhenua (carvings) line the entrances, and a dramatic blue and green artwork by Māori artist Peata Larkin dominates the hotel lobby. Each room has Māori designed tukutuku panels and rugs made from New Zealand wool and ground-floor hallways feature local Indigenous art.

With 195 rooms, this is by no means a boutique hotel, however, it certainly feels like one. Maybe it’s the resident black Labrador, Beau, who sits at reception, the internal atrium flooded with natural light, the Māori art that appears at every turn, or the Kiwis themselves, who are just so welcoming – but this hotel has a big heart.  

My room was a corner Harbour Suite with views out to the Auckland Harbour Bridge on one side and the Viaduct Harbour and Sky City on the other.

On entry is a hallway where you’ll find a discreet kitchenette with a mini-fridge, kettle, Nespresso pod machine.

This leads to an open-planned lounge and dining area. A large door slides across to reveal the bedroom, where a plush bed sits centre stage with wraparound floor to ceiling windows showcasing the harbour views.

The views extend to the marble bathroom which has an egg-shaped bath facing floor to ceiling windows. There’s an oversized shower with a large rain shower head and double basins.

All the lights operate at the touch of a button, as does the motorised blinds. From the bedroom, a covered furnished balcony is the perfect spot to watch luxury boats entering or leaving the harbour and take in the city skyline.

The NZ$12,000 a night Presidential Suite will literally take your breath away.

At 245 sqm, it’s bigger than most apartments and the largest suite in Auckland. Inside you’ll find a grand piano, internal courtyard, dining table for 10, and an additional 125 sqm wraparound balcony, where you’ll have front row seats to the harbour, Viaduct restaurant precinct and out to the Sky Tower, New Zealand’s tallest building.

Park Hyatt Auckland’s signature restaurant, Onemata, was recently awarded a chef hat, and it’s not surprising when you consider chef Brent Martin’s experience and food philosophy.

Martin spent more than two decades abroad before returning home to helm the hotel’s culinary operation.

His passion for local produce shows. Dishes are created with seasonal produce from the hotel’s partner producers, who Martin likes to personally visit, including cheese and yoghurt from Riverine buffalo herd at Clevedon Buffalo Co farm. Dine on Cloudy Bay clams, spaghetti and chilli soffritto; whisky cured salmon, lemon and yuzu crème fraiche and finish on desserts like caramelised pear, walnut ice cream, dulcey ganache and almond sponge. All washed down by carefully selected, matched local and international wines.

The bed. It is so soft I felt like I was sinking.

There are three restaurants and a bar. Signature restaurant Onemata is a must. For something more casual, try The Living Room, where you can sit in oversized armchairs and take in the harbour view.

Also, The Pantry is a great go-to for cafe style food, where you can grab a coffee by specialist roasters Eightthirty (the hotel will also organise for you to visit the nearby roaster and do a coffee tasting).

At the other end of the day, head to Captain’s Bar. Follow the noise to this lively bar with a tapas menu where there are dozens of different rums to choose from. For those with a sweet tooth, don’t miss the Caribbean rums paired with local Foundry Chocolate, made with the world’s finest cacao beans and organic cane sugar.

Before you dive into the selection or rums, burn some calories in the gym, which is as impressive as everything else in this hotel, or swim some laps in the 25-metre undercover heated infinity pool.

If you want to soothe the soul, head to The Spa for any number of massage and facial treatments. Our pick: The Ultimate Haute Couture Facial, a 90-minute treatment using algae derived V-Tox, the natural alternative to anti-ageing injectables. Alternatively, opt for a native clay and hot oil full body massage using anti-inflammatory herb and plant extracts to provide long lasting muscular pain relief. Afterward, head to the hydrotherapy area with vitality pools and a steam room.

It’s little wonder The Spa was awarded New Zealand’s Best Hotel Spa 2021 at the World Spa Awards.

Park Hyatt Auckland has premier partnerships that give stepping out a whole new meaning.

Fly by helicopter with Heletranz to any number of islands in the Hauraki Gulf. Our pick is Waiheke Island, home to Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant with its tasting room, rooftop bar and restaurant with views over the vines.

For a day on the water, board one of Cruise New Zealand’s superyachts. Rua Moana was built in 2019 for NZ$20 million and has seven bathrooms, four bedrooms and three dining areas. Take it out for a day for NZ$14,500 and drop the hydraulic deck, release the water skis or simply press a button to expose the hidden wine cellar, and sit back and enjoy the views.

Road tripping is also a great way to see the city. Take a Tesla (the hotel will also organise a driver for you) from Go Rentals, pop a picnic in the boot and drive roughly 45 minutes to lay a rug down at Muriwai beach. You’re likely to be the only ones on the windswept rugged coastline that stretches 60 kilometres.

For something a bit more sedate, take the short walk to nearby Britomart – home to high-end boutiques Karen Walker and Kate Sylvester and multiple eateries.

Read: How to have the ultimate luxury getaway in Auckland

The hotel took out gold at the Qualmark Sustainable Business Awards. It won Best Australasian Hotel and Best New Zealand Hotel at the HM Awards 2021. Signature restaurant Onemata was awarded a chef hat in Cuisine Magazine’s Best Food Awards, and the hotel won Best Pastry Chef. The spa was named New Zealand’s Best Hotel Spa 2021 at the World Spa Awards. No surprises there.

Ask for a corner Harbour Suite, so you get views of the Auckland Harbour Bridge on one side, and the city skyline on the other. Or, splash out on the Presidential Suite, where you can play the grand piano to those sparkling waterside views, or simply sit on the wraparound balcony with some freshly shucked local oysters and a glass of champagne and soak it all up.

Autumn is a great time to visit. While the weather is cooler in the mornings and evenings, you will miss the crowds you’ll get around the city in summer.

I had more time. You’ll want to linger when staying here.

Park Hyatt Auckland is a game changer for New Zealand’s largest city. The variety of rooms and suites, the quality of the food, the spa, and the location make it a truly exceptional option for a luxury getaway.

Park Hyatt Auckland is about 30 minutes from Auckland International Airport. It’s in Wynyard Quarter, a short walk to the centre of the city.

Looking for more inspirational Signature Luxury Travel & Style stories? Try these…

Wellness, relaxation and luxury at Melia Phuket Mai KhaoA look inside Laucala Island, Fiji – one of the world’s most exclusive resortsThe game-changing Park Hyatt Auckland brings a new level of luxury to Auckland

Travel to the world's most desirable destinations with Seabourn and enjoy double shipboard credits as their gift to you.

Set amongst the city's new 80 Collins precinct of industry influencers, high fashion and hospitality hot spots, Next Hotel Melbourne

Arrive at unique reef sites by schooner or 20-metre catamaran and enjoy a range of complementary activities.

11 kilometres of pristine beach, poolside cabanas with cocktails and wellness programs, there is a lot to love at Melia Phuket Mai Khao

General enquiries admin@signaturemedia.com.au

Sales enquiries sales@signaturemedia.com.au

In the spirit of reconciliation, Signature Luxury Travel & Style acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

© 2022 Signature Publishing Pty Ltd, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED