Lakestone Lodge, Lake Pukaki

There's some serious eco-luxury to be had on a tranquil hill above

Lake Pūkaki. It's a five-star off-grid boutique lodge set on 0.8ha with preposterously picture-perfect views of that Gatorade-blue lake and the Southern Alps. Each of the six rooms is named after one of the distant mountain peaks ponderable from the elegant bath. Owners

Anna and Mike Bacchus find it hard to peel themselves away from the alpine theatre that fills their windows. Says Anna: “The view over the lake and mountains is always changing due to storms, wind, sun and snow levels. Even when we're away, Mike still looks at the lodge's live webcam to make sure the guests are getting a good view.” They've thought of everything here: sumptuous meals, massage treatments, and complimentary bikes to use on the surrounding trails. They even offer bespoke stargazing tours, where guests are taken to a secret spot, warmed with mulled wine/hot chocolate and tucked into a hammock with a snug blankie. Thus coddled, a guide points out treasures in the Dark Sky Reserve overhead with one of those nifty Star Wars-esque laser pointers. Of course, this all makes checking out of Lakestone Lodge a wrench. But then it is always possible to do a “Mike” and add the webcam to the browser bookmarks. 4589 Tekapo-Twizel Highway. (03) 971 1871, lakestonelodge.co.nz