From whale watching in Cape Town to oyster farming in Tasmania, enjoy a cool summer vacay in the southern hemisphere

Meanwhile, the historic Mount Nelson hotel, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, has a seven-day “Whales & Wine” package that whisks guests away from its iconic pink walls to explore South Africa’s wine country, finishing the trip in Hermanus.

Fun fact: during the whale watching season in that town, an appointed whale crier alerts watchers to the presence of whales by blowing—and we aren’t joking—a kelp horn.

If you want to bask a little longer in the coastal town’s charm, check into Birkenhead House. Perched overlooking the beach, this 11-suite hotel is the perfect place to watch the whales and the surfers come rolling into South Africa’s Western Cape—especially from the pool terrace which hangs over the cliff.

Off the grid & into the wild

It’s not hard to see why the world’s billionaires have been busy buying property in New Zealand. With sprawling land, otherworldly landscapes and a laid-back approach to life, it’s the perfect place to clear your head (and a few items off your bucket list). But if you prefer someone else to take care of the accommodation, there are some seriously luxe lodges that place you in the heart of the great outdoors.

Take The Lindis, for example, which sits on a 970-hectare plot of wilderness just 30 minutes from the town of Wanaka on New Zealand’s South Island. Surrounded by the Ahuriri Conservation Park, the eight-suite hotel’s stealthy design playfully traces the lines of neighbouring peaks and troughs. It’s the perfect home base for adventure seekers, with access to a range of activities from walking trails to mountain biking, fly-fishing to horse riding. It’s a great way to work up an appetite for The Lindis’s exceptional menu, which features grown-onsite produce, line-caught fish and free-range meat.

For a (much) bigger thrill, The Lindis can arrange private heliski charters to some spectacular terrain. With access to multiple mountain ranges and more than 800 runs, the hotel’s appointed group of experienced guides and pilots have been making the dreams of skiers and snowboarders come true for over 30 years.

If total isolation isn’t your bag, there’s always Eichardt’s Private Hotel in Queenstown. Standing proud on the shores of Lake Wakatipu since 1861, this is where the rich and famous come to stay (and play). Its 2,580 sq ft penthouse is one of the most impressive in the region, featuring a sprawling terrace with a hot tub, 180-degree views of the lake, indoor and outdoor kitchens, a sauna and access to a private chef and 24-hour butler service. Nice.

Should you choose to leave this lakefront haven, scenic helicopter rides, private yacht cruises and golfing at some of New Zealand’s most prestigious courses can be arranged. 

Premium produce & unconventional art 

Located in an isolated pocket of Tasmania’s rugged east coast, Saffire Freycinet is a stunning work of architecture by Robert Morris Nunn. The main building was designed to resemble a stingray, with 20 villas thoughtfully positioned along the coastal greenery to ensure views across Great Oyster Bay and The Hazards mountain range.

Inside, wood-heavy interiors are crafted using lumber from local trees like celery-topped pine and Tasmanian oak. Saffire Freycinet has been a bucket-list destination for serious food lovers since it opened in 2010. The seasonal menu showcases the best of Tasmanian produce, from abalone and scallops to saltgrass lamb.

Tatler tip: A stay also includes bottomless pours from the hotel’s impressive wine cellar. Cheers!

The hotel is also a quick seven-minute drive from Freycinet Marine Farm, which produces some of the world’s finest oysters. A visit here is included for hotel guests, who have the opportunity to put on a pair of waders and step into the heart of the working oyster farm to learn about the vital role they play in maintaining the delicate marine ecosystem while sampling a freshly-shucked oyster or two … or 12.

The briny morsels are at their best in late autumn to early spring, from April to October, with peak season in June and July. And since you’ve travelled all this way, rent a car for a two-hour coastal drive to visit Mona—the unconventional art museum founded by gambling tycoon David Walsh.

Built into a sandstone peninsula on Hobart’s Derwent River, the museum showcases rare collections, from Egyptian antiquities to ancient Greek and Roman coins to unconventional contemporary works by Australian and international artists. Stay the night at one of its eight luxury chalets, collectively known as Mona Pavilions. Mona also hosts a number of music festivals throughout the year—the provocative midwinter festival, Dark Mofo, brings together live music and centuries-old winter solstice rituals

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