Lakefront Escapes

Flat water first thing in the morning, hills on the far shore: lakefront accommodation in New Zealand keeps the jetty a few steps from the door.

Lake holidays run on their own rhythm: still mornings, long afternoons that go nowhere in particular, evenings when the surface goes glassy and the hills turn gold. They suit couples after quiet and families who build the whole trip around boats and the water. Look for baches and holiday homes with decks facing the shore and room to hang wet togs.