A grand adventure in New Zealand & Australia

Agatha in Australasia

After departing from South Africa, Agatha made her way to the lustrous landscapes of New Zealand and Australia. This would be a bountiful adventure indeed, jam-packed with unfamiliar sights and exhilarating cultural sights for this nascent globetrotting author.

She would walk through the volcanic landscapes of Rotorua, meeting local Māori and trekking – as she put it – “hard”. She’d spot red kangaroos and “meditative emus”. Her Australasian experience was, first and foremost, an aesthetic one; commenting adoringly on the “paint-box” colors and hills that looked like they’d been sketched on drawing paper. She would call New Zealand “the most beautiful country” she’d ever seen. But – as she put it – there was still time to work, having “done some writing of short stories during the last few days”.

From Melbourne to Mornington

Mailing up at the Park Hyatt Melbourne, this is your chance to drink up the cosmopolitan charm of this eye-opening continent. Dining at the award-winning Raddi restaurant and bar, you’ll have plenty of time to wander through the city’s “flat white” culture of shopping arcades, bustling streets, and curious bars. Find a moment to recover your senses at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Agatha herself opined on the “extraordinary aspect” of the city’s landscapes, parks and greenery.

During her stay, Agatha enjoyed the sights and distractions of sumptuous St. Kilda – as will you. From the Palais Theater and Luna Park to the cafes of on-trend Acland Street. Looping back to the city, you’ll visit the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit that circles Albert Park Lake – a nod to the motor tour that Agatha took of the city.

Before departing, you’ll make your way to Mornington Peninsula – enjoying a gourmet odyssey inspired by Agatha’s culinary experiences during her Australian trip.

From Hobart to the Hazard Mountains

Arriving in Hobart, Agatha met Fijians (whom she loved) and a traveler obsessed with dehydrated foods (him she liked less). Your own trip will see you post up at the Henry Jones Art Hotel (which Agatha visited when it was a jam factory), from where you’ll enjoy Hobart’s harbor and its passion for ultra-contemporary artwork.

There’s time to visit the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) – a place described by its owner as a “subversive adult Disneyland”. From here, you’ll head to Saffire Freycinet – with two spectacular nights to enjoy the natural beauty of the peninsula, with the pink-tinted Hazard Mountains and Wineglass Bay as your backdrop. There’s much time to enjoy the local activities, including beekeeping, Pelican Bay canoeing, stargazing, Schouten Island, Saffire peninsula fishing, golf, and quad bikes. And more.

Zooming to New Zealand

Mailing up at Otahuma Lodge, a lavish, 19th century country estate moments from the city of Christchurch, this is a chance to soak up the history of New Zealand and its wondrous wilderness culture. Stained glass, Queen Anne architecture, wood-burning fireplaces and intricate woodworked carvings. There’s time for candlelit dinners, 100-year-old gardens, and horseback riding – a stunning reflection of the artistry of Agatha’s era.

On the next day, you’ll follow Agatha west across the Canterbury Plains – all in sight of the South Alps. Walk the track to Devil’s Punchbowl Falls, enjoying lush beech forests and spectacular waterfalls. You’ll wind up across the Otira Viaduct, before arriving at the sublime shores of Lake Kaniere.

Volcanoes and glow-worms in Rotorua

From the South Island to the North Island, you’ll transfer to the 1920s Huka Lodge – consistently ranked among the best in the world – from where you’ll have the perfect base from which to explore the wonders of Rotorua. It was here that Agatha explored the “great quaking boiling mud pits” and hot pools of the area. On your own private tour, you’ll visit Ohinemutu Village and learn about Maori culture in this sublime region. Known for its historic volcanism, learn about the eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886 – of how it buried villages and terraces have been excavated in subsequent years.

From here, you’ll skip across to Auckland (your final destination) via the Waitomo Glow-worm Caves, a place of limestone caves and beguiling grottos. At its end, you’ll embark on an subway boat tour; gliding silently along the starry wonderland of the Waitomo River.