Fodor's Expert Review Manawa Ridge

A luxury retreat built with artistic architectural flair to exacting eco-standards (recycled beams, mud brick, and straw-bale walls), this lodge stands on a farm ridge top with 360-degree views over the Pacific Ocean and Coromandel. Three guest suites are each individually designed and all feature private gardens with hot tubs and views (and silk bedding and Luxe bathrobes). Breakfasts are included; five-course dinners can be arranged or you can negotiate for something simpler. Picnic lunches can also be provided. Guests can wander the 250-acre farm, take a sculpture workshop, and explore the coastal walkway on the doorstep.