Bal Harbour Magazine Spring / Summer 2024 issue - preview

CONTENTS SPRING/SUMMER 2024

66 BEHIND THE COVER

Cover model Nidhi Sunil is breaking barriers in front of the camera, and off-duty, she’s making waves as an activist and philanthropist.

71

MATTER OF STYLE

Top picks from the Haute Couture collections, the Creative Challenge returns, and Bal Harbour Shops welcomes Pomellato, Eleventy, and Avenue 31 Café

BHS EDIT

84 BABY BLUE

You can bet on blue to be one of the season’s most coveted hues.

86 BLOOMING BODIES

Florals get physical this spring, practically leaping off looks from head to toe.

88 SMOOTH OPERATOR

We’re springing for silk—from strappy heels and shift dresses to blazers and timepieces.

90 A FINE WEAVE

Need some breathing room? These woven, knit, and raffia textures are a breath of fresh air.

STYLE SETTERS

96 BRIGETTE ROMANEK

Interior designer Brigette Romanek launched her eponymous studio in 2018 and already has an enviable client list including Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore, and Beyoncé.

98 ERIN POLLARD

After spending the past two decades working in the fashion industry, Erin Pollard, the executive director of fashion partnerships at Vogue, has witnessed her own sartorial sense continually evolve

100 CAROLINA LINDO

Since moving to Miami 12 years ago, Colombian-born Carolina Lindo has established herself as a fixture on the local fashion scene, with a successful blog–turned–social media mini-empire, Storytellers .

PHOTO

VERSACE jacket, skirt, and boots, 305.864.0044

CONTENTS

CULTURE

104

15 QUESTIONS

Fashion designer, celebrated collector, and curator Lisa Perry expands the reach of her East Hampton art space Onna House with a temporary Palm Beach gallery.

106 ASK THE EXPERT

Fashion critic Booth Moore looks back on her groundbreaking career–and forward, toward spring trends.

108 NOTES FROM A GLASS HOUSE

Author Asha Elias talks PTA politics, rediscovering writing, and her debut satirical novel, “Pink Glass Houses.”

114 HOW TO WEAR IT

Hollywood stylist Jessica Paster found her calling behind the scenes—and her A-list roster of clients couldn’t be happier about it.

130 WHALE WATCHING

There seems to be no end in sight to Miami’s billionaire boom. Jay Cheshes heads south to see how this rising tide is reshaping the city’s cultural landscape.

136 HOW TO CHANGE THE BODY’S SCORE

Sasha Frere-Jones revisits David R. Hawkins’s “Letting Go,” and discovers a new generation of devotees practicing the art of surrender.

224 A FINE LINE

Vincent Moustache captures the essence of Spring fashion in a blooming Bal Harbour Shops garden

TRAVEL

116 MY TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

With a sought-after London design studio, Tara Bernerd has a global client roster and an equally international travel schedule

120 WANDERLUST

There’s a new crop of all-inclusive luxury properties that want you have it all—without itemizing.

134 SAILING SEASON

Mark Ellwood reports that the tide has turned toward classic sailing vessels and cruise lines such as Windstar.

JEWELRY

93 HEIRLOOMS IN THE MAKING

Three storied jewelry houses cement their heritage with instantly recognizable motifs, designed to delight and entrance.

126 THE COVET

Shake off winter by embracing the brightest baubles of the season

CHEVRON COLLECTION

CONTENTS

SPRING/SUMMER 2024

150 SET SAIL

Model Nidhi Sunil boards Windstar’s Wind Surf with the season’s boldest silhouettes in tow, from Balenciaga’s oversized denim to Prada’s new power suit .

166 THE CASHMERE WHISPERERS

Sisters Carolina and Camilla Cucinelli continue their family’s legacy of luxuriously understated slow fashion at Brunello Cucinelli.

170 FEMME FATALE

Content in a world of her own, our heroine embraces the romance of the Spring collections while maintaining her edge.

186 COLLECTOR’S EDITION

A new book from Rizzoli captures the astonishing, extensive, and sublime closets of some of the preeminent fashion collectors of our time. Isabel B. Slone speaks to the celebrated fashion stylist and author of “Collecting Fashion,” Alexandra Carl.

192 MIAMI MODERN

On Sunset Island, architect Chad Oppenheim’s longtime home also serves as a testing ground for his award-winning designs .

202 THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT SABATO

At Gucci, Sabato De Sarno is blending his streamlined and sensual creativity with commercial cleverness. Writer Nick Remsen ruminates on the designer’s place in the house’s legacy

206 FAR & AWAY

The neighboring island countries of Australia and New Zealand offer endless curiosities and terrain to explore. And over the last decade, there’s been a major uptick in their luxury lodging offerings, encouraging a new wave of travelers to make the journey—without sparing any indulgence

PHOTO BY SEAN DAVIDSON

The Miami Beach home of architect Chad Oppenheim

Publisher, Carolyn Travis

Creative Director, Cheryl Stephenson

Editorial Director, Sarah G. Harrelson

Executive Editor, Tali Jaffe-Minor

Art Director, Alexander Wolf

Travel Editor, Mark Ellwood

Photo Editor, Stephanie Jones

Contributing Writers

Kate Bernard, Lauren Caruso, Jay Cheshes, Kate Dwyer, Amanda Eberstein, Joshua Hendren, Kat Herriman, Sasha Frere-Jones, Nick Remsen, Ingrid Schmidt, Isabel B. Slone, Janelle Zara

Contributing Photographers

Sean Davidson, Brad Ogbonna, Dennis Tejero

Contributing Illustrators

Anne Bentley, Vincent Moustache

Editorial Assistant, Chloe Lewis

Copy Editor, Regan Solmo

Research Editor, Monica Uszerowicz

Pre-Press/Print Production, Pete Jacaty

Senior Photo Retoucher, Matt Stevens

Contributing Photo Retoucher, Travis O'Brien

Director of Marketing & Events, Gotmar Giron

Marketing Manager, Ana Negri

Director of Brand Media & Content, Shana Kaufman

Social Media Editor, Samantha Brooks

Digital Media Manager, Nikki Recuset

Director of Retail & Membership, Alfredo Furgiuele

Whitman Family Development/Bal Harbour Shops Operating Committee

President & Chief Executive Officer, Matthew Whitman Lazenby

Chief Operating Officer, Benjamin Elias

Marketer General, Carolyn Travis

Lessor General, Courtney Lord

Developer General, Nik Massey

General Manager & Operator General, Gary Karlson

General Partner of Whitman Family Development, Randall Whitman

Controller, Johnny Aguilar

Sr. Account Receivables Accountant, Lorena Dehogues

Accounts Payable Specialist, Jesus Urribarri

Bal

WELCOME NOTE

As I write this, I’m in the midst of New York Fashion Week. There’s nothing like a good show to help me remember the power fashion has to transport and inspire us. While one gorgeous model after the other walks the runways, I’m reminded what an intensely powerful form of communication fashion can be. That is the beauty of putting together these pages. Our editorial team gathered the season’s best shapes and silhouettes for you to comb through and decide what stories you want to tell with your Spring/ Summer wardrobe.

Our issue ventures all the way to Saint Kitts on Windstar Cruises’ glorious sailing ship Wind Surf, where we tap into the vacation vibe we are all dreaming of during these chilly months. Elsewhere, first-time contributor Dennis Tejero’s photography takes us on a cinematic journey with a heroine clad in romantic dresses and powerful suiting.

Beyond fashion, writer Jay Cheshes dives into the ever-changing Miami landscape and examines who is shaping the city today, and Travel Editor Mark Ellwood looks to Australia and New Zealand for far-flung luxury lodges. Kate Dwyer gets a preview of first-time novelist Asha Elias’s forthcoming novel set in the Magic City; we’ve also got a roundup of new books by Florida authors. And you won’t want to miss the 10-page portfolio of images capturing the Miami Beach home of architect Chad Oppenheim, of whom I’ve been a longtime friend and champion.

Sarah G. Harrelson EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Model Nidhi Sunil, photographed by Brad Ogbonna and styled by Beverly Nguyen, wearing a Valentino hooded top, pants, and cape.

Model Kate McNamara, photographed by Dennis Tejero and styled by Caitlin Burke, wearing a Chanel jacket, bermudas, belt, and necklaces.

MCCARTNEY; BALMAIN; MARNI; BOTTEGA VENETA; CHANEL; BALENCIAGA;

BURBERRY; ALEXANDER MCQUEEN; ZIMMERMANN; GIANVITO ROSSI

GIANVITO ROSSI floral slide sandals, 305.865.8330

BURBERRY strappy sandals, 305.702.5615

A look from Valentino’s Spring/Summer collection, 305.867.1215

A look from Balenciaga’s Spring/Summer collection, 305.864.4932

A look from Balmain’s Spring/Summer collection, 305.397.8152

A look from Chanel’s Spring/ Summer collection, 305.868.0550

A look from Balmain’s Spring/ Summer collection, 305.397.8152

A look from Bottega Veneta’s Spring/Summer collection, 786.437.9020

A look from Marni’s Spring/ Summer collection, 786.785.7667

A look from Alexander McQueen’s Spring/ Summer collection, 305.866.2839

A look from Stella McCartney’s Spring/Summer collection, 305.864.2218

BOTTEGA VENETA Floral wire cuff bracelet, 786.437.9020

CHANEL metal necklace, 305.868.0550

ZIMMERMANN floral ballerina flats, 305.397.8231

A look from Lanvin’s Spring/ Summer collection, 239.374.8027

A look from Miu Miu’s Spring/ Summer collection, 305.993.2300

AKRIS

PRADA satin mules, 305.864.9111

SMOOTH OPERATOR

WE’RE SPRINGING FOR SILK—FROM STRAPPY HEELS AND SHIFT DRESSES TO BLAZERS AND TIMEPIECES.

BY KATE BERNARD

Looks from SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO Spring/Summer collection, 305.868.4424

GRAFF Spiral rose gold and diamond watch, 305.993.1212

A look from Versace’s Spring/Summer collection, 305.864.0044

ZIMMERMANN Natura Long Line blazer, 305.397.8231

A look from Balmain’s Spring/Summer collection, 305.397.8152

ROGER VIVIER Viv’ Canard slingback pumps, 305.868.4344

SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO Monceau pumps, 305.868.4424

CHANEL satin bag, 305.868.0550

Anouk crystal satin clutch, 305.866.2299

AQUAZZURA Bellini Beauty Plateau platform, 305.330.6860

GIANVITO ROSSI raffia Mary Jane ballerina flats, 305.865.8330

AKRIS Ai leather shoulder tote bag, 305.866.2299

Belna ballerina flats,

metallic crocheted top,

curved heel strappy sandals,

McQUEEN Cutout bucket bag,

BOTTEGA VENETA woven Sardine bag,

set SAIL

MODEL, ACTOR, AND ACTIVIST NIDHI SUNIL BOARDS WINDSTAR CRUISES’ WIND SURF WITH THE SEASON’S BOLDEST SILHOUETTES IN TOW, FROM BALENCIAGA’S OVERSIZED DENIM TO PRADA’S NEW POWER SUIT.

ISABEL MARANT

Bernadette dress and bracelet, 305.763.8189

MIU MIU pants, coat, belt, and swim bottoms, MIU MIU and NEW BALANCE sneakers, 305.993.2300

GUCCI shorts, blouse, Marmot belt and Marina chain bracelet, 305.868.6504

EXPERIENCE YACHT-STYLE CRUISING ABOARD WINDSTAR’S WIND SURF SAILING SHIP, INCLUDING ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE HIDDEN HARBORS.

CHANEL shorts, jacket, thong sandals, handbag, necklace, earrings, and rings, 305.868.0550

VALENTINO hooded top, pants, and cape, 305.867.1215; GIANVITO ROSSI sandals, 305.865.8330

FERRAGAMO trousers, dress, sandals, and sunglasses, 305.866.8166

LORO PIANA Nikko hat, cape, and skirt, 305.867.1680

BALENCIAGA Denim Size Sticker pants and jacket, 305.864.4932

FOR AN UNRIVALED EXPERIENCE, ARRIVE AT THE ENCHANTING ISLAND OF SAINT KITTS ABOARD ONE OF WINDSTAR’S LUXURY SHIPS.

dress,

PRADA jacket, shorts, belt, shoes, and socks, 305.864.9111

PHOTOGRAPHER: Brad Ogbonna

STYLIST: Beverly Nguyen

MODEL: Nidhi Sunil/ Elite Models

HAIR: Niko Weddle for Judy Casey using L’Oreal Matrix

MAKEUP: Tatyana Harkoff

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Nicole Van Straatum/ See Me

CREATIVE PRODUCER: Kimberly Goedhart/ See Me

PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT: Shen Williams-Cohen

STYLIST ASSISTANT: Amanda Lee Burkett

SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO dress, 305.868.4424

The CASHMERE Whisperers

SISTERS CAROLINA AND CAMILLA CUCINELLI CONTINUE THEIR FAMILY’S LEGACY OF LUXURIOUSLY UNDERSTATED SLOW FASHION AT BRUNELLO CUCINELLI.

BY KAT HERRIMAN

Even over Zoom, it is clear that Carolina and Camilla Cucinelli are cut from the same cloth. Some of what the sisters share is readily apparent: microexpressions, turns of phrases, honey-colored hair tied neatly back. But the true foundation of their intimacy is based in that which is not readily visible, but that is ever-present on the horizon: their joint future at the helm of the behemoth that their father, Brunello Cucinelli, 70, built. During our interview, they batted questions back and forth like co-stars promoting a summer blockbuster. They finish each other’s sentences with smiles big enough to comfortably fit across two faces. This palpable harmony makes it easy to forget that these two young women, the next generation of Brunello Cucinelli, are in fact nine years apart. Growing up, they never shared resources, responsibilities, or secrets the same way they do now.

Carolina and Camilla Cucinelli outside of their father Brunello Cucinelli’s home in Solomeo, where they grew up.

PHOTO BY FABIO LANA COURTESY OF BRUNELLO CUCINELLI

Camilla, 41, the eldest, has been at the company for 20 years, and is the co-head and creative director of womenswear collections. Camilla is too shy to brag about the accomplishments of her tenure: for instance, the consistency of her collections helped position the brand at the epicenter of quiet luxury’s rise. Luckily, her sister, Carolina, 32, the brand’s co-president and co-creative director, is happy to do it for her—having had a front-row seat during her own 14 years at the brand. She praises Camilla’s ability to invent even within the brand’s stringent guidelines. “Imagine having to create a new collection of a thousand pieces every year, knowing that no matter what you create, it has to adhere to a light color palette, rely solely on clean lines, and never flash a logo,” Carolina says. “It’s not easy. Our collections have to resonate around the world.”

What Brunello Cucinelli looks like season to season is just a part of the larger question the sisters must answer as the second generation. Because how exactly does one innovate within a house founded on preserving traditional ways of work, no matter the cost? How does one find ways to evolve without compromising the high, self-imposed standards of a brand synonymous with that hardwon excellence? For

IN THE WORLD OF BRUNELLO CUCINELLI, SHOPPING TAKES A BACK SEAT TO EDUCATION. IF YOU ARE GOING TO INVEST IN PRODUCTS AND THE BRAND’S LIFESTYLE, THEY WANT YOU TO KNOW WHY.

Camilla, the answer has been to throw herself into fieldwork. So when she and her sister are not working with the team in Solomeo (the Italian hamlet where she was raised, and which Brunello has transformed with his business and largesse), they are on the road—traveling the world to professionally people-watch. “We enjoy the research part of the job very much,” Camilla says, “We travel very willingly anywhere: In Asia, we visit Korea and Japan in order to research what is worn on the street. The same goes for Europe and the United States. In America, women’s clothing is unlike what you find in any other market. We try to take inspiration from the world, and then we bring the idea here, and try to make it Cucinelli.” In other words, the Cucinelli sisters must master every tongue without losing their accent.

A strong narrative is an essential ingredient in the Cucinelli recipe for success. And not surprisingly, the brand wields language with the same precision and eye for detail evident in its textile production. Storytelling is the first thing you’ll encounter on their website. In the world of Brunello Cucinelli, shopping takes a back seat to education. If you are going to invest in products and the brand’s lifestyle, they want you to know why. It is ultimately the brand’s story that converts onlookers into devotees. Each piece of Brunello Cucinelli is a fraction of a larger ethos of fighting against global e ciency’s panoptic greed with human excellence. It is Camilla and Carolina’s job to e ectively bring this narrative to its future clientele, on all the new platforms they will frequent.

The story of Brunello Cucinelli in 2023 was one of growth. In a year that many other luxury brands slumped and stumbled, Brunello Cucinelli triumphed: The brand ended 2023 with a record 1.14 billion euros in revenue, surpassing its 1-billion euro sales target five years ahead of schedule. They are expanding their footprint with the foundation of a new workshop, 75 craftsmen strong, and with plans to employ up to about 350 specialist craftspeople, in Penne, a small town in Abruzzo known for the supremacy of its tailors.

The

The Church of Saint Bartholomew in Solomeo

THE CUCINELLI SISTERS MUST MASTER EVERY TONGUE WITHOUT LOSING THEIR ACCENT. “WE TRY TO TAKE INSPIRATION FROM THE WORLD AND THEN WE BRING THE IDEA HERE, AND TRY TO MAKE IT CUCINELLI.”—CAMILLA CUCINELLI

Carolina and Camilla peg the house’s recent success to an awardfilled year—reminding me that their father took home the Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion 2023. “It’s the fashion equivalent of the Oscars,” Carolina beams with pride. What we don’t touch on in our review of the brand’s year is its a nity with the sartorial tone set by HBO’s Succession , which introduced the term “quiet luxury” and thrust logo-less and other IYKYK brands like Brunello Cucinelli into the zeitgeist. This connection sets up a funny comparison between the two families: one real, one imagined. Because if you look at them on paper, they are similarly positioned. Camilla and Carolina—like Kendall, Roman, and Siobhan Roy—are the inheritors of an international corporation founded by influential fathers. But when more closely examined, the fictional, power-sick family of Succession seems like a ghoulish cartoon next to the living example of Carolina and Camilla, who, rather than attack each other for the family talking stick, have folded themselves seamlessly into a community-driven, creative enterprise, and found their niche within it. No power grabs necessary. “Usually, when the next generation comes in, they want to change everything,” Carolina says. “We don’t want to change anything. We want to keep the story going.”

And this is why while Camilla and Carolina have been the beneficiaries of current trends—they still don’t see their work in those terms. “To be honest, I’m not sure if luxury is exactly quiet,” Carolina says. “But it does travel by word of mouth, which is why my sister and I prefer an Italian phrase, lusso sussurrato, that when directly translated into English means whispered luxury.”

The workshops of Solomeo are never quiet. They hum with the sound of e ort, past and present. It is a symphony of whispers telling the stories of yesterday, so that tomorrow, we don’t forget the beautiful place we came from.

FROM TOP Looks from Brunello Cucinelli’s Spring/ Summer 24 collection; the brand’s School Craftsmanship Solomeo of in

Femme FATALE

Content in a world of her own, our heroine embraces the romance of the Spring collections while maintaining her edge.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DENNIS TEJERO

STYLING BY CAITLIN BURKE

FENDI dress and gloves, 305.861.7114; ALEXIS BITTAR lucite earrings, available at Neiman Marcus, 305.865.6161; NEOUS mesh mules

BALENCIAGA dress, 305.864.4932

VALENTINO dress and shoes, 305.867.1215; ALEXANDER McQUEEN earrings, 305.866.2839; JENNY BIRD rings

172 BAL HARBOUR

CHANEL Fantasy Cotton

Tweed jacket and bermudas, Fancy belt, and necklaces, 305.868.0550

3.1 PHILLIP LIM dress, available at Neiman Marcus, 305.865.6161; NEOUS mesh mules; LIZZIE FORTUNADO lucite cuff, available at Neiman Marcus, 305.865.6161

FERRAGAMO coat, 305.866.8166; TOTEME slingback pumps, available at Neiman Marcus, 305.865.6161

CHLOÉ Iconic Milk top and skirt, 305.861.1909; ISABEL MARANT About a Girl earrings, 305.763.8189

PRADA knit top, shorts, and belt, 305.864.9111

BURBERRY Fringed snood top, 305.702.5615; STELLA McCARTNEY trousers, 305.864.2218; BEN-AMUN earrings, available at Neiman Marcus, 305.865.6161; JENNY BIRD rings

VERSACE jacket, skirt, and boots,

BOTTEGA VENETA top, trousers, and Citta bag, 786.437.9020; FLASH JEWELLERY earrings

PHOTOGRAPHER: Dennis Tejero

STYLIST: Caitlin Burke

MODEL: Kate McNamara/ Marilyn NY

HAIR: Roku Roppongi

MAKEUP: Ingeborg

PROP STYLIST: Lane Vineyard

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Mateen Mortazavi

PRODUCER: Katya Varzar

PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANTS:

Sharmeen Chaudhary, Chris Perez

STYLING ASSISTANT: Dan Victoria Gleason

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: Grisha Zakharov

ALEXANDER McQUEEN dress, 305.866.2839; FERRAGAMO wedges, 305.866.8166; and ISABEL MARANT cuff, 305.763.8189

FAR AWAY&

THE NEIGHBORING ISLAND COUNTRIES OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OFFER ENDLESS CURIOSITIES AND TERRAIN TO EXPLORE. AND OVER THE LAST DECADE, THERE’S BEEN A MAJOR UPTICK IN THEIR LUXURY LODGING OFFERINGS, ENCOURAGING A NEW WAVE OF TRAVELERS TO MAKE THE JOURNEY—WITHOUT SPARING ANY INDULGENCE. BY

MARK ELLWOOD

Sand meets sea at Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef’s eco-luxury accommodations.

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

are synonymous with many things—unbeatable outdoor pursuits, superb, fresh food, and an unforced friendliness amongst the locals. For some time, though, the challenge for luxe-loving visitors was the dearth of true five-star accommodations outside the main cities. That all changed when both countries began parallel programs—the Luxury Lodges of Australia and the Luxury Villas of New Zealand—aimed at dispelling that notion, and now networks of ultra-luxe lodges abound.

Over the last decade-plus, local travel specialists have leaned heavily on the programs when planning luxe multi-stop itineraries in the region. “They’re probably the most important thing to happen in the last quarter-century for luxury travel in Australia,” says The Tailor’s Drew Kluska of the program. Each property, he notes, is distinctive, but the Luxury Lodges program acts as an accreditation of quality in service, experience, and more, like a locally focused counterpart to global luxury guarantors, whether Virtuoso or Leading Hotels of the World. “They hold each other accountable, share experiences, and exchange knowledge, and so the quality has increased year on year.” Stuart Rigg of Southern Crossings agrees. Most of the properties are locally owned and operated, which means they’re primed to focus far more on making sure every aspect of their hotel, from operations to excursions, is regenerative and sustainable. Positive impact for luxury travel is a goal, rather than an afterthought. “It’s largely about local guides and encouraging engagement with the community,” says Riggs. “Many properties o er guests the opportunity to give back through local conservation activities, thus connecting them to the region long after their stay.”

Across the region, there are more than 30 such Luxury Lodges and Luxury Villas properties, but we’ve selected the eight standouts that cater to a particular interest—be it safari, culinary pursuits, snorkeling, and so much more.

BELOW Flockhill Lodge sits on a 36,000-acre farm in the Craigieburn Valley.

FLOCKHILL LODGE, CANTERBURY

BEST FOR: HIKERS AND FISHING AFICIONADOS

This working sheep station, or farm, sits in glorious isolation in the heart of the South Island. Ask to watch the shearers at work in their shed, the radio blaring as dozens of sheep pass near-silently along the shearing line. Those sheep share the 36,000-acre farm with an ultra-modern four-bedroom homestead that sits perched on a hillside overlooking the valley (a cluster of additional villas will open in December just a short stroll down the slopes). Sit by the infinity pool to admire the view, or head out into the landscape to explore. Hike around the gorges or cast a line into the waters that quilt the property—fly fishing season runs from October to April. The property even poached its chef, Taylor Cullen, from one of Sydney’s top restaurants to run its restaurant, Sugarloaf, so the food is inventive without being fussy, like citrus-spiked Bruny Island oysters, the rare delicacy that grows on the promontory close to the Antarctic circle.



THE LANDING, BAY OF ISLANDS

BEST FOR: OENOPHILES AND HISTORY BUFFS

This is where the Maori first arrived from Polynesia nearly a millennium ago, as well as where Europeans first settled. Indeed, the grave of the first European-descended child to be born (and die) here is marked by the huge Norfolk Pine on the waterfront. The Landing is a private, 1,000-acre estate, owned by the Cooper family, who also operate a superb winery here, known for its estate-grown wines and for several award-winning varietals; listen out for squawking while sipping on the deck of the winery, with the bird life here including almost two dozen skittish nocturnal kiwis (join one of the torch-lit nighttime tours to catch them in action). Among the four residences here, consider booking the main, five-suite home on the hill, or the two-bedroom, one-time boathouse, which the Cooper family designed expressly to be an adventure sports–hub for its four athletic teens.

ROSEWOOD MATAKAURI LODGE, QUEENSTOWN

BEST FOR: ADRENALINE JUNKIES

The 13-key property, a short drive from adventure sports–hub Queenstown, was only recently added to the Rosewood roster. It’s a sleek, modern property, all whitewashed clapboard walls and beaten metal chandeliers, that sits right on Lake Wakatipu, the centerpiece of water activities here (hold on tight when the jet boat captain donuts as he careens through the riverways). It’s also easy to access Milford Sound by helicopter from here: clamber onboard next door and soar over to the isolated, rainy inlet, where waterfalls cascade down the steep surrounding cliffs, via a detour to the snow-capped mountains.

Take

ILLUSTRATION BY ANNE BENTLEY

The Landing is rich with more than just history, offering indulgent views and superb estate-grown wine.

in the dramatic Lake Wakatipu backdrop from your perch at Rosewood Matakauri Lodge.

LONGITUDE 131, NORTHERN TERRITORY

BEST FOR: NATURAL WONDER–HUNTERS

Yes, it’s easy to think of it as just a rock—albeit a monumental one. But the moment you glimpse Uluru (or Ayers Rock, as Europeans dubbed it), it’s easy to understand how the monolith became such a mythical talisman to indigenous Australians. Its colors shift and change in sunlight, bleaching in daytime to a pale ochre, and warming to rich reds and purples as the sun sets. Fly over it in a helicopter to see the seams that run over the ridge, the texture resembling seersucker carved from stone, or walk out at nighttime to experience the 52,000 twinkling pinpricks of Field of Light, the now-permanent installation here by immersive artist Bruce Munro. You’ll also see it at dawn from your bed at one of the glamping tents on this property, the only luxury accommodation close to Uluru. Book a treatment at Kinara spa, which uses indigenous ingredients and techniques.

AUSTRALIA

SAFFIRE FREYCINET, TASMANIA

BEST FOR: FOODIE PILGRIMS

Tasmania’s finicky micro-climates confer an unparalleled quality to its produce—the majority of the fish caught in its waters can later be found in Tokyo’s famed Tsukiji market; notoriously hard-to-grow wasabi thrives here. The go-to gourmet hideout to enjoy all this and more is the 20-room Saffire Freycinet (say it Freh-ZHUN-ay), set in a breathtaking spot in Freycinet National Park: press a button to open the curtains each morning, and the views out across the craggy mountains seem CGIenhanced. Idle on the beach in Wineglass Bay if the weather’s warm—it’s often chillier than most of the rest of the country here—or stroll out into the waters for lunch. Glug a glass of locally produced sparkling wine in your waders while a chef shucks fresh oysters right in front of you. Just save room for one of the multicourse dinners, anchored by local wagyu beef, organic venison, and small-batch cheeses.

At Longitude 131, immersive art and glamping enhance the earthly magic of Uluru.

Saffire Freycinet is located in the heart of Tasmania’s wondrous Freycinet National Park.

SAL SALIS, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

BEST FOR: SCUBA DIVERS AND SNORKELERS

Most reefs around the world, including the Great Barrier, sit off eastern coasts, but Australia is lucky to have a rare exception: the 162-mile-long Ningaloo, which ranges around the northwesternmost tip of Western Australia, one of the most isolated spots in the country. Even better, it’s a fringing reef, which means that coral gardens and teeming fish are mere feet from shore; when you wade into the water, snorkel in hand, pay attention, as the reef is so close you can easily walk into it. Sal Salis is the only accommodation in the Cape Range National Park here:A 16-tent glamping property designed with minimal eco-impact (it could be packed up within days and leave no footprint behind). Power is solar, and there’s no Wi-Fi or AC, but a fully stocked bar and gourmet chef are always on hand, and the tents are artfully angled to make the most of the prevailing cool breezes.

SILKY OAKS LODGE, QUEENSLAND

BEST FOR: NATURE-SEEKERS AND CULTURE–CURIOUS

This 40-room lodge sits overlooking the Daintree rainforest, the World Heritage–listed jungle that predates the Amazon by 10 million years. It’s the perfect perch from which to explore the stories of ancient Australia via a Dreamtime Walk—a journey led by an indigenous guide who shares some of the traditions and stories of this sacred land. Plus, it’s just a 30-minute helicopter ride from here out to the reef, too, so you can snorkel amid the day-glo–colored coral during the day, and have a picnic on an isolated island, before heading back for sundowners in the forest here, as caw-cawing bird calls ricochet round the semi-darkness. Make sure to ask your driver to fire up the resort’s own podcast on the drive from Cairns—perfectly timed as a primer for the local region.

POSITIVE IMPACT FOR LUXURY TRAVEL IS A GOAL, RATHER THAN AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

BAMURRU PLAINS, NORTHERN TERRITORY

BEST FOR: SAFARI-LOVERS

Australia’s answer to safari is best explored at this remote station in the aptly named Top End: Head out across the floodplains here in an airboat to see flocks of magpie geese, crocodiles, and carpets of lilies, or hole up in a hide to spy on the buffalo and thousands of wild horses roaming the 76,000-acre reserve.  The spacious rooms at Bamurru are standalone bungalows, each perched on stilts with nods to the ruggedness of this isolated spot in their décor—think corrugated iron and rusty patinas; floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the plains, where the waters dazzle as if on fire when the sun strikes the glassy surface. The brand-new Jabiru retreat, ideal for two couples, sits a little apart from the main lodge, effectively a private micro-camp with its own pool.

Sunset at Bamurru Plains offers a feast for the eyes as Buffalo and wild horses roam the expansive reserve.

At Silky Oaks Lodge, enjoy a hammock hang-out, or hop in the helicopter for a quick ride to the coral reefs nearby.