New Zealand's green stays

Whether going off-grid in a glass pod, staying on a working farm or living among the trees, these eco-friendly escapes will get you back to nature

- Gareth Clark

NEST TREE HOUSES, WAITAKI, SOUTH ISLAND

Hidden among the branches of a hilltop forest overlooking the Hakataramea Valley lies a treehouse stay that feels more like a boutique escape. Floor-to-ceiling windows stare out across the valley, a cedar bathtub sits snugly on the outdoor deck and a private treetop sauna offers a dash of off-grid decadence at this adults-only retreat. There's also plenty nearby to keep you busy, with farm and vineyard tours affording a taste of the area's rural charms. And come nightfall, you can just lie back and contemplate your place in the universe - the site lies on the edge of Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. This summer also saw the owners open a second treehouse, so you're now spoilt for choice. Treehouses from £251pn, including breakfast; nesttreehouses.com

CROSS HILL LODGE AND DOMES, LAKE HAWEA, SOUTH ISLAND

Plush geodomes scatter the shoreline of Hawea, one of the lesser-visited lakes wrapping Wanaka. It's certainly a setting designed to charm the camera lens, thanks to the area's U-shaped valleys carved tens of thousands of years ago by departing glaciers. The domes offer plenty of home comforts, with floor-to-ceiling windows, plush double beds and even a small kitchenette. It's a cosy affair, and the camp's lodge even dishes up meals fresh from the farm. A few relics of the area's gold-mining past survive on the slopes above, but the appeal here is nature. It's out paddleboarding on the quiet lake waters or relaxing outside in a wood-fired outdoor hot tub that Cross Hill earns its restorative reputation. Domes from £205pn, including breakfast; crosshill.co.nz

BAY OF MANY COVES RESORT, ARATAWA BAY, SOUTH ISLAND