Tailor-made Holiday · New Zealand
Gay Honeymoon in New Zealand: A Luxury South Island Tour
Tailor-made, always
Every trip built from scratch around your dates, pace and preferences.
Your own specialist
One named person and a 24-hour number while you travel.
Hundreds of five-star reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot across ten years of LGBTQ+ luxury travel.
At a glance
The South Island of New Zealand does not need much help setting a romantic scene. The landscapes are vast and quietly overwhelming, the lodges are exceptional, and the combination of mountains, lakes, fjords, and wine country gives a 12-night honeymoon enough variety to feel like a journey rather than a single destination.
It is also one of the most straightforwardly welcoming places in the world for LGBTQ+ couples.
Read more
Same-sex marriage has been legal since 2013, the culture throughout the South Island is socially liberal, and the best lodge properties have been hosting same-sex couples long enough that it requires no conversation.
Out Of Office builds every honeymoon itinerary from scratch. We know which lodges suit two people who want complete privacy, which experiences are worth the splurge, and which ones only look good on paper.
Everything here is a starting point. The final version is built around you.
Day by day
This is a sample plan, not a fixed departure. Days can be added, removed or reordered, and almost every client changes something. Prices are an entry-level guide; your quote will be exact.
Days 1 and 2: Queenstown
Fly into Queenstown and transfer to Matakauri Lodge on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, one of the finest places to stay in the country and the right way to begin. The mountains are immediate, the lake is right there, and the lodge’s kitchen and spa give you every reason to stay put for the first evening. Day two at your own pace: a cruise on the lake, a winery visit in the Gibbston Valley, or nothing more than the view.
Days 3 and 4: Gibbston Valley
Move to Gibbston Valley Lodge, set among organic Pinot Noir vines twenty minutes from Queenstown. The valley is Central Otago’s wine heartland, with a cluster of serious producers within easy reach.
A private tasting with the winemaker, a long lunch at one of the cellar doors, and an evening back at the lodge with a bottle from the region. The vinotherapy spa is worth an afternoon of anyone’s time.
Days 5 and 6: Milford Sound
Drive to Te Anau, the staging point for Fiordland, and base yourself at Fiordland Lodge on the lake shore.
The following morning, take a private charter into Milford Sound: the fjord is flanked by rainforest and waterfalls that drop hundreds of meters straight into the water, and a boat small enough to get close to the cliffs makes the scale land properly. Fly back over the mountains by light aircraft if the weather allows.
Days 7 and 8: Wanaka
Drive north to Wanaka, a smaller and quieter alternative to Queenstown that honeymooners tend to prefer. Lake Wanaka and the Aspiring Range provide the backdrop. Days here are unhurried: a walk along the lake, a visit to one of the local wineries, a long dinner in the evening.
Days 9, 10 and 11: Marlborough
Fly from Queenstown to Blenheim and transfer to a lodge in the Wairau Valley. Three nights gives Marlborough the time it deserves. A private guide covers the vineyards properly, including the smaller producers beyond the obvious names.
A morning on the Marlborough Sounds by boat, a winemaker lunch, and a seafood dinner using whatever came out of the surrounding water that morning. This is the most restorative stretch of the trip.
Day 12: Depart
Transfer to Blenheim Airport for your onward flight, or extend with a final night in Picton overlooking the Sounds.
Our Experts
New Zealand is one of the most magical places in the world. If you love out-of-this-world landscapes, this island nation is definitely worth adding to your bucket list.
Breathtaking landscapes, awe-inspiring environments - New Zealand impresses at every turn. The vibrant Māori culture on display here is also so special.
Stellar service. Stellar products. Stellar people and it gets so much better when you pick up the phone and call.
Anthony S.
Super client centred service. From first contact I have had warm, efficient, friendly and flexible service.
John
I’m confident in giving Out Of Office a 5-star review! They are one of the leaders in this space without a doubt.
Tiberiu
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Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specialising in tailor-made holidays and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury holidays, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalised experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with travelling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveller, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalised service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ holidays?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalised itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travellers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of travelling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first enquiry to homecoming. No call centre, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.