Owner & director, Southern Crossings New Zealand
A little more than two years ago, our son Sam set off to spend his junior semester abroad in Wellington, New Zealand. It was January of 2020, and I dove into planning a big family trip there for spring (their fall). Asking around, I kept hearing that Sarah Farag of Southern Crossings was the go-to travel specialist for the island nation. Well, not only did Covid shut down our trip, it shut down Wellington University, and Sam had to come home after only a few weeks. Someday we’ll get there, and in the meantime, Sarah can help me keep dreaming about it. —A.P.
Tell us about you/your company.
Southern Crossings specializes in tailor-made travel for the most discerning travelers in New Zealand, the islands of the South Pacific (Fiji, French Polynesia and the Cook islands) and, with our Sydney-based team, Australia.
I was raised in New Zealand in a family with an insatiable passion for globetrotting – that clearly rubbed off! I have been incredibly lucky to have traveled several countries and continents, but also always return with a real appreciation of the fabulous part of the world I am privileged to be able to call home. So, it was almost inevitable, and a genuine passion for me to share our region’s vast treasures and little-known hidden gems with visitors from around the globe.
In a career that has always been in travel, I started with Southern Crossings more than two decades ago and am now very proud to be the principal owner and director of our New Zealand business – while also still personally curating clients’ exceptional journeys in our extraordinary part of the world.
What’s the entry level to talk to you?
I organize itineraries “from touchdown to take off,” including hotels, transfers and touring. The starting cost is in the region of NZD$1500 per day for two guests; however, with the rising price of luxury globally and travelers’ renewed appetite for bucket list travel, the sky really is the limit.
I do charge a planning fee of $500 for our fully customized itineraries. This fee is then credited towards travel arrangements booked.
What is the sweet spot of your expertise?
Tailoring personalized and exclusive experiences that truly resonate to provide a real connection to our people and places.
A favorite experience/trip you’ve planned that best represents your travel philosophy…
Our travel philosophy is to “enrich and inspire by creating extraordinary journeys”–essentially, to curate bespoke travel experiences that enrich the lives of both our travelers and the people and places they visit. As such, one of my experiences that really stands out is an exclusive glamping experience that I recently curated for an adventurous couple who wanted to experience it all AND get away from it all in New Zealand’s spectacular Southern Alps.
Everything—from the couple’s tented suite and facilities to the private chef and concierge (whose tent was set up out of sight but only a radio call away)—was helicoptered in to the carefully selected remote location in the heart of Mt Aspiring National Park. Enjoying complete privacy in their stunning pop-up campsite, they explored terrain where perhaps no-one had ever set foot before them, and quite certainly no-one had ever stayed before. Following their three-night off-the-grid stay, all trace of the campsite was disassembled and removed, leaving only the softest of footprints and lifelong memories.
A favorite hotel/lodge/house you love and go back to again and again…
There are many places that I love and am privileged to be able to return to time and time again. However, two stand-out New Zealand lodges for me are:
Wharekauhau: This Palliser Bay luxury lodge on the southern tip of New Zealand’s North Island, set on a working Romney sheep station that overlooks the Pacific Ocean from the foot of the Remutaka Mountain Range, is rural New Zealand in a nutshell! With spacious cottage guest suites, this is a place where I feel I can really kick my shoes off, curl up on the comfy deep sofas and unwind with a glass of wine by the cozy fireplace … or get up early and explore the outdoors with everything from a spot of tennis or croquet, to hiking and mountain-biking, wine touring or wildlife spotting. My teenage boys also love beach fishing, archery, clay-target shooting and exploring with ATV Quad Bike adventures over open fields and dramatic black sand beaches. Our international clients love combining an introduction to a classic kiwi sheep station with food and wine experiences that showcase some of New Zealand’s finest produce.
In complete contrast, but sharing the same approach to hospitality, is Blanket Bay on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by the stunning snow-capped Southern Alps. Whilst the setting is different, the experience just as representative of New Zealand at its finest. Dramatic alpine peaks and stunning lakes on the doorstep, Queenstown only minutes away, remote trout-filled rivers and New Zealand’s iconic ‘Sounds’ only a short heli-hop from here, inviting adventures for every level of adrenaline-seeker: from hiking and horse-riding, jetboating and mountain-biking, heli-skiing and skydiving, fly-fishing and golf. Meanwhile, the warm lodge interiors invite you to really unwind, from the day spa to the wine cave, the hot tub to the lounges in the lodge’s Great Room enjoying nature’s ever-changing cinema beyond.
The most memorable meal you’ve had while traveling…
There are so many! But a perennial personal favorite is the degustation dining at Otahuna Lodge, just minutes from Christchurch, surrounded by the Wairapa wineries and the fertile farmlands of Canterbury’s patchwork plains. Chef Jimmy McIntyre’s fabulous culinary creations draw on the best and freshest New Zealand produce with daily, seasonally-driven menus from the estate-grown and locally sourced produce.
A not-to-be-missed favorite experience…
Again, where to start!?! But without doubt one of my favorite experiences has to be the Kiwi Night Walk at the Landing Residences. This guided nocturnal kiwi-spotting experience gives Landing guests the opportunity to see New Zealand’s flightless fluffy brown icon in its natural habitat (so much so that many New Zealanders have never seen a kiwi in the wild). Renowned for being an elusive creature, the New Zealand Department of Conservation has identified the Landing property as having one of the most abundant populations of Northland Brown Kiwis in the country (in no small part, thanks to the Landings’ extensive bush regeneration and replanting programs), and as a result, sightings are almost always guaranteed.
Underrated Location, overrated location, personal favorite, recent discovery?
Underrated Location: Often in the shadows of its South Island neighbors (Lake Wanaka or Lake Wakatipu), the less well-known Lake Hawea is arguably one of the most scenic lakes in the country. Visitors to the region can enjoy a wide range of outdoor adventures in spectacular nature and untouched wilderness experiences all to themselves. From here, it is also easy to access popular local walks such as the infinitely photogenic Blue Pools Track or hike to Mt Isthmus peak (that offers views to rival its better-known, and more visited, Roys Peak). Whilst Hawea township may not have the range of restaurants and nightlife of Wanaka or Queenstown, this is part of Lake Hawea’s appeal, and we match guests with their ideal stay, from the delightful cottages of Lake Hawea Station (a showcase for sustainable farming) to the spectacular architecturally-designed Mt Isthmus fully-serviced luxury private villa (which is worth the trip in its own right!).
Overrated location: Rotorua. A popular destination on many visitors’ must-see lists as the gateway to its geothermal geysers and bubbling hot pools, its surrounding forests, lakes and waterways. However, the city itself is more of a commercial hub, so for a more tranquil and indulgent stay, I will usually advise clients to stay at one of the stunning lodges outside the city that still provide easy access to all that draws visitors to the region.
Personal favorite: I love the diversity of our destination, how New Zealand delivers everything from beaches to fjords, snow-capped alpine peaks to sheep-dotted farmlands. But my personal happy place is always somewhere where I can see the sea. So, for me, it has to be the beautiful Bay of Islands. This North Island region has beautiful beaches and sparkling waterways, wonderful coastal walks and idyllic cruising grounds that invite hiking, sailing, fishing and golf (in addition to many great local courses, New Zealand’s famous Kauri Cliffs golf course is also easily accessible from here). The Bay of Islands is also rich in history: from Maori culture (including the significant Waitangi Treaty Grounds) to New Zealand’s first grape vines (I can now happily also recommend some of New Zealand’s finest new wineries in the area). The region has a wide choice of places to stay: on land and sea! From spectacular private villas to boutique stays that offer a true connection to the laidback local lifestyle. Living in Auckland, I love that the Bay of Islands is close enough for a long weekend, but that it also feels a million miles from the cares of the rest of the world when you’re there.
Recent discovery: Flockhill homestead – a brand new private lodge that has been architecturally-designed to showcase and enjoy the breathtaking natural surroundings. The property provides access to rarely visited parts of the country from beautiful Lake Pearson and Castle Hill to the Arthur’s Pass National Park.
What is something you wished we all knew or were better at as travelers?
To slow down .. and allow time in our itineraries to really enjoy and get under the skin of a destination, to enjoy a long leisurely lunch among the vines or chat with local producers at colorful farmers’ markets, to hike spectacular wilderness and stop to really indulge their passions (from fishing to golf, cooking to art). I think many travelers still set out (on their first visit to New Zealand) with the mindset that this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip and that they need to see and do it all. The reality is, we know that many of our clients will return again and again.
How do you want people to reach out to you?
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