Nick Walton’s Welcome to Asia, November 2016

New Zealand’s newest luxury lodge at Helena Bay.

The newest entry to New Zealand’s captivating luxury lodge scene is Helena Bay, a sumptuous new retreat recently opened by Russian millionaire Alexander Abramov in the Bay of Islands. Located on two miles of pristine coastline, this blissfully adults only haven captivates with luxurious ocean-facing suites and villas, a main lodge building that boasts a European-styled day spa and a heated outdoor swimming pool, and an Italian restaurant overseen by chef Michele Martino, where the lodge’s own produce, herbs and cattle are prepared. Be sure to leave time for diving excursions to the Poor Knights Islands; deep-sea fishing expeditions off the Tutukaka Coast in search of marlin and swordfish; golf at nearby Kauri Cliffs; or hiking within the 750-acre estate. 

The newest hideaway to grace the Indian Ocean playground, Soneva Jani, Maldives, opens this month at the heart of the Noonu Atoll, a 35-minute seaplane from the capital and an hour’s speedboat from sister property Soneva Fushi. Marrying rustic luxury and cutting-edge green technology, the new resort boasts both Water Villa and Island Sanctuary villas, all of which perch above or wreath a postcard-perfect private lagoon. Ideally suited for families or friends traveling together, the resort features a series of two-, three- and four-bedroom villas. The largest, the four-bedroom Island Reserve, weighs in at 1,424 square meters, and offers affluent travelers a private pool with catamaran nets, its own water slide, an open-air bathroom, and a private fitness center. If you can tear yourself away from the azure lagoon, star-gaze at the resort’s own observatory, or catch a classic flick at the beachfront Cinema Paradiso. 

Opening later this month, the Park Hyatt Bangkok promises to bring new levels of luxury to one of Asia’s most vibrant capitals. With designs by New York’s award-winning architects Yabu Pushelberg, the hotel occupies three floors of a mesmerizing new 24-storey twisted-coil tower at the heart of the city, and will feature 222 luxurious guest rooms, including 30 spacious suites, each of which boast floor-to-ceiling windows, lavish linens and opulent bathrooms. Taking dining to new heights, the Park Hyatt Bangkok will feature a signature grill restaurant, a hidden speakeasy cocktail bar, a VIP mezzanine lounge, and a captivating sky bar that makes the most of Bangkok’s iconic cityscapes. 

Set to open at the foothills of the outer Himalayas, the new Oberoi Sukhvilas Resort & Spa offers lavish villas and suites as well as a luxury tented camp experience, nestled in the midst of an 8,000-acre estate within the Siswan Forest, a 30-minute drive from the Indian city of Chandigarh. Capturing the essence of traditional Indian architecture, with manicured gardens and tranquil water features, the resort offers a series of Kohinoor Villas, modeled on traditional haveli houses, each with a private sun-lit courtyard; luxury villas with fireplaces and private gardens; and spacious tented suites – some with private pools – arranged in small clutches to ensure privacy and convenience. Be sure to book ahead for a table in the Indian Specialty restaurant, located at the end of a paved forest trail, followed by a nightcap in the bar, with its fireplace wreathed by chesterfields.