Eagles Nest

Top secret is exactly how Eagle’s Nest operates. With the Rahimoana villa especially attracting high net worth and famous guests, discretion is key: the hotel won’t confirm or deny the presence of any guests to prying eyes, and even the owner manages to keep himself anonymous.

Arriving at the Eagle’s Nest, the quality and intelligence of the design is immediately apparent. These clifftop villas follow sleek modern lines, uncluttered but not barren, with light greys and whites perfectly complementing the blues of the bay and the sky above. Property positioning and use of the local flora create an excellent sense of privacy - Even behind the large glass windows which offer up an impressive view of the local landscape, there is a feeling of concealment from the outside world. With no restaurant on the property, guests are encouraged to either sample the fare from the nearby town of Russell or call in the services of the resident personal chefs. It is quite a treat to watch these culinary creatives prepare a range of dishes from their repertoire, from the absolute umami-bomb of a mushroom soup to the most delicately flavoured kingfish.

Visitors to this part of the world mostly come to escape their urban chaos and connect with the natural world in one form or another – Eagle’s Nest are delighted to oblige, with one quick call through their concierge service to arrange all manner of outdoor pursuits from parasailing to deep sea fishing or helicopter tours over the bay. Our boat trip to seek out dolphins near the iconic Eye of the Needle found no sign of bottlenoses, but discovered a more elusive pod of wild orca. Whatever chosen activity fills the daylight hours, be it a day on or above the water, there is nothing quite like stargazing from the warmth of the sunken hot-tub, complimentary champagne in hand.