Lake Hayes: Inside insane mansion just hours from Australia

Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, manicured gardens and a sprawling lake — this place is the dream you can now make a reality.

Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, sprawling green paddocks and a mirrored lake on your doorstep — stepping into the hidden nook of Lake Hayes is enough to give anyone an instantaneous “pinch me” moment.

The neighbouring hood to New Zealand’s ever popular Queenstown, Lakes Hayes is a secluded and exclusive nook filled with manicured gardens, alpine-inspired chalets and Onsen-style hot tubs.

The Homestead is one of the best properties you can book in lesser known Lake Hayes, which neighbours Queenstown.

But the beacon in among the rolling hills is a not-so-quaint mansion known as The Homestead, with the estate’s manicured grounds rolling straight down into the picturesque Lake Hayes itself.

Often overshadowed by Queenstown as the place to park yourself if you’re in the country for a week of skiing or hiking, if you’re in the market for a week of unparalleled luxury — this place is hard to beat.

As soon as you pass through the property’s steel gates, the view sprawling in front of the home takes your breath away.

The view from the front balcony is surreal.

The private driveway is about as secluded from the hustle and bustle of Queenstown as you can get.

The Homesteadis one of the most prestigious properties in the region — perhaps even the country — and will set you back a minimum of $25,000 for a five night stay (as the vendor doesn’t take reservations for anything less).

But with five bedrooms to sleep 10 guests, several lounge areas, a library, hot tub, pool and never-ending gardens, it’s no wonder guests are willing to dish out the hefty amount of dough for a stay at this incredible estate.

The property has incredible views from every room.

The master bedroom has uninterrupted views of Lake Hayes and beyond.

While the property may be enough to keep you entertained or simply to unwind, for those who want to up the ante and really customise their stay — there’s a number of local experiences that can be brought onto the estate.

If like me, cooking while on holidays is your idea of hell, the fully kitted-out kitchen plays as the perfect setting for your own private chef throughout your stay.

The kitchen is perfect to bring in your own private chef for a dinner or two with friends.

As one of the Airbnb experiences, you can book someone to cook you a leisurely lunch or something a little more fine-dining for dinner, and yes — the dishes will be done while you enjoy the third course.

Fine dining can be made at home with an Airbnb Experiences chef.

Why dine out when you can have a delish dinner in.

Not only will you eat your way through some of the freshest produce New Zealand has to offer, but your chef will also let you in on the secrets hidden within each dish – including every single ingredient needed for your delicious meal.

Not a bad dish to come home to after a long day on the slopes.

To top it off, strip down for an in-home massage to take the stress of a day on the slopes straight out of your muscles in minutes.

Sure, you won’t be looking at the view outside — but there’s something to be said about the icy air bouncing off the snow-capped mountains while relaxing in front of a fire during a full-body massage.

If you're feeling it from a long day of hiking or skiing in Queenstown, book yourself an at-home massage. You won't regret it.

What better way to soak up the views than from your own Onsen.

What to do in Queenstown

Sitting less than a three hour flight from Sydney, while winter is considered one of the best times to explore New Zealand — you can’t discount a trip during the warmer months.

With snow-capped mountains and mulled wine in the air into spring, there’s so many ways to enjoy the wonders of Aotearoa.

Wanaka is a popular spot to drive to from Lake Hayes.

One of the best ways to explore Queenstown and even nearby Wanaka is by bike — with plenty of cruisy trails snaking around the lakeside and even into wineries if you want to stop for a sip of your favourite

Wanaka, which is always a little quieter, is a favourite for those who want to escape the sometimes crowded scenes of Queenstown’s foreshore.

Tourist riding the bike on the Millennium track along the Wanaka lakeside among the autumn trees.

Just an hour in the car, grab a bike and meander along the Millennium track and take in the incredible views across Lake Wanaka.

There’s plenty of spots to grab some wheels, so generally speaking you won’t need to pre-book.

On the drive back to Queenstown, be sure to stop into the iconic Cardrona Hotel for a bite.

One of the oldest and most iconic hotels in New Zealand, sitting at the base of the ski fields, stepping through the doors of the cream and red building is like stepping back in time.

Be sure to give their wedges a go, or if you’re in the mood for something a little more filling — try the meat loaf sandwich.

On your drive between Queenstown and Wanaka, be sure to stop at the Cardrona Hotel for a bite to eat.

From the ground to the sky, no trip to Queenstown is complete without a trip up the Gondola to the top of Bob’s Peak on the cuff of town. As the steepest cable cart in the southern hemisphere, it’s a little nerve-racking for those scared of heights, but also a must-do for the best view in town.

At the top, you can have a bit of fun on the mountaintop Luge, with tracks for the speed-freaks and others who like to take things a little slower.

Perhaps the most picturesque luge tracks in the world. Picture: iStock

The tracks loop around 1600 metres at the top of the mountain, giving great views if you have time (or the guts) to take your eyes off the track.

Where to eat in Queenstown

If you need to get out of your accommodation and maybe even give the private chef a night off, Queenstown and its surrounds have a great number of places to eat and drink that will keep you full for days.

Sherwood, a short walk out of the thick of Queenstown, is a great spot to park yourself and is Otago’s only Two Hatted restaurant.

The menu has a great array of local produce and fresh seafood, as well as the venue’s signature lamb dish.

For something a little more casual, you can slip into nearby Arrowtown and grab yourself the rainbow salad with crispy tofu, or for something a little more substantial, you can’t go past the Duck Fried Rice with edamame, kimchi and fried egg.

For something a little different, and for a vibe that’s buzzing every night of the week, grab a table at Blue Kanu — not only for the extensive cocktail list, but for the delicious Pacific fusion menu.

As soon as you walk through the doors, the chill of a Queenstown winter is instantly overshadowed by the island vibe beaming from the bar. The perfect place to grab a table with friends or even dine alone and people-watch, there’s something for everyone at this locals’ favourite.

This writer travelled to New Zealand as a guest of Airbnb