Cutting-edge and conceptual, for those with a good eye and a deft hand for design.

If you thought that cities such as Paris, New York, Milan, and London had a monopoly on fashion, think again. Benny Castles, Design Director of New Zealand fashion house, WORLD, collaborated with SO/ Auckland, resulting in a design-forward stay that isn’t afraid to make a statement.

Themed around Auckland's volcanic history, rooms are bold and original, with black and gold carpets, a black chaise lounge, and burnished orange padded velvet headboards. The views from the top-floor bar and restaurant are similarly epic, looking out over Waitemata Harbour, Rangitota Island, and the Coromandel Peninsula beyond.