Flat whites, the pavlova, Crowded House and even the much-loved late Sam Neill: Australia and New Zealand have a long history of inventing, claiming and adopting each other’s inventions and heroes.

But when it comes to luxury lodges, New Zealand may win the origin contest thanks to its long history of creating spectacular getaways such as the iconic Huka Lodge in Taupo on the North Island, established – albeit on a more rustic scale – in 1925, and Blanket Bay Lodge in Glenorchy on the South Island.

Of course, Australia has well and truly joined the party with groups like Beckons (formerly Baillie Lodges), which has built a reputation for standout properties like Southern Ocean Lodge, Longitude 131 at Uluru, and Capella Lodge on Lord Howe Island – (plus they’ve now also hooked Huka). The truth is both countries excel at providing this type of world-class exclusive getaway that is increasingly difficult to replicate, mainly because luxury like this is not simple, no matter how much money and expertise you throw at it.

Tom Gibson, an Australian who recently moved to Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island – a gateway to some of the world’s finest luxury lodges – has been involved in luxury stays across the world, including Huka, Silky Oaks Lodge in the Daintree and Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge on Vancouver Island.

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He says true luxury lodges must offer low guest numbers, immersive landscapes, exceptional service and a genuine sense of place.

“The most successful lodges tend to operate with no more than 30 keys (rooms) ... push much larger, and you lose the intimacy that defines the category,” he says.

And while it’s a given that getaways of this type must offer “unique, jaw-dropping views in a genuinely private setting” it’s no longer enough to rely solely on beautiful locations, says Gibson, who now heads the luxury travel platform Suite Collection.

Guests also expect the culinary and service standards of the world’s best hotels, delivered in a much more intimate, tailored way, plus real access to world-class or unique local experiences. “This could be fly-fishing, wine, golf, hiking, or cultural experiences nearby.” And another clincher? They must also be able to connect guests to something special beyond their boundaries.

One newly opened New Zealand property that has cemented a place in this true luxury realm is Holme Station Homestead, a beautifully restored 1912 South Canterbury sheep station set on more than six hectares of private gardens and surrounded by farmland just two and a half hours from Christchurch.

As well as providing all the must-haves such as luxurious suites, an onsite chef, expansive views and privacy, it is carving a place in lodge luxury by also offering unique adventures in the alpine landscapes of the Mackenzie and Waitaki districts, home to Aoraki/Mount Cook, turquoise glacial lakes, and the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail.

Guests can arrive at Holme Station by chopper if they choose and visit the Southern Alps’ highest altitude whisky hut – with optional hot tub. They can also enjoy a round of eco golf, teeing off at almost 2000 metres; ski on private fields, or try fly-fishing in glacier-fed river systems.

But one of Holme Station’s most amazing exclusive guest outings is a guided hike to see charcoal drawings of the extinct Giant Eagle (or Haast’s eagle), located on private land.

This formidable bird, believed to have been the biggest eagle to have ever existed and weighing up to 18 kilograms, dined out on the also gargantuan moa birds which once stomped across this island nation.

Guests can also hike to the nearby Valley of Moa to view 700 to 1000-year-old drawings of the moa. Both sets of drawings offer rare and moving glimpses into Aotearoa’s earliest stories, and are depicted on rock walls which once sheltered the artists, the Waitaha people.

Experiences that are hard to replicate? Make that impossible.