There’s nothing quite like a staycation to help revive you after a long week, so when I was asked if I wanted to spend a night at Auckland’s iconic Hilton hotel, I jumped at the opportunity. For me, after a few days of being on print deadline, it had been one long week indeed. It was a sunny Friday afternoon when my partner Tim and I pulled up in the Hilton’s valet carpark. Mere moments after we had stepped out of the car and unloaded our bags, the keys were whisked out of Tim’s hand by one of the valet managers, who greeted us with a friendly smile.

The nautical-themed Hilton Auckland holds a premium position on Princes Wharf, and it was clear once we stepped into the bustling lobby that no detail has been overlooked in its construction. After checking in at the front desk, we made our way up to the fifth floor where our Deluxe Harbour View room awaited. It had just ticked past 5pm as we opened the door, and to my absolute delight, a bottle of crisp Hunter’s sparkling wine beckoned in the corner of the room, accompanied by a selection of treats from Honest Chocolat. Without further ado, I popped the cork on the wine, and after an obligatory cheers, we explored our new surroundings.

The room was spacious, with plush plum-coloured carpets underfoot and floor-to-ceiling windows that offered some seriously sublime views. Stepping out onto our private balcony, we could see the glistening Hauraki Gulf to our left and Auckland’s impressive city skyline to our right. “I could get used to this,” I thought.

We swapped our casual clothes for evening ensembles and made our way down to the hotel’s premium dining spot, Fish. Designed with a fresh, unfussy fit-out, providing panoramic views of the harbour, it’s the kind of place where you could easily while away the hours. We were set to sample the restaurant’s ‘Taste of Sea’ menu, a set of sharing-style plates which pair the freshest seafood with the finest seasonal produce. It did not disappoint. Throughout the course of the evening, our palates were treated to a host of perfectly balanced dishes curated by the Hilton’s culinary director, chef Des Harris. The prawn toast was a standout, though for a sweet tooth like myself, it was quickly overshadowed by the decadent tiramisu for dessert.

After a final nightcap at the hotel’s Bellini Bar, we headed back to our room feeling incredibly grateful and satiated. I drew myself a bath and commenced an expanded version of my evening routine, soaking up every second of unencumbered relaxation. After a luxurious and restorative sleep on the bed’s crisp cotton sheets, we awoke to fine weather and even better views of the harbour than when we’d arrived. We enjoyed a light breakfast at Fish, but made sure not to overdo it, because we still had one final indulgence to look forward to — an afternoon tea at Bellini Bar. Instead of the usual seasonal afternoon tea updates, Hilton Auckland collaborates with local brands to bring exciting themed afternoon teas with a touch of Aotearoa. We savoured a delectable array of treats, complemented by a glass of champagne. Feeling fuelled, restored and ready to do it all again soon, we checked out seamlessly and it was back to reality.