Inside the incredible luxury New Zealand lodge tucked away in a remote glacial valley that you can ONLY reach by helicopter
“This is not a normal hotel transfer.”
This is how Minaret Station Alpine Lodge, a luxury resort in New Zealand, describes the journey to this remote retreat.
The five-star lodge is located at the head of a glacial valley on the western shore of Lake Wanaka.
Surrounded by mountains and national parks, there are no roads to get there. The only way to reach the property is by helicopter.
Along the way, guests can enjoy “one of the world’s most beautiful scenic flights,” flying through “spectacular mountain valleys, over snow-capped peaks and over winding mountain rivers.”
See Minaret Station Alpine Lodge in New Zealand – which is only accessible by helicopter
The lodge (above) is located 3,000 feet above sea level on a 50,000-acre ranch that is home to deer, sheep and cattle
Along the way, guests can enjoy “one of the world’s most beautiful scenic flights,” flying through “spectacular mountain valleys, over snow-capped peaks and over winding alpine rivers.”
The lodge is situated 900 metres above sea level on a 20,000 hectare farm home to deer, sheep and cattle.
According to Minaret Station Website: ‘There are few places in the world that are like this.’
The accommodation consists of four chalets, all equipped with king-size beds, en-suite bathrooms and a private terrace with a hot tub.
There are also communal areas for guests, including two separate living rooms, a library and a dining room with ‘first-class facilities’.
Minaret Station’s sister company, Alpine Helicopters, operates a fleet of Squirrel AS5350 and MD500E helicopters that depart daily from Queenstown and Wanaka heliports
The five-star lodge is located at the head of a glacial valley on the western shore of Lake Wanaka
According to the Minaret Station website: ‘There are few, if any, places like it in the world’
The helicopters used for the transfers have been ‘very specifically chosen for their suitability for mountain flights’
In addition to Queenstown and Wanaka airports, the helicopters can transport guests door-to-door from almost any location in New Zealand, including alternative luxury lodges, airports and private properties
Minaret Station’s sister company, Alpine Helicopters, operates a fleet of Squirrel AS5350 and MD500E helicopters that depart daily from Queenstown and Wanaka heliports.
“These comfortable and very reliable machines were chosen specifically for their suitability for mountain flying,” according to the Minaret Station website.
In addition to Queenstown and Wanaka airports, the helicopters can transport guests door-to-door from almost any location in New Zealand, including alternative luxury lodges, airports and private properties.
Guests can also book helicopters for a range of activities and excursions during their visit at an additional cost. The lodge offers ‘spectacular tours’ of Fiordland National Park and Aoraki (Mount Cook) – located in the Southern Alps and at 3,724m (12,217ft) New Zealand’s highest mountain.
The Southern Lakes area also offers the opportunity to go heli-skiing, a form of off-piste skiing where skiers reach the mountain top by air rather than by ski lift.
Dreamy: Minaret Station’s chalets can accommodate one to four guests
The chalets are all equipped with king-size beds, a private bathroom and a private terrace with a hot tub
The charter can also take guests to a variety of land-based activities, from fishing in the wild to horseback riding at Minaret Station Farm.
Minaret Station’s chalets sleep one to four guests, with rates ranging from $3,350 (£1,561) to $4,450 (£2,073) per night. Exclusive use of all four chalets ranges from $13,400 (£6,244) to $17,000 (£7,922) per night.
Helicopter transfers cost $2,900 (£1,351) per person from Queenstown and $2,600 (£1,211) per person from Wanaka on scheduled departures.
For more information visit – minaretstation.com.
The lodge offers a heli-skiing experience in the Southern Lakes area
Helicopter transfers cost $2,900 (£1,351) per person from Queenstown and $2,600 (£1,211) per person from Wanaka on scheduled departures. Above – one of the helicopters on a tour
Minaret Station offers wilderness fishing trips and horseback riding tours on the farm