Why you'll love it here...
- Only accessible by helicopter, the adventure begins with your transfer to the lodge
- A remote location means a stay here can be a life-changing experience
- Go beyond the beaten path on a heli-mountain biking or heli-hiking adventure
- Take a scenic helicopter flight to the mountain top for a Champagne toast with spectacular views
Painted onto the landscape in a remote, mountainous valley and so isolated from the outside world they’re only accessible by helicopter, Minaret Station’s collection of stunning chalets in Minaret Bay give chic rural living a whole new meaning.
Minaret Station is a family-run, entirely isolated South Island retreat that strives to give its guests an authentic taste of life in the real New Zealand wilderness; one they simply will not find elsewhere.
Dotted along a mini valley on the banks of Lake Wanaka, a picture-perfect body of water in New Zealand’s Otago Region, Minaret Station’s main lodge is then surrounded by four deluxe chalets connected by wooden walkways, with dominating, dramatic snow-dusted mountains as its backdrop.
Idyllic year-round, this intimate New Zealand lodge is set up for all weather conditions, with irresistible roaring fires in winter and large verandas to enjoy the summer evening sunshine too; this is boutique South Island living at its very best.
The restaurant, for example, is a delight of fine dining, locally-sourced cuisine that certainly showcase the best of New Zealand’s ingredients and wine varieties, yet inspiration for the menu’s flavour combos are taken from Asia to Europe, the Med, and beyond.
Inside the chalets, you’ll find the same level of care and consideration, though displayed in an entirely more rustic fashion, as each is designed and adorned to be homely and welcoming, all comfortable sofas, sheepskin throws and a wood-burning fireplace.
Don’t be entirely fooled, however, as a private deck, Jacuzzi, kitchen and countless in-room mod-cons remind you that this is every bit the boutique luxury South Island lodge too!
Then, in a country famed for its inventiveness, and with travel experiences being no different, the Wallis family (headed by Sir Tim Wallis) who run Minaret Station led the way with their heli-sightseeing and heli-skiing adventures, both now-popular pastimes all over adrenaline-loving New Zealand.
And as Minaret Station boasts decades of experience plus a real passion for what they do, here you can be sure to encounter a truly unique New Zealand experience both for that unbeatable location and the countless activities on offer; jet boating, hiking, biking and more.
The exclusive nature of Minaret Station also means that your exact activity schedule will be completely bespoke, whether being dropped off amid the mountains for a memorable bike ride or perhaps a more laidback gourmet picnic without a soul in sight, the team here have it covered. And upon your return, gourmet cuisine or a glass of champagne in the hot tub awaits, under starry night skies, of course; such is the magnificence of time spent at the one and Minaret Station Alpine Lodge.
Best For
- Honeymoon

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Accommodation
Views of the towering surrounding mountains will greet you each morning, through the large windows of each luxe chalet at Minaret Station. With just four to choose from, this is exclusive boutique lodging the New Zealand way, as the cabins themselves plus their private decking, Jacuzzis, separate lounge areas, kitchen and multiple mod-cons will attest.
These include a complimentary minibar, iPod dock, espresso machine, Wi-Fi, thick bathrobes and Evolu Botanical toiletries. Then, contemporary furnishings, soft fur throws and a colour scheme that melds into the area’s natural surrounds all complement each other too. All chalets at Minaret Station are also spacious – your own home-from-home while visiting New Zealand complete with hallway and en suites bathrooms to compliment the rest; what more could you need?
Restaurants and Bars
Multiple dining areas are available at Minaret Station, serviced by the divine Mountain Kitchen all throughout the day which itself has two dining rooms, or you can enjoy the fresh alpine air and eat al fresco, those timeless views there for company. Alternatively, gourmet cuisine can be delivered directly to your chalet and it should come as no surprise that food here is fresh, seasonal, locally sourced and prepared to the very highest of fine dining standards. Picnics are also available using yet more produce either grown or reared onsite – perfect for active days away from the lodge, as well as deliciously sweet fruit from nearby orchards. A cellar, boasting an exquisite selection of New Zealand wines, of course, rounds off the gastronomic experience at Minaret Station.
Entertainment and Activities
Minaret Station provides a number of exclusive excursions such as guided fishing trips, with the option of both fresh and saltwater off the west coast, there’s heli-hiking, heli-skiing (if visiting in winter), jet boat rides, plus countless trekking and biking trails available too. For a quiet afternoon, however, take one of the easier walking options to a suitably scenic viewpoint, with each surrounding ridge offering equally breath-taking vistas that are best-admired while enjoying a gourmet picnic from the lodge. Overall Minaret Station really does take great pride in the exclusive services it offers away from popular tourist haunts in the area, so will do their best to make your once a lifetime trip yours, and yours alone while here.
Facilities
Being so remote, the Wallis family have had to make sure that anything you could possibly need during your stay at Minaret Station, has already been thought of. So Wi-Fi, an onsite library and satellite TV, cosy lounge areas, a dedicated concierge team along with guides, chefs and pilots are on-hand, so too helicopters, vehicles and equipment for certain tours.

Tom
Minaret Station

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