Minaret Station

Remotely positioned in a high alpine meadow at 3,000ft, surrounded by incredible mountain views, Minaret Station is an experience to inspire. Minaret Station Alpine Lodge is one of the most secluded and private luxury lodges in the world, with just four private chalets. Bordered by National Parks, mountains and Lake Wanaka, there are no roads at all leading to Minaret Station, so access is only possible by helicopter. Central to the Alpine Lodge is the superb Mountain Kitchen. Linked to the chalets by a series of raised wooden boardwalks, the Mountain Kitchen features two separate living areas, wood-burning fires, a well-stocked library, cellar and first-class dining facilities.

Guests enjoy privacy and comfort surrounded by tasteful high-country design. Sip wine on your private deck where you can relax and unwind beneath the stars. Open the door to one of the four luxuriously appointed Alpine Chalets featuring King beds, complimentary in-room mini bar, en-suite with New Zealand inspired bathroom amenities and spacious dressing room. Each Chalet features a private hot tub on the deck, and complimentary mini bar.

Among some of the finest travel experiences offered anywhere in the world. Unique, authentic, private and off the beaten path. Available as day activities for guests staying in Queenstown, Wanaka and the Southern Lakes region, or for guests staying at our very own Minaret Station Alpine Lodge. The lodge offers a range of day experiences tailored to all interests, fitness levels and budget.

Minaret Station Hiking
Start the day by hiking down the valley from the Alpine Lodge with your guide. Here you will be picked up by helicopter and flown onto the 50,000 acre farm where you will enjoy a combination of private farm tour, lake fishing, gourmet lunch and the opportunity for further exploration on this private property.

Heli-Skiing
Minaret Station & our sister company Southern Lakes Heliski bring you the ultimate New Zealand winter  experience, with wide open spaces, fresh snow and big grins from July through until September. Join us for a unique New Zealand alpine heli ski experience with your own private guide and helicopter. Minaret Station provides New Zealand’s premier private heli ski experience. Together with the heli ski division (Southern Lakes Heliski), we offer guests the most terrain in the region, and with 17 mountain ranges, over 800 diverse runs and access to the highest terrain at 2,585m, we can ensure there is no shortage of untouched snow. Whether a beginner or an expert, our experienced guides will ensure the terrain meets your ability level.

Mountain Biking
The Alpine Explorer is a full day adventure for riders who’d like to combine exploration with an unforgettable scenic flight experience. Your group of four will be flown with your bikes and guide to a track tailored to your experience level. Our premium e-bike selections provide a perfect advantage for less experienced riders. Enjoy trails winding through stunning historic huts, lakeside beaches and working high-country farms, with an incredible gourmet lunch along the way.

Guided Hiking
Minaret Station offers bespoke guided hiking experiences to help you explore backcountry corners of New Zealand rarely visited by others. Enjoy exploring with a professional guide along ridge-lines and valleys truly off the beaten path. Helicopter access provide hikers exclusive access to terrain, with each trip being tailored to suit the individual or group. Like all our guided adventures, enjoy a beautiful lunch in the backcountry as part of your day. A remarkable experience for guests of all experience and fitness levels who would like the opportunity to get out in the wild exploring.

West Coast Adventure
Imagine being able to walk along isolated, inaccessible west coast beaches, explore ancient beech forests and encounter New Zealand’s unique wildlife. A snow landing allows for stunning photographs against the backdrop of Mt. Aspiring and its glaciers, giving you more wonderful memories to take home. Minaret Station’s experienced guides are there to explain the landscape and its wildlife as well as to prepare a gourmet picnic lunch to be enjoyed along the way at a spectacular location. The flight path for this scenic charter is tailored to include stops or hikes that complement guests’ activity levels and present a diverse range of photographic opportunities. A great day experience for guests who like to combine some exploring with an unforgettable scenic flight.

Fiordland Heli Traverse
Explore this famously remote and untouched part of New Zealand by helicopter. Pass through majestic fiords, get up close to huge waterfalls and see the region’s unique wildlife in its otherwise inaccessible natural habitat. Hover over glaciers of ancient blue ice and land in the snow at the beautiful, isolated mountain lakes for photographs and memories you will treasure forever. Featuring a gourmet BBQ picnic lunch with a spectacular mountain backdrop, this is a magnificent experience and unquestionably a highlight of any trip to this region of New Zealand.

Dusky Sound Trip
After a stunning scenic flight you will land on our custom-built floating helipad and transfer to our boat to enjoy a day of fishing, discovery and wildlife viewing. At Dusky Sound, it’s possible to explore the pristine shoreline of this World Heritage Area and retrace the steps of explorer Captain Cook.  Very few people visit Dusky Sound. It’s isolated location at the South-Western tip of Fiordland makes it inaccessible to all but ocean-going vessels and helicopters. Consequently, the environment here is as pristine as it is possible to be.

Aoraki Mt Cook Trip
Fly north towards Aoraki Mt. Cook, New Zealand’s tallest peak. Enjoy a scenic flight around this spectacular wilderness area. Land amongst the crevasses of the Tasman Glacier and explore with your guide the glacier’s seracs, icefalls and astonishing caves of ancient blue ice. After this incredible experience, the return flight takes in the western side of the Southern Alps, where the mountains reach their highest elevations rising straight from the emerald green of the West Cost and the glittering Tasman Sea. This tour allows time for additional heli-hiking en route for those guests who wish to do a little more exploring.