Heli Camping with Heated Floors

There’s a camp, set high (so high you need a helicopter to arrive) in a valley in New Zealand. And at this camp there are no restaurants. No shops. Not even any trees. From an initial look, there’s nothing to do. Yet, it’s the background of one of the top ten experiences of my life. This marvelous little outpost is called Minaret Station, and I just can’t sing its praises loud enough.

What makes it so great is the madness of it all. The safari tents rigged up in the middle of an open field (in New Zealand to boot) are coupled with Heli-skiing, hiking (lots!), hunting, mustering, and almost any other outdoor activity you can think of—and then the whole thing is bookended with heated flooring and possum throws. Yesterday I was lounging in a beautiful lodge, deciding on my next glass of pinot. Today, I’m sitting in a gas heated hot tub on my deck, taking in one of the most incredible starry nights I have ever seen. It’s an adventurer’s paradise, with a nod to modern day luxury.

Minaret Station is so far removed from anything else I’ve seen, and the first of its kind in New Zealand. While it may be the first, and likely not the last, it will always be the original. You can opt to stay for a few nights (highly recommended), or to simply visit for the day with the Mountain Kitchen excursion.

Mike went to New Zealand for the food, the wine, and the warm hospitality and he found all of it (and more) in the middle of nowhere. Call him to hear more blatant adulation about New Zealand. 

MVI_6516.MOV from Bryce Longton on Vimeo.