At a Glance
Unique, authentic, private and off the beaten path. An lifetime adventure is just a flight away. With your scenic helicopter transport, you're ensured exclusive access to otherwise inaccessible locations for a personalised hiking experience in the heart of the Southern Alps. With your private hiking guide, you can have your personalised walking program and choose to get up close to rushing waterfalls and craggy mountain ridges or simply meander through gently undulating valley floors, soaking up the natural wildlife.
Your ultimate Alpine hiking experiences is enhanced by luxurious accommodation Alpine Lodge, located on a 50,000-acre private high country property, at the head of a stunningly picturesque glacial valley in the heart of the Southern Alps. It has 25km lake frontage and adjoins Mt Aspiring National Park. With no road access, accessible ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- 2 nights' accommodation in an Alpine Lodge on a twin share basis (single supplement or additional guests available at additional charges)
- Private guide for hiking from the lodge
- Daily full breakfast
- Nightly pre-dinner drinks and canapés
- Nightly multi-course gourmet dinner, with paired wine
- Daily lunch, either at the Mountain Kitchen or packed picnic lunch
- An extensive selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including the chalet minibar. In addition, a selection of Minaret Station Reserve wines and spirits are also available for purchase
- WiFi throughout the Mountain Kitchen and individual chalets
- Return scenic helicopter transport to/from Queenstown (or Wanaka). *Please Note: Due to weight restrictions on aircraft, guests are limited to one suitcase weighing no more than 23kg per person, plus one small bag. Under CAA rules all guest weights need to be advised in advance
Itinerary
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Waking distance: Approximately 6 - 12 km, 2 - 4 hours walking (Easy Grade). Scenic Helicopter transfers ex Queenstown at approx. 2:00pm (or Wanaka at approx. 4:00pm). Flying through spectacular mountain valleys, over snow-capped peaks and across braided alpine rivers, the journey into Minaret Station is up there amongst some of the world’s finest scenic flights. Land on the Alpine Lodge private helipad, at the head of a stunningly picturesque glacial valley in the heart of the Southern Alps. You are hosted in luxuriously furnished Chalet suites complete with king beds, walk in dressing room, en suite bathroom with a double vanity and New Zealand bathroom amenities, complimentary mini bar and a private deck featuring a hot tub to relax and enjoy the Alpine Lodge setting. Hike along a west coast beach and then walk through the beech forest. Enjoy pre-dinner canapés and multi course gourmet dinner. All beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic are complementary (except reserve cellar wine list). The chefs use only the freshest local ingredients from Central Otago’s basin. In fact, the free range venison, Lumina Lamb and Angus Beef we use are all sourced from Minaret Station’s own 50,000 acre working farm. Seafood is fresh from Stewart Island, the West Coast and Fiordland. NOTE: Helicopter transfer costs are based on 1 small to medium soft bag (23kg/50lbs) and 1 piece of hand luggage for each passenger. Large hard suitcases cannot be accommodated and luggage storage can be arranged (at additional cost). Also, should luggage, or passenger and luggage weight and size, exceed the maximum allowed for, luggage storage can be provided in Queenstown OR an additional helicopter transfer can be arranged to / from Alpine Lodge. These options will be at an additional cost. Other departure locations or flight time available on request. Additional costs will apply. |
Minaret Station Alpine Lodge
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Waking distance: approximately 4 - 6 hours (Easy to Moderate Grade). Personalised hiking itinerary is tailored to suit guests' fitness levels and interest. Within Minaret Station’s 50,000-acre property, it has an intricate web of flora and fauna ranging from sub-alpine shrubs to rare mountain daisies and ancient beech forests. Each private guided hiking trip is tailored to suit the individual or group. Guests can choose to get up close to rushing waterfalls and craggy mountain ridges or simply meander through gently undulating valley floors, soaking up the natural wildlife. Enjoy picnic in the heart of the Southern Alps. Back to your accommodation in the afternoon. Enjoy pre-dinner canapés and multi course gourmet dinner. All beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic are included (except reserve cellar wine list). Other experiences to spoil your journey (additional charges apply): |
Minaret Station Alpine LodgeBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Waking distance: Approximately 6 - 12 km, 2 - 4 hours walking (Easy Grade). Personalised hiking itinerary is tailored to suit guests' fitness levels and interest. After delicious breakfast, hike along an alpine ridge of the Southern Alps. Check out at 11:00am. Scenic Helicopter transfers to Queenstown. |
NoneBreakfastDates & Prices
Daily departure on request. Please contact us for group bookings. For groups larger than 6 we will require two helicopters. Please contact our reservations team for a quote for your group.
More Info
- The departure point is Queenstown (or Wanaka)
- Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Queenstown
The climate is cold with snow and ice year-round at the highest points. Please find the average temperature below as a guide:
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 60 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 60 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.
Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.
General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 60 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 60 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.
Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.
Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.
Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 4 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.
Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.
Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.
Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.
