Travel Horizons: helicopter

Showing posts with label helicopter. Show all posts

7.23.2019

Minaret Station | remote luxury

There are different kinds of luxury. One type of luxury is about exquisite hotel rooms with the most comfortable mattresses and linens; gorgeous drapes and furnishings; bathrooms with marble counters, deep soaking tubs, and pulsating rainshowers; and panoramic views of alpine mountains or uninterrupted coastlines.

Another vision of luxury eschews being up-to-date in order to offer its guests a full immersion in the history and culture of the place to which they've traveled.

And then there's Minaret Station — I've shown the wooden cabin where I spent one quite glorious day. This is the luxury of living in perfect comfort in a totally remote location entirely off the grid. A simple but comfortable cabin. Plain wooden floors. Spacious bedroom with views onto this mountain valley. A deck whose hot tub shared the same views. A living room with sofabed (if you bring your kids). A bathroom without a square inch of marble ... but dual vanities, a shower with plenty of hot water, and the best water pressure we experienced anywhere in New Zealand. Did I say we were off the grid? The resort generates its own hydroelectric power from a waterfall just behind where I was standing. Oh, and the food was wonderful!

I absolutely loved my much too-short one day at Minaret Station. Very remote, it's just a 45 minute helicopter ride from Queenstown, and getting there is half the fun. If you're an avid travel photographer, put this resort on your bucket list. Arriving at Minaret Station is like landing in a photographic paradise. See more photos in my two previous blog articles here and here.

copyright (c) 2019 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

7.16.2019

Queenstown | for scenery and adrenaline rushes

Queenstown is my favorite place in New Zealand... and I say that having never made it to Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound. Inclement weather during two separate visits caused the cancelations of our helicopter flights through these breath-taking fjords. But even so, I love Queenstown.

If you want gorgeous scenery, nothing beats this town set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. A small resort town, it has everything a nature lover could want. I've always enjoyed the beautiful setting — the lake and the snow-capped restaurants — and Queenstown has great restaurants and many opportunities for productive retail therapy. Shop for possum wool sweaters (warm and so soft), and do drop into Waka Jewelers to browse the hand made carvings and jewelry. Walk upstairs to visit the small gallery and see the owner/artist at work.

Or if you're after an adrenaline rush, nothing is quite so exciting/terrifying than taking the plunge off the Kawarau Bridge. 43 meters above the water (141 feet), I've visited the bridge twice to take in the experience. No, I've never jumped — nor has has any of my fellow travelers, though one of our group was tempted to give it a try — but I was quite satisfied to experience vicariously the sheer terror of the experience. Or for more conventional thrills, there's downhill skiing during the winter months (summer in the Northern hemisphere).

Coming up in my next blogs, three fabulous (and so different) luxury lodges in and near Queenstown.

7.10.2019

Annandale | getting there was half the fun!

You can drive to Annandale, but transferring by helicopter transforms a long car ride into a quick and enthralling scenic flight from Christchurch to the resort.

This map shows what I mean. Annandale is quite close to Christchurch as the crow flies, but getting there by road means going the long way along the coast, then up and over some winding mountain roads until you finally arrive at your destination.

Our flight, on the hand, went by so quickly. The sights were so thrilling, such as this view of Diamond Harbour. We flew high above the white, fluffy clouds framing the cottages that dotted the hillside.

And when you get to Annandale, WOW! It's an expansive, 4000 acre working farm with thousands of sheep, five unique villas, and incredible dining. We stayed in The Homestead, a lovingly restored 1880 farmhouse that can accommodate a family of 12. Large groups or families might also choose Scrubby Bay, a contemporary villa on a private bay.

Couples who want their own private cottage can choose between Shepherd's Cottage or Seascape. Shepherd's Cottage is exactly what it sounds like, a rustic but luxurious old cottage set high on a hill overlooking the Pacific. Seascape is an ultra contemporary, ultra luxurious retreat with its own private beach. Each is so different but so delightfully wonderful. The pictures can speak for themselves.

Contact us to plan your own trip to New Zealand and Annandale.

5.27.2019

postcard from Minaret Station

I took a short hike this morning before breakfast through the mountain valley in which Minaret Station is found. With just four cabins set in the midst of 60,000 acres, Minaret Station is both the largest and the smallest Virtuoso resort in the world. It is utter luxury to live in total comfort, enjoying meals, in the midst of such raw and natural beauty. So remote, we helicoptered in yesterday ... but so close, it's just 20 minutes from Queenstown.

Never knew about Minaret Station, but it's now on my radar as the best adventure travel resort in New Zealand ... and one of the most spectacular settings in the world. Thank you, Minaret Station, Southern World, Tourism New Zealand, and Virtuoso for making this visit possible.

1.14.2016

the ultimate $25,000 romantic Valentine's fling

Looking to wow that someone special? This package is the sure way to win their heart — or take care of things if you need to apologize in a BIG way... Here's what's included

Six nights at Hotel Wailea, a Relais & Chateaux hotel in the Wailea area of the island of Maui. You'll enjoy expansive views of the Pacific Ocean from your Luxury 1BR Ocean View Suite, including a daily $25 per person breakfast credit and preferred VIP seating at Capische?

A love that soars. You'll arrive on February 12, have February 13th at leisure, and on Valentine's Day, enjoy an unforgettable experience — a one hour private helicopter tour of Hana and Haleakala. Enjoy a private picnic for two at Ulupalakua Ranch (where your helicopter will land), with a chilled bottle of Dom Pérignon awaits your arrival.

Hook it and cook it. On February 15, you'll be fishing alongside Chef Brian Etheridge of Capische? on a six hour fishing charter with all transfers and lunch included. Your dinner that evening will feature today's fresh catch, straight from your boat.

Sensual Expressions. After a day of leisure on February 17, luxuriate in a spa day with a hand-picked menu of two special treatments. Start off with a 90 minute Couples' Outdoor Massage with Aromatherapy Oils. Following a gourmet lunch, finish the experience with a Lava & Sea Salt Exfoliation with infused black sea salt and healing Hawaiian essential oils.

Back to the airport on February 18th, your private SUV will provide your return airport transfer (round trip transfers are included in the price). And the price? $24,450 which includes all taxes and fees. Contact me for complete information. As a full, non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking, travel insurance is strongly encouraged.

copyright (c) 2016 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Luxe Travel Hawaii, 808.589.5508

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