Elite Traveler March-April 2015

INSPIRE TENTED CAMPS

81 elite traveler MAR/APR 2015 ISSUE 2

6

Minaret Station NEW ZEALAND

The first luxury, tented lodge in New Zealand offering opulent camping. Minaret is ensconced at the head of a glacial valley in the heart of the Southern Alps and only accessible by air. Standout service Order a heli-landing on West Coast Beach and the pilot pulls on a wetsuit and dives into the sea pulling out lobster for you to eat on the beach. Honeymooners are heli-lifted to a hot tub up in the snowy mountains, where they drink Dom Perignon. Lodge host Shirl is entrusted to look after the children of VIP return guests. Special amenities The “Mountain Kitchen”, with its well-stocked library, dining and living areas; private chefs and guides who can take you fly fishing, hiking, heli-skiing, heli-mountain biking and more. Number of rooms There are four heated canvas tents with sheepskin carpets, en-suite bathrooms and a hot tub on a private deck. Room to book All the tents are the same, all undisturbed and private, but number 4 is the most secluded. Who’s slept there Peter Jackson and the cast and crew from Lord of the Rings , which was filmed in the area. Contact Emma Mcdonald, sales and reservation manager, +64 3 443 5860; info@minaretstation.com; minaretstation.com. Price $1,555 per chalet per night inclusive of meals, beverages and an in-house guide (double occupancy); Helicopter transfers are essential as there is no road access and cost $1,400 per adult & $350 per child (13yrs or younger) from Queenstown or Wanaka. Amanwana is a luxury tented wilderness hideaway in the only resort on Moyo Island, a nature and marine reserve 96 miles off the coast of Sumbawa, east of Bali. The island is a haven for hikers and is close to untouched reefs in the Flores Sea. Its custom-built 105ft luxury, three-cabin, coastal cruiser, Amanikan, now takes guests on Komodo and Raja Ampat Expeditions. Raja Ampat encompasses more than 15,000 sq miles in the northeast seas of the Indonesian Archipelago, where the Pacific becomes the Indian Ocean. Stand out service Guests due to board Amanikan made a last-minute request for gluten-free food. The GM Livio went to Bali to source the necessary items, then dropped into Jakarta to source turkey. Last summer he had a last-minute request from a guest for a GoPro camera for a birthday. Livio found the exact model requested. Special amenities A jungle spa with an open-air massage area, a variety of boats for cruising and sport fishing and a dive centre. Number of rooms 20 luxury spacious tents beneath the forest canopy. Room to book All tents are the same except for the location. Choose an ocean tent for a beach view or jungle tent to be closer to the jungle. Who’s slept there Aman is tight lipped about its guests but the brand draws in celebrities who seek cultural relevance in comfort. Contact Shearly Loilewen front office manager +62 371 22233; shearly@amanwana.com; amanresorts.com/amanwana. Price From $675 plus 21% tax & service charge per room per night. Amanwana MOYO ISLAND, INDONESIA 7