New Zealand's Most Remote Luxury Experience
Written by Nick at Suite Collection
Some experiences don't translate well afterward—not because they weren't profound, but because the feeling was too large to compress. "I guess you had to be there" is sometimes the most articulate summary you can muster. The Great Glenorchy Alpine Base Camp, part of our South Island Odyssey, is one such experience.
Helicopter Access to Untouched New Zealand Alpine Backcountry
Being helicoptered onto a hand-selected peak in New Zealand's alpine backcountry, it's apparent you're not doing something run-of-the-mill. The remoteness guarantees you're (probably) the only people to ever walk that particular line in the snow. Your tent site and daily itinerary are planned specifically for you.
Our itinerary involved snow-shoeing and photo-taking. Yours might involve Central Otago wine-drinking, overlooking the valley's theatre of light. The mountaintop is yours to do as you please.
Bespoke Itineraries Adapted to Weather and Guest Needs
Our itinerary involved snow-shoeing and photo-taking. Yours might involve Central Otago wine-drinking, overlooking the valley's theatre of light. The mountaintop is yours to do as you please.
Doug, the founder, learns guest preferences beforehand but admits that he intuits what they actually need on arrival. He listens for the deeper yearning and formulates the remedy accordingly. Weather, fitness levels, and tastes vary widely so when a pivot in the plan is required, their deep understanding of the region means they can confidently deliver what guests have travelled all this way for.
The Milky Way is easily seen with the naked eye. The mountain range above Glenorchy is located in one of the world’s 22 dark sky reserves. Photo by @noodlesforbrekky (Deanna Gerlach).
What Luxury Actually Means in Remote Wilderness Travel
Sitting in your safari-style canvas tent, a trillion stars overhead, eating high country lamb cooked over fire by a guide who feels like an old friend, at some point you'll pause and ask yourself 'is this really happening?'
There aren't many experiences like this in the world. You could attempt to organise this yourself, and come up woefully short. The permits alone are a headache. Doug's handled all of that. You won't find anyone else doing this.
Luxury here isn't about room square footage or marble sinks. It's accessing something remarkable that's logistically challenging yet completely handled.
Though, the high-quality down duvets, dry sauna, high-pressure showers and wood-fired dining back at Base Camp in your private timber cabin isn’t exactly roughing it either.
The Privilege and Logistics of Accessing New Zealand's Most Remote Locations
The overwhelming privilege of being somewhere this remote, this pristine, with people you choose for exactly this, is a feeling that even the most pragmatic of travellers will experience.
We arrange the kind of travel that recalibrates your sense of scale of life, and leaves a mark on your soul.
Available as a standalone Tailored Experience or woven into our South Island Odyssey itinerary.
Taken in October 2025
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