High in New Zealand’s Southern Alps, on the edge of the Mount Aspiring National Park, lies a unique alpine escape - Whare Kea Chalet - luxury where you would least expect to find it

After a spectacular twenty-minute helicopter flight from the lodge at Lake Wanaka, over mountains and glaciers, lakes and beautiful wild forests, one climbs to 1,700 metres and arrives at Whare Kea Chalet. The chalet is in the Buchanan Mountain Range next to Mount Aspiring National Park and has stunning views from Mount Cook in the northeast to the 3,000 metre peak of Mount Aspiring in the west. In the summer, the scenery is one of high rocky mountains, glaciers, residual snowfields and alpine meadows; in winter, the chalet lies under a deep blanket of snow.

Built with a high-pitched roof and extensive use of (double-glazed) glass, wood and steel, Whare Kea is no ordinary mountain hut, rather a luxury lodge in miniature. The overall design minimises the chalet’s impact on the environment whilst maximising the effect of the breathtaking views from this amazing position.

There are two double bedrooms for four guests and room for two more in the comfortable and spacious loft. The staff of two live in and share with guests in the open-plan lounge, dining and kitchen area and the bathroom which, for environmental reasons, has an outside loo, located at the edge of the rear deck!

Spend days on guided alpine walks followed by gourmet picnics and after a glorious day settle back and enjoy a glass of champagne in the evening alpine glow, followed by a delicious supper served up by the chalet staff and accompanied with tales of high adventure. Activities in summer include, incomparable mountain walking (particularly to the summit of Dragon Fly Peak at 2,160 metres, directly behind the chalet), hunting and for the more adventurous, mountain climbing. In winter and spring the chalet offers a spectacular base for either heli-skiing or ski touring and an experience that one never forgets.