Certainly, no other word but paradise could match the rugged natural splendour of the surrounding landscape. It has been home to the Paradise duck since time immemorial. When you hold their rich feathers up to the light they shine a brilliant green.

These gentle ducks illustrate a love story as old as the valley itself. When two birds find each other they share a lifelong partnership. Today, their bright feathers are identified with the sanctuary of romantic seclusion found on the doorstep of Paradise.

Blanket Bay sits at the north end of Lake Wakatipu against a backdrop of New Zealand's finest scenery. The name recalls the events a century ago when pioneer farmers from Europe sheared their sheep on the shore of our Bay under rough shelters stitched together from blankets. The lodge at Blanket Bay is a rare combination of unspoiled beauty, adventure experiences and luxury accommodation.

THE SETTING
Blanket Bay lies near the tiny settlement of Glenorchy on the northern shores of Lake Wakatipu. Edged by the golden tussock lands of the high country, these secluded waters mirror the soaring mountains above.

At the other end of the lake sits the resort town of Queenstown, New Zealand's discovery and adventure centre. Just to the north is a quiet valley called Paradise, through which the Dart River flows. During the gold rush of the 1860s, European miners came here looking for treasure of another kind. Not far from Glenorchy lie the
remains of the abandoned Invincible goldmine and on our neighbouring property "Wyuna" are the remains of over 20 sheelite mines.

Today's travellers come to Blanket Bay in search of peace and solitude from the outside world. A gateway to New Zealand's finest scenery and action experiences, our guests have a host of activities to choose from.

The Lodge is a brief helicopter ride away from the snow-capped Mt Earnslaw Glacier, the quiet trout-filled rivers of The Greenstone Valley and the dense pre-historic rain forests of Fiordland.

A lost and timeless place, Fiordland is an untouched corner of New Zealand, originally shaped by mighty rivers of ice. Over millennia, glaciers carved out deep trenches, later flooded by the wild Tasman Sea. Narrow fingers of sea probe deep inland from the coast.
The plants and animals of this incomparable terrain keep their ancient Jurassic forms.

The Hollyford, one of the most stunning and remote of Fiordland's rain forest valleys, cut by the sparkling waters of the Hollyford River, stretches way out to the western coast. The famous Milford Sound is just 12 minutes by helicopter from Blanket Bay. Vast walls of rock rise for thousands of feet above tranquil waters. The Sound's towering Mitre Peak captures of the grandeur of scale so typical of the South Island.

THE EXPERIENCE
Blanket Bay is a haven of comfort - a sanctuary from the outside world. We can provide you with endless ways to help restore your physical and spiritual well-being in this enchanted corner of New Zealand.

Fishing and Heli-fishing - Legendary American travel writer Zane
Grey once described New Zealand as "an angler's El Dorado". Our
resident, professional guide can take you to wild and untouched
rivers offering the best fly-fishing in the world.

Hiking - The Milford Track, which leads to the heart of spectacular
Milford Sound, has been described as "the finest walk in the world".
Like the nearby Routeburn and Greenstone Tracks, it passes by
pristine waterfalls and beneath sky-cutting peaks.

Heli-skiing Ski enthusiasts can enjoy some of the finest skiing in the world during winter (July to September) on the pure powder snow of the surrounding mountain slopes, only minutes away from the Lodge.

Among the other vigorous activities on offer are water-skiing, wind surfing and canoeing on Lake Wakatipu. The Dart River Jet boat can pick you up from our jetty. Horseback riding and mountain biking can be arranged on our neighbouring Wyuna Station property, which stretches for five miles along the shores of the lake.

THE LODGE
The Lodge at Blanket Bay sits in sprawling grounds on the bush-clad fringes of Lake Wakatipu. Built in the grand style of the finest alpine lodges and finished with native New Zealand timber and stone, the Lodge is a sanctuary of comfort.

At the heart of the Lodge is the 30-foot high Great Room with its massive log fireplace, vaulted wharf-timber beams and antique wooden floors. Relax by a crackling indoor or outdoor fire and watch the red-gold sun set behind the magnificent snow-capped mountains.

Unwind in the adjacent Den, a cosy corner of the Lodge with large, comfortable sofas and deep chairs, providing islands of luxury for relaxation and reliving the day's adventures.

Eat in one of two dining rooms or in the secluded private wine cellar where you will savour the intense, sun-ripened flavours of Pacific Rim cuisine. The dining rooms contain massive stone fireplaces, throwing out warmth and comfort from grates alive with blazing logs. For the warm days and nights of summer, a spacious outdoor terrace provides a special dining area, with sweeping views down and across the lake.

Our superb spa facilities will relax you after a long day's activity. A fully equipped gym is available. Our game room/pub is complete with its own pool table and bar, and the television lounge has a 60" screen with satellite channel access.

ACCOMMODATION
All of the air conditioned rooms have super-king size beds, spacious bathrooms with granite-topped double vanities, separate bathtubs and showers. Rooms are equipped with international direct dial telephones, and separate modem jacks for which a laptop computer can be provided to retrieve email in the privacy of your room. Televisions are available on request. All rooms have a choice of four music channels with high fidelity sound, fully stocked mini bars, sumptuous lounge areas and balconies overlooking the lake and mountains. Twin beds are provided on request.

The three gracious 700 sq. ft suites feature an additional 400 sq. ft private balcony, open log-burning fireplaces, walk-in closets and capacious bathrooms with separate steam showers and bathtubs. No expense has been spared to furnish these magnificent suites to provide a height of luxury rarely found.

THE CHALETS
Our three chalets reflect New Zealand colonial architecture and complement the main lodge with the use of schist stone and timber beams. Each enjoys stunning views down the length of Lake Wakatipu with the Richardson Mountain Range towering above.

The two 700 sq. ft junior suites each with their own stone fireplaces, large bathrooms, lake view deck and private courtyards. The Stoney Creek Suites are available individually or can be combined with an additional spacious living room to create the 1400 sq. ft Richardson Staterooms

THE LODGE FACILITIES
In The Great Room a gigantic fire blazes. Vast couches and antique furniture are watched over by trophies commemorating hunting days gone by. Thirty-foot high bridge-beam ceilings soar above. Next door the luxuriously furnished wood panelled Den is a place of informal, sophisticated relaxation. The main dining room with lake views and stone fireplaces can comfortably seat forty people. An additional lake view private dining room is also available for smaller groups of up to thirty persons.

For a more intimate occasion, the wine cellar is a perfect venue for private dining and the huge terrace, with sweeping views down the lake, features an outside fireplace - a stunning setting for breakfast or after dinner drinks under the stars.
Rates include breakfast, pre-dinner cocktails, dinner, after dinner ports, cognacs and liqueurs. Help yourself bar in games room at no extra charge.