Picturesque Doesn’t Begin to Describe Minaret

Matt Wallis is one of four brothers who own Minaret Station, a working farm at Lake Wanaka with a luxurious alpine lodge for tourists and accessible only by helicopter, Katarina Kroslakova writes for the Australian Financial Review.

Wallis is a good country bloke with an enterprising brain who channelled his frustration at tourists saying they’d “done New Zealand”, even though they’d merely scratched the surface, to create a luxurious, customisable, unforgettable experience.

The starting point for this adventure is the family property, all 22,257 hectares of it. It’s a beautiful piece of land in a tranquil glacial valley, rugged but with great serenity. Picturesque doesn’t begin to describe it.

This family business dates back to the 1960s, when Sir Tim Wallis began farming and showing his stunning backyard to international tourists.

Tim is still very much a revered identity in the area, but today the leadership team consists of the four sons, each with a different passion and responsibility for a revenue stream of the family business. Matt looks after the tourism, hospitality, trade, helicopter and VIP client liaison part.

Minaret is luxurious and charming, exuding personality and a genuine respect for the land.

Original article by Katarina Kroslakova, Australian Financial Review, June 29, 2015.