Reviews & Media.

Reviews

Media

Chasing Honeymoon Mountain Sunrises

Heli accessed Overnight hut stay and hike summer 2023
Hazel - Heli accessed Overnight hut stay and hike summer 2023
Todd and the perfect line

You don’t know what you don’t know.

Avalanche course winter 2022
Heli biking of a different kind - Mountain Hut NZ

Heli Biking Of A Different Kind

The trip was more than just the bike, other than the great exercise, it was truly an experience steeped with history, nature, excitement and simple conversation between us that created a moment of punctuation for our family this summer to look back on. Thanks Dan and Christine Justin, Kylie and Ezra Worth. Check out the full review HERE
Heli Bike Review - Mountain Hut

Great Father Son Adventure

What an awesome way to finish the school holidays. Heli, hut, hike and bike. I thought it would be a great way to finish off the break before heading back to school and work. It was an amazing trip with my wee man (6 years old). It was a big day for him but he managed really well. Highly recommend this trip for any adventurous families out there. – Irshaad Sayed, Arrowtown, NZ
mountain hut heli biking tours

Ski Touring Trip – July 2021

Hi Dan, Thanks very much for an awesome trip, loved the hut and fantastic area. Appreciate the opportunity. – Keith

Helibike Overnight Trip

Our helibike and overnight trip to Kelly’s Hut was a truly memorable experience. The hut’s setting on the tops with mountain range views in every direction is truly spectacular and the mountains quite unbelievably steep and pointy (and we have seen a few mountains in different countries). Biking the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal was a highlight of our outdoor experiences, and these views were in the same category. For the adventurous, there are plenty of real challenges to be had both hiking and biking, if you like finding your own way. We also particularly enjoyed a swim in the Potholes, over the back of Mt Larkins – 7degC water is bracing! – Jane Shearer
mountain hut heli biking tours

Explore Mountains At Your Own Pace

Dan and Christine are welcoming and filled with knowledge about the outdoors. They do a good job of letting you explore the mountain at your own pace. The hospitality was great. I enjoyed staying inside the hut overnight. It is really secure and it has good insulation. The beds were comfortable and the blankets provided kept me warm. I got to see the Kia bird up close and took some great photos of it as well as the surrounding view. Overall great experience, and the food was delicious. – Celu

Our Overnight Hosted & Guided Trip

Our adventure to the mountain hut with Christine & Dan exceed our expectations. They are both so kind and welcoming and took such good care of us. We really enjoyed our experience, especially the beautiful hike, delicious dinner party and wild helicopter rides! It’s was the highlight of our trip in NZ and want to come back and stay again in the winter to alpine ski. We highly recommend visiting the mountain hut with Christine & Dan! – Katie

An All Time High!

Day Trip – Autumn 2019 It’s one thing hiking up a mountain with rewarding views of dramatic mountainous landscapes down at the bottom end of the southern alps but it’s a whole new game changer seeing it through the eyes of a bird as we lifted up over Lake Wakatipu and up into the Buckler Burn. The adrenaline had already set in after the helicopter ride and the excitement levels were at an all time high knowing that the adventure was just beginning! Dan and Christine did a great job at informing us with everything we needed to know to have a fun, safe ride. Their local knowledge really added to the trip and we were kept in good hands from start to finish! I couldn’t thank them and Mountain Hut NZ enough! This is a once in a life time adventure I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. – Miki Brown

Mountainhut Boutique Hut Stay

“This review is 5 months late but I think that speaks to how much I wanted to give Kelly’s hut the praise it deserves. We spent Christmas up in this incredible hut and I had the best Christmas I’ve had in many years. In order to make the most of this location, you need to have a fair level of hiking experience and adventurous spirit as there are no trodden paths for hiking.
However a day or two can be spent very nicely with kids in the surrounding area, without wandering too far from the hut. The hut itself is well built, well stocked and comfortable. The outhouse is quite high-end as outhouse go and actually very comfortable. Leaving the door open can make for spectacular views while you do your business. The Kellys were amazing hosts – knowledgable, helpful, chilled out and incredibly friendly. I genuinely couldn’t think of better people to host a hut like this. All in all, this gets a real 10/10 for me and I would put this as a must-do for anyone visiting the Queenstown region.” – Lucas Halusa

Total9 – Winter 2018

I want to thank both of you for being such an integral part of our time in New Zealand. The mountain hut was definitely the highlight of my trip. Daniel, ( IMGA guide) it was so great to have your guidance and advice while we were up there. As an alpine first-timer, I really felt like I was in good hands. I also enjoyed all your stories. I hope our paths cross again! Christine, your dedication and focus up on the mountain was inspiring to me. I’m bummed we didn’t end up having you model some of our stuff, but I hope next time we can! I absolutely loved my time up at your hut, and I feel so lucky to have experienced it. I would love to come up there again next time I’m in NZ! Maybe my friends and I will plan a trip up there. Please pass my thanks along to Dan, too.

Mountainhut.nz : 2-Day 1-Night Ski Touring

We enjoyed a fantastic weekend with Dan and Roger. The trip was organised at very short notice but ran seamlessly. The quality of the service was of the highest order: great accommodation in a nice warm hut in the high alpine, fantastic food, and great company. The hut is surrounded by great ski terrain on three sides. Lovely pitch and long runs of 500m of vertical drop. We skied in the springtime and had the best corn snow I have had experienced. Given the different aspects that are available we had perfect snow conditions throughout the day. A highlight was a glass of wine, sitting on the ridge line at 1900m looking west as the sun went down over the head of Lake Wakatipu. A perfect way to end the day. All in all a great trip. We will definitely return. David Sidebotham & Sara Jane Allen

Half Century Milestone

“A group of 4 mates went looking for a NZ ski touring experience to mark the half century milestone and stumbled across the steep white offering… and what a lucky find it was. We had a fantastic mountain experience with Dan our host and Thomas the trusty ski guide. It started with a scenic chopper ride from QT airport landing a short distance from the hut that Dan designed and built on the Mt Larkin range. 

Our new home for 3 days is a design masterpiece complete with all the necessities for a comfortable mountain stay including a little cracker fire that pumped out enough heat to require an open window. Day 1 was a scouting exercise to check out the snow conditions with a few runs to wet the whistle. On Day 2 we hit our stride with a good 6 runs of great powder skiing. Day 3 we got in a morning powder run before getting ready for the walk out. The trip out is quite an adventure with a mix of boot packing, skinning, some downhill and a lengthy stroll down to the valley floor at Glenorchy. Don’t underestimate the fitness required for the walk out with a loaded pack! After a scenic drive back to QT we headed out for a beer or 2 to reflect on what a fantastic adventure we had… I highly recommend Steepwhite to all skiers keen to experience a great slice of NZ and a chance to chew the fat with Dan and Thomas.” Tim Martin

Media

Mindfood Special Travel Feature – Autumn 2018

Mountainhut Heli Hike – Mt Alaska – Heather Jock Hut Route
looking towards Pikirakatahi (Mt Earnslaw)
photo by Michael McHugh

Download Article

Hideaways – Where New Zealanders Escape

A behind-the-scenes look at a journey across New Zealand in 2017 to shoot ‘Hideaways’ a book about getting away from it all. A reading of a modified version of Walt Whitman’s ‘Miracles’ Shot on Super 8mm Kodak film and DJI Inspire.

Hideaways is a book showcasing the best of tucked-away escape spots all over New Zealand, and a tribute to a simpler way of life. A unique hardcover book celebrating quintessential New Zealand escapes: mountain huts, coastal baches, riverside cribs, converted silos, hunting shacks, and more.

A tribute to getting away from it all.
Produced by motionsickness.co.nz

Mountainhut.NZ

We are always asked about how the little hut in the mountains came to be. Here is an independent vimeo put together by Joe Patchett illustrating the colourful and arduous process of the birthing of mountainhut.nz.

Otago Daily Times (Weekend Mix) – November 2017

By Hillary Ngan Kee with photographs by Sam Stuchbury.

“Thank you so much for allowing us to include your mountainhut in the book, it is such a privilege. Our stay on the mountain is something which Sam and I will never forget!

For a copy of the book go to the website www.hideawaysbook.com. We hope you enjoy the book as much as we enjoyed making it.

Sam and Hillary”

Journey To New Heights

NZ Herald – September 2016

The Mountain Hut can only be accessed by helicopter. Photo / Supplied

View Article

For those wanting privacy and access to the great Kiwi outdoors, book into Otago’s Mountain Hut.

Arrive by helicopter at this cosy, handcrafted hut located on the slopes of Mt Larkins.

This Airbnb offers a hosted, overnight experience where guests can relax in front of the fire or explore the grandeur of New Zealand’s back country with a spot of skiing through the snow fields in winter or mountain biking from the tops to the valley floor in summer.

“It’s a very unique and different experience for people who like spending time up high,” said co-owner Christine Kelly. “It gives you a moment to contemplate and not be involved in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.”

Girls Own It – Ski Camp – September 2016

Teamed with highly acclaimed Everest mountaineer Lydia Bradey, International tour & Ski Guide Anna Cook and Olympic & alpine skier Christine Grant Mountain Hut delivered a special 3 day “Girls Own It” ski touring session in the high alpine zone on the north face of Mt Larkins (1600m – 2300m altitude )

Mountainhut.NZ – June 2016

A quick pre season trip into Mountain Hut, Mt Larkins to check out the conditions and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, to recharge and disconnect.
mountainhut.nz

NZ Skier magazine – Issue 06

Air France Magazine – Issue May 2014

Writer / Director Jane Campion celebrating her birthday at DWELL Hut.
View Article

Diaries Downunder 2014 | Episode 5 | Steep White – An unbelievable overnight October snow adventure in New Zealand.

It is Springtime here in Queenstown, NZ and everybody is getting out on the lake, up the hills on their mountain bikes and enjoying the sunshine and warmth but just because the lifts have closed for the season, it doesn’t mean that the snow adventures have to stop! This is one that you and 4 friends can do from June until November and you won’t be disappointed.

In this episode Nick Hyne, Nick Brown and Mack James visit a high alpine hut deep in hobbit country. Being October it is now definitely Spring in NZ but ‘Steep White’ hut sits at 1800 metres above sea level and it is still winter up there! The crew delve deep into the lakeside chutes of Mount Alaska and then spend the night in the comforts of this kitted-out hut and wake up fresh enough to double cork.

This episode is a banquet of mind blowing snowboarding that will be torture for the snow starved shredder.

The Snowdome – Mountainhut since 1998

Look how far mountainhut/nz has come! This is the first marketing image and script, from 1998 Winter, just after the first half globe shape hut was heli lifted in. The beginning of so many happy times for many guests – staying and playing!!

NZ Skier Magazine – Issue 06