Luxury Hotel · New Zealand
Blanket Bay
Tailor-made, always
Every trip built from scratch around your dates, pace and preferences.
Your own specialist
One named person and a 24-hour number while you travel.
Hundreds of five-star reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot across ten years of LGBTQ+ luxury travel.
At a glance
A celebrated five-star lodge on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, built from native timber and stone with the Southern Alps as a constant backdrop.
Blanket Bay manages to feel simultaneously grand and intimate, with stone fireplaces, considered interiors, and views that stop you mid-sentence. Accommodation ranges from rooms to generously proportioned suites, all finished to the standard the property’s reputation demands.
Dining is a serious affair. A daily changing five-course degustation menu showcases seasonal produce from Central Otago’s most respected local suppliers, with a kitchen that takes its ingredients and producers with equal seriousness.
Beyond the lodge, Fiordland and Mount Aspiring National Park are minutes away by helicopter, making Blanket Bay an exceptional base for the Southern Lakes region. Fly fishing, heli-hiking, and some of New Zealand’s most dramatic scenery complete a picture that is genuinely hard to improve on.
Highlights
- A 1,000sqm private villa with four king suites, hot tubs, and lake views.
- Stone and timber staterooms with private living rooms and open fireplaces near the main lodge.
- A secluded owner’s residence among established gardens, ideal for groups wanting privacy and independence.
Accommodation
Lodge Room
The Lodge Rooms sit within the main lodge building, each with a private balcony framing spectacular views across Lake Wakatipu and the Humboldt Mountains. Expect super-king beds, wooden floors, luxurious furnishings, and en-suite bathrooms with granite vanities, a separate shower, and a bathtub.
Lodge Suite
The Lodge Suites are the most generous rooms in the main lodge, finished in native New Zealand timber and stone with polished wooden floors, a stone fireplace, walk-in closet, and a private balcony overlooking the lake and mountains. En-suite bathrooms feature granite vanities, a bathtub, and a steam room shower.
Lodge Suite
A short stroll from the main lodge, the Chalet Suites offer a greater sense of seclusion set within magnificent grounds overlooking Lake Wakatipu. Built in the New Zealand colonial tradition with schist stone and old timber beams, each chalet features a private courtyard, stone fireplace, super-king bed, walk-in closet, and en-suite bathroom with granite vanities, a bathtub, and steam room shower.
The Villa
The Villa offers four magnificent guest suites centered around a grand Great Room, available as a two-bedroom option for up to four guests or exclusively for up to eight. Contact Blanket Bay directly for availability and pricing.
Further information
Dining
Dining at Blanket Bay is anchored by a daily changing five-course degustation menu from award-winning chef Dan Reynolds, whose Euro Pacific style weaves bold global flavours into beautifully presented dishes built around the finest local produce.
Each evening begins with cocktails and canapes in the Den before guests move to the Grand Terrace for mountain and lake views in summer, or the fireside dining room in cooler months.
A wine cave, tasting room, and outdoor fireplace setting are available for more intimate occasions.
Experiences
Blanket Bay’s private helipad opens up one of the most compelling experience programmes in New Zealand.
Fiordland and Mount Aspiring National Park are minutes away by helicopter, unlocking heli-skiing on untracked powder, fly-fishing on remote South Island rivers, and scenic flights over Milford Sound.
Closer to the lodge, jet boating the Dart River, horseback riding, hiking one of New Zealand’s Nine Great Walks, and five world-class golf courses within an hour’s drive ensure there is no shortage of ways to fill the days between exceptional dinners.
New Zealand
New Zealand sits in the South Pacific, roughly four hours flying time east of Australia. It comprises two main islands: the North Island, which is warmer, more volcanic, and home to the country’s two largest cities; and the South Island, which holds the fiords, the Southern Alps, the glacier country, and the luxury lodge scene that draws most international visitors.
Our Experts
New Zealand is one of the most magical places in the world. If you love out-of-this-world landscapes, this island nation is definitely worth adding to your bucket list.
Breathtaking landscapes, awe-inspiring environments - New Zealand impresses at every turn. The vibrant Māori culture on display here is also so special.
Stellar service. Stellar products. Stellar people and it gets so much better when you pick up the phone and call.
Anthony S.
Super client centred service. From first contact I have had warm, efficient, friendly and flexible service.
John
I’m confident in giving Out Of Office a 5-star review! They are one of the leaders in this space without a doubt.
Tiberiu
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Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specializing in tailor-made vacations and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury vacations, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalized experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with traveling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveler, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalized service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ vacations?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalized itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travelers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of traveling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first inquiry to homecoming. No call center, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.