Hotel Pukaki Air Lodge (Twizel, New Zealand)

Pukaki Air Lodge is a purpose-built five bedroom lodge, positioned in a unique location on Pukaki Airfield (2km north of Twizel).  Opened in 2018, the lodge was built to appeal to Alps-to-Ocean cyclists, touring aviators and visitors to the Mackenzie Basin, and offers easy access to the many activities on offer in this lovely part of the South Island. Guests will wake up to uninterrupted views of the Mackenzie Basin, and can indulge in coffee on the outdoor veranda with views to Aoraki Mt Cook in the North. The lodge boasts a beautifully appointed upstairs lounge, where guests can join their hosts, Grant and Mary in a fine wine while watching the sunset over the Ben Ohau Range or Aoraki Mt Cook. The Lodge is built right at the end of the Pukaki Airport Runway, so those who are interested in aviation have a perfect vantage point from which to watch takeoffs and landing of the aircraft that use the airfield by day.  There are often gyrocopters, biplanes and your hosts own Nanchang Warbird flying around. Guests can take joyrides or scenic flights in these aircraft on request, giving further unique views of the mountains and many surrounding lakes. By night, clear views of the brilliant stars of the Mackenzie dark sky reserve can be gazed at in absolute peace and tranquility.