Whether it’s threading around jagged mountain peaks, puddle-hopping a chain of far-flung isles, or making the final approach to that exclusive lodge left off every map, travel to some of the world’s most pristine locations is often possible only by small aircraft. Yet such isolated and difficult terrain is what makes these oases so relatively untouched in the first place—and another reason why they’re not to be missed. Here, four destinations best visited by bush plane.
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Sheldon Chalet | Alaska
Image Credit: Courtesy of Sheldon Chalet Located in south-central Alaska’s Halibut Cove, Ridgewood Wilderness Lodge can be reached by floatplane with Northwind Aviation. Abundant wildlife, salmon fishing, hiking, and kayaking are part of the lodge’s attractions. At the other extreme, Sheldon Chalet is accessed only by helicopter—arranged in-house—as it’s perched on an outcropping in the Don Sheldon Amphitheater in Denali National Park. The only sign of civilization for miles, its hexagonal structure has an observation deck for viewing not only the alpine wonderland but also the heavenly aurora borealis.
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Southern Ocean Lodge Kangaroo Island | Australia
Image Credit: Courtesy of Southern Ocean Lodge Since 1977, Air Adventure has created bespoke packages for guests aboard its Pilatus PC-12, visiting hidden havens across Australia. A five-day trip could include the popular 12 Apostles coastal landmark and Kangaroo Island’s Southern Ocean Lodge and then a flight inland to Australia’s outback for exceptional views of the Uluru monolith from Longitude 131’s luxurious backcountry structures. That can be followed with another flight for an unexpectedly upscale lunch in Parachilna (with its population of two) at the restored Prairie Hotel. As a destination, Australia never ceases to amaze, with dramatic desert, tropical, and even subtropical backdrops.
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Minaret Station | New Zealand’s South Island
Image Credit: Courtesy of Minaret Station Those who watched the Lord of the Rings film series will recall the raw, ever-changing beauty of New Zealand’s South Island. Lodges, reachable only by chopper or small plane, such as those from Pelorus Air, create a circuit for both golfers and wine aficionados as well as for hikers looking to explore peaks, glaciers, and deep-river gorges à la hobbits Frodo and Sam. Boutique accommodations include Blanket Bay, Minaret Station, and Fiordland Lodge, featuring exceptional cuisine paired with some of the South Island’s most dramatic vistas.
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Singita Sasakwa Lodge | North Tanzania
Image Credit: Karin Schermbrucker Two tony safari experiences are accessible in Tanzania via bush plane, which Safari Air Link can provide. Modeled on an Edwardian manor house, Singita Sasakwa Lodge overlooks the Singita Grumeti reserve, a 350,000-acre concession beside Serengeti National Park. The stylized cottages have verandas with savanna views right out of The Lion King. The 10-suite Mwiba Lodge, by contrast, overlooks a rocky gorge on the Arugusinyai River, with a freshwater spring attracting elephants, rhinos, and buffalo. Both lodges have spas to enhance the local environment’s grounding effects.
