About

We’re two friends, Liz Henderson and Sonia Minnaar, and back in 2012, we started Canopy Camping Escapes to solve a problem.

We wanted to escape with our families - somewhere unique and outdoorsy. We loved the idea of arriving at a beautiful location with a luxury canvas tent, fully set up and waiting. Somewhere private and secluded. A place, where even though it’s in the middle of nowhere, has hot water, a decent loo, a comfy bed, and warmth.

That sparked an idea, and since then, Canopy Camping Escapes has gradually curated a collection of special places of the glamping kind, all lovely, and all off the beaten track. Our collection includes beautiful tents surrounded by nature, quirky cabins with packets of personality and secret hideaways that offer something completely and utterly unique.

All our places are handpicked. We do the hunting for you. We seek out special places around New Zealand, and in many cases, we work with our hosts to create them. Our places range from super luxurious - to simple and rustic. In every case, they have a little bit of magic, a certain charm and an unsurpassed connection to nature.

Canopy Camping Escapes is a proudly New Zealand owned small business run by a team of 8 passionate glampers. Our 'HQ' is on the beautiful Kapiti Coast and our 180+ (and growing!) locations range from Otago to the Far North.

  • Unplug and Reconnect

    “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” - Anne Lamott

    It's tiring to be ‘on-call’ all the time. Being slaves to our digital devices can cost us moments and memories – and it’s amazing how much space you can find when you let the real world back in.

    Most of our escapes don’t have easy access to WIFI or mobile phone reception. – and a huge number of our guests tell us that being forced to unplug, was one of the things they loved most about their stay… even the teens!

    Sometimes it’s a bit of disconnect, that really helps you reconnect.

  • Slow Down

    “You're only here for a short visit. Don't hurry, don't worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.” - Walter Hagen

    Life in the modern world is busy! Rushing from home to work to the gym, or running kids around to activities leaves no time to savour just ‘living’.

    Escaping to one of our places is like taking a step back to a slower time. Soak in an outdoor bath under the stars, read for hours in a hammock or enjoy ‘slow-cooking’ by preparing a meal in an old coal range.

  • Get Close to Nature

    "Keep close to Nature’s heart... and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." - John Muir

    Recent scientific studies show that just being in nature has the power to lower stress levels – positively affecting everything from our stress hormones, heart rate and brain waves… But we don't need science to tell us that. We instinctively know that spending time in the natural world has a profound effect on our sense of wellbeing and calm.

    All our escapes have a strong connection to the outdoors. You’ll come away feeling rejuvenated and alive.

  • Join the Collection

    If you have a special spot and think you'd like to join our collection of special places, get in touch. We'd love to talk!

    Find out More