Canopy Camping Escapes began in 2012, when friends Liz Henderson and Sonia Minnaar went looking for a different kind of family escape.
They wanted somewhere unique and immersed in nature – private, secluded and off the beaten track, but with the comforts that make getting away genuinely relaxing. A beautiful setting, a comfy bed, hot water, a decent loo and warmth.
That simple idea became Canopy Camping Escapes.
Today, Canopy is a collection of more than 230 handpicked, nature-based escapes across New Zealand. From beautiful tents surrounded by nature to character-filled cabins and secret hideaways, every place offers something a little different.
Every Canopy escape is carefully selected. We seek out special places across New Zealand and, in many cases, work alongside our hosts as they develop and refine their escapes.
Some are wonderfully luxurious; others are simple and rustic. What connects them is a sense of place, plenty of character and that little bit of magic that makes an escape truly memorable.
More than a decade on, our purpose remains simple: enriching lives by helping people discover unforgettable places to escape, slow down and reconnect with nature.
Sometimes disconnecting is exactly what helps us reconnect.
Life rarely gives us permission to switch off. Many Canopy escapes have limited Wi-Fi or mobile reception – and our guests regularly tell us that being away from screens becomes one of the best parts of their stay.
Less scrolling. More talking, reading, soaking, stargazing – and simply being together.
There’s something wonderful about having nowhere else to be.
A Canopy escape is an invitation to live at a different pace. Soak in an outdoor bath under the stars, read for hours in a hammock, cook slowly over a fire or simply sit and take in the view.
Here, doing less is very much the point.
Nature is at the heart of every Canopy escape.
Whether you’re waking to birdsong, looking out across mountains, sleeping beneath a canopy of trees or watching the stars from an outdoor bath, every escape in our collection has a meaningful connection to the natural world.
It’s a chance to step away from everyday life and come back feeling restored.
We’re always looking for extraordinary places to add to the Canopy collection. If you have a beautiful, private location – or an existing nature-based escape you think belongs here – we'd love to hear about it.
Explore becoming a Canopy host