STORY BY CATHIE BELL
DAN KERINS PHOTOGRAPHY
Camping,
but not as we know it
They may be small, but
they’re perfectly formed.
Canopy Camping Escapes
is a fantastic collection
of amazing places to go
‘glamping’ (glamorous
camping) around New
Zealand. Cathie Bell explains
why Liz Henderson and her
friend Sonia Minnaar started
the venture, and tries out one
of the Marlborough offerings.
Virginia Woolf was a firm believer in
women having a room of her own, and
she might have approved of the current
trend for ‘she sheds’ and tiny houses.
Blokes of course have had their sheds and
‘man caves’ for decades. 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, decent loos,
comfy beds, and warmth.” 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.”
Modern life being what it is, it’s not
really possible to get rid of all our stuff
and the responsibilities to others, and
abandon everything for a life in a tiny
house of our own. However, it is possible
to experience it for a weekend - and in a
wonderfully glamorous location, thanks
to two women, Liz Henderson and Sonia
Minnaar. 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. The collection ranges
from beautiful tents surrounded by
nature, to quirky cabins with packets of
personality, as well as secret hideaways
that offer something completely and
utterly unique. Liz says escaping to one of her campsites
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.”
Back in 2012 Liz and Sonia started Canopy
Camping Escapes to solve a problem.
Liz says they wanted to escape with
their families - somewhere unique and
outdoorsy. “We loved the idea of arriving
Liz says people can be confident that
Canopy Camping Escapes breaks will
be good ones. “All our places are
handpicked… We seek out special places,
She cites recent scientific studies that
show just being in nature has the power
to lower stress levels – positively affecting
everything from our stress hormones,
heart rate and brain waves. “All our
campsites have a strong connection to
the outdoors. You’ll come away feeling
rejuvenated and alive,” says Liz.
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