_Ready for lift off? Properties in some of the world's most exciting adventure hotspots
Mountain biking in New Zealand
For most people, biking uphill is the worst part of cycling. All those metres of ascent, your quads screaming “Stop!” as sweat streams into your eyes…
Instead, let a helicopter do the hard work for you in a fraction of the time (and energy). And if you’re going to do it anywhere in the world, why not do it in Lord Of The Rings country – New Zealand’s South Island?
Heli Bike New Zealand, based in Queenstown, will fly you, with your bike attached to the outside of the chopper, to the top of the rolling mountains surrounding the sports-mad town.
It’ll then deposit you on one of the many surrounding peaks, so all you have to do is point your wheels downwards and before you know it you’re tearing up the singletrack on the long, rolling descents through historic gold-mining backcountry. A day trip you’re unlikely to ever forget.
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Stunning four-bedroom coastal retreat on the Tasman coast offering game-fishing and surfing
An iconic coastal statement home or luxury retreat business, 'The Ocean Retreat' on the east coast of Tasmania offers a stunning blend of contemporary design, luxury amenities and superb ocean views.
The village of Falmouth overlooks a coastal panorama of colours from a pink granite shoreline blending with the sparkling clear surf of the Tasman Sea, breaking upon beaches so white they are scarcely believable.
A holiday escape to remember on a pristine, wild and unspoilt coastline, for patrons seeking a 6-star, authentic holiday experience.
Within close proximity to the Bay of Fires, Freycinet Peninsula, Wineglass Bay and a string of East Coast vineyards including some of Tasmania's finest labels including Freycinet, Milton and Springvale, The Ocean Retreat' is nearby an historic landing place for early settlers to this region in the 1800s at Mariposa Point' and surf beach.
Available as a successful holiday rental business, a magnificent private coastal residence or a blend of both - The Ocean Retreat is an entertainer's delight on a grand scale with a fully equipped modern galley kitchen, butlers pantry, plunge pool with stunning ocean views and huge open plan living room with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Enjoy fresh Tasmanian seafood and produce from St Helens, the game-fishing capital of Tasmania and the closest major town.
Glacial lake kayaking in British Columbia
Not just kayaking, but kayaking on a glacier. Where else can you do that in the world other than Canada’s stunning British Columbia? A helicopter will fly you up Coast Mountain, over roaming elk, swathes of forest and turquoise glacial rivers snaking down through the valley. And before you know it, you’re there – just you, your guide and the wilderness.
From June, the glacial lakes begin to thaw along the shore, revealing vibrant blue expanses of meltwater dotted with floating icebergs and ice caves that you won’t believe you’re kayaking in.
You’ll get about four hours of paddling bliss before a gourmet lunch is laid out for you and you reluctantly have to head back into the helicopter.
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Four-bedroom Colorado mountain retreat offering skiing, horse riding and hiking
Seemingly dropped in the middle the lush Colorado forest, this modern, four bedroom retreat in the bijou mountain resort of Snowmass Village is ready for nature and art lovers with large-scale floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic tableau of green forest framed by rolling hills and rugged mountains including Independence Pass, Owl Creek Valley, and Snowmass Mountain.
Internally, the layout of the recently updated kitchen/diner/living room is open plan to maximise on the stunning views and Colorado sunshine; all four bedrooms are strategically placed to provide privacy and inclusion.
Dial-a-ride services are provided during ski season and hiking/biking trails are just around the corner.
Colorado's popular Snowmass Village is described as ultimate playground for nature lovers offering everything from skiing to horse riding and mountain biking to ice climbing and whitewater rafting.
Surfing in Bali
Feel a little intimidated at the thought of strapping your surfboard to chopper and being dropped into some of Earth’s most perfect waves? Don’t be put off – the surf in Grajagan (also known as G-Land) is famed as a world-class location for the sport, as its coastline consistently produces ideal wave tubes for confident surfers.
However, there’s a section of more easy-going waves nearby if your surfing skills are less Point Break and more Collar Bone Break. They even offer the chance to learn in this location if you’re new to the sport.
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Contemporary four-bedroom Balinese-style villa with direct access to the ocean and life-affirming views
Stunning views of Mount Agung as well as meditative ocean, mountain and sunset views.
Seemingly perched on a cliff's edge, paradise awaits the new owners of this four-bedroom contemporary Balinese-style villa with direct access to the ocean below as well as an 'Instagrammable' infinity pool and Shangri-La views out across the aquamarine Bali sea.
The main living space is fully open plan with retractable floor-to-ceiling windows leading out onto the private lounge area; trust us, you'll spend the rest of the year wishing you could permanently wake up to these views each morning.
The property currently fetches a rental of around $US 1,000 a night, making this a savvy investment for those using this as a base for holidays or surf trips.
One of the most popular holiday spots in Asia, Bali is a surfer's paradise offering a heady mix of sun, sea and world-class waves crashing against incredible beaches and rugged surf spots.
Hiking in the Swiss Alps
Who wants to be surrounded by swathes of tourists on your summer hike in the Alps? Book a heli trip with SwissSkiSafari and they’ll fly you high into the summits of the Swiss Alps, where you’ll swap tourists for staggering snow-capped, Alpine hiking trails.
Your home for the night could be a remote mountain lodge or even a treehouse, after you’ve been hiking by torchlight as the sun sets behind Mont Blanc.
Finish with a Turkish bath in Courmayeur at the end of the hike, and as much well-deserved local cheese and wine as you can consume.
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Ultra-modern penthouse with direct lift access in St Moritz - home of the world-famous Cresta Run
This ultra-modern, four bedroom penthouse apartment offers stunning views over the Swiss Alps and Lake Silvaplana on the edge of the upmarket Alpine resort of St Moritz.
A footprint of 170 sq m offers plenty of living space for a family of keen skiiers with a huge open plan living room with direct access to a balcony/terrace at the heart of this impressive Alpine home.
Adrenaline junkies can prove their mettle on the heart-stopping Cresta Run - a skeleton racing track, built from scratch every year with snow which is then iced.
It starts in St Moritz and winds its way down a narrow valley to what was the village of Cresta, but which now forms part of Celerina.
The apartment is also offered with an additional separate room with bathroom, a cellar and two covered parking spaces.
Skiing in Greenland
Skiing in Europe or Canada is great, but packed pistes, queues for lifts and children constantly zipping past you can leave you a little frazzled. It’s time to head somewhere way off the beaten track, specifically, Greenland, a country where locals would describe Iceland as ‘over-populated’.
It’s not exactly known for its ski runs, but EA Heli Skiing can chopper you on to the east of the island, where the untouched landscape is like nothing you’ve experienced before.
Your guides will take you down uninterrupted descents past fjords along miles and miles of glorious, untouched snow, ending at the sea, with a helicopter waiting to whisk you back to the top again.
Ice climbing in Alaska
Time to dust off your crampons – this trip, in Portage, Alaska, will take you up to the Spencer or Lake George Glaciers, where you’ll be dropped off and left with a guide to explore and climb a mile on the ice. Don’t fret if you’re no Tom Cruise in M:I2 though, this trip is aimed at all levels of climbers, with an emphasis on those with little-to-no experience.
You’ll explore crevasses, blue ice, surface rivers and ice caves, before your instructor sets up a top rope anchor for you to climb the ice vertically. And if that’s not enough to give your adrenal glands a workout, you can add on overnight option where you’ll sleep on the glacier in a space-station tent.
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Awe-inspiring duplex apartment in an iconic building in the heart of Chamonix
In a league of its own, Le Lustre occupies the top floors of one of the most historic buildings in the heart of Chamonix - the Pas de Chevre. This 400m² dwelling stands on Avenue Michel Croz in the heart of the town’s pedestrian area. The original property was built in 1928 which has influenced the interior design.
Magnificent views of Mont Blanc and fratenal peaks await new owners of one of the most special mountain resort apartments to come to market. Specifications include five ensuite bedrooms, 100m² of inspiring living space with full width sliding doors leading onto a 137m² roof terrace with 360° views of the mountains.
The word 'unique' is over-used in property descriptions but certainly not here. Four years in the creation, this property will never be repeated in such a central location nor with such style.
By drawing on influences from the 1920's and the decades that followed, the project celebrates the history and integrity of the original building to create a space that exemplifies the cosmopolitan, international appeal of Chamonix Mont-Blanc.
Along with some of the best and varied skiing runs in the Alps, Chamonix offers world class adventure sports - the whole valley is one massive playground with limitless options of ways to get your kicks.
Thrill seekers can try their hands at mountain biking, mountaineering, rafting, sky diving and glacier climbing during the summer months.
Stand-up paddle boarding in Australia
SUPing as it’s more commonly known, is growing in popularity as a sport due to the relative low fitness levels required to take part (all you really need is a decent sense of balance) and the beauty and tranquility that comes with it as you peacefully paddle yourself along.
Here, the heli will fly you to Victoria’s Ninety Mile Beach (which as you’d guess is a pristine beach that’s 90, yes 90, miles long making it one of the world’s longest stretches of sand), which gives access to the colossal Gippsland Lakes, where you simply inflate your SUP, grab a paddle and hit the perfectly flat, empty water. If you’re lucky, you might even be accompanied in the water by a pod of rare Burrunan dolphins.
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How about owning your very own island in the Bahamas...?
Lying 700 feet south of Staniel Cay in the impossibly turquoise waters of The Exumas, this private island, Lumber Cay, enjoys pristine white powder beaches and crystalline waters.
The island is accessible by boat, helicopter and float plane and is in a great location with good elevation and deep water access making this a great base for diving, snorkelling and sailing as well as every other conceivable water sport.
If business opportunities are on the agenda a la Richard Branson, for inspiration, the neighbouring island of Staniel Cay offers 9 charming cottages, an 18 slip marina, 3,000 ft airstrip and a clubhouse with wonderful restaurant and casual clubhouse bar.
The island of Lumber Cay is nestled in the chain of Bahamian Islands called The Exuma Cays and it lies approximately 75 miles south of Nassau and 250 miles southeast of Florida.
This article appears in International View 2019 - Knight Frank's annual compendium of the world's best real estate. To view more of the properties that inspire incredible lifestyles: