2025The 40-Second Proposal
A heli, a ridge, a violinist flown in from Wellington, and a 40-second weather window. She said yes. We exhaled.
Home / About
A small atelier with a long memory for details
We're nine people in Queenstown who plan private journeys for a living. Ten years in, we still get a kick out of the part where a guest goes quiet because the plan actually worked.
The story so far
Started with one truck, one boat and a phone.
Blisssola began in 2016 when two guides — one alpine, one marine — got tired of watching visitors get the conveyor-belt version of their backyard. The first trips were scrappy: borrowed gear, hand-drawn maps, dinners cooked on whatever stove was around. Guests kept coming back anyway. Turns out people don't remember thread counts — they remember who made the day happen.
We've grown up since then. The gear is better, the roster is real, and the itineraries come with actual budgets. The rule that built the company hasn't moved, though: if we wouldn't send our own family on it, we don't sell it.
2016 — The truck years
First paying guests: a honeymoon couple from Oslo. We still have the thank-you card.
2018 — The roster forms
First private lodges signed. The "family test" becomes official policy.
2021 — The rebuild
Two quiet years, one decision: come back smaller and better, not bigger. The nine-planner cap dates from here.
2024 — North Island desk
Rotorua and Bay of Islands join the map. First full two-island builds delivered.
2026 — Now
214 expeditions in the books, a 96% return rate, and a waiting list for winter we're honestly proud of.
What we believe
A good trip isn't a list of things you saw. It's a handful of moments you'd struggle to explain to anyone who wasn't there.
Depth over width
Five regions we know intimately beats thirty we Googled. Every route on this site has been walked, driven or sailed by the person selling it.
Honesty over upsell
If a famous stop isn't worth your Tuesday, we say so. If the cheap option is better, we book the cheap option.
Access over luxury
Thread counts are nice. A beach only your boat can reach is better. We spend our energy on the second kind.
Care over convenience
We work with land that belongs to someone and cultures that aren't ours. Permission, respect and a fair cut aren't optional extras.
Somewhere above Glenorchy, day four. Photo by a guest who asked to stay anonymous.
Receipts
The numbers behind the talk
private expeditions delivered
guests who rebook within a year
exclusive properties & vessels
4.9/5
average across 180+ verified reviews
NZ Tourism Awards — finalist, bespoke operator 2025
Qualmark Gold accredited
Manawhenua partnership charter signatory
The team
Nine planners, four lead guides, one office dog.
The faces below are the ones who answer when you call. (The dog answers to nobody.)
Margot Hale
Co-founder · Alpine leadEx-ski patroller. Has opinions about crampons and isn't shy about them.
Duncan Reeve
Co-founder · Marine leadMaster mariner, 22 years in the Sounds. Reads weather like other people read email.
Te Aroha Parata
Cultural navigator · Kāi TahuOur bridge to manawhenua. If a place welcomes you, it's because Te made sure it should.
Sophie Lindqvist
Expedition chefTwo-hat kitchen alumni who chose campfires over pass kitchens. Nobody argues.
Priya Nair
Head of planningOwns every client file. Can rebuild an itinerary mid-flight, has done so twice.
Joel Whitford
Logistics & fleetKeeps the boats floating, the helis booked and the Land Cruisers where they should be.
Amelie Fournier
Guest relationsFirst voice you'll hear. Remembers your coffee order from a call two years ago.
Barney
Chief morale officerBorder collie, nine years old, zero emails answered. Excellent at boat days.
Selected work
Projects we're still proud of
Names withheld — our clients' privacy is part of the product.
20252025Three Generations, One Station
Fourteen family members, ages 4 to 81, one high-country station for a week. Parallel programmes for every generation, one long table for all.
2024The Documentary Float
A six-person film crew, eleven days inside Fiordland, full production support on water. Footage aired on three continents; we're in the credits.
Nice to meet you
Now you know us. Tell us about the trip.
Or see what we've already drawn up on the journeys page.