OUR STORY

SkyScape is the owned and operated by Bevan and Bridget Newlands on the family farm, Omahau Hill Station.  Together they live near Twizel with their two energetic sons, who are always in the mud and never allowed near the SkyScape windows!

Our SkyScape story began while travelling the world.  We enjoyed finding unique accommodation, and then while living in Kenya, discovered remote lodges with views similar to the Mackenzie and the seed was sown.

Returning home, after 12 years of teaching in New Zealand and abroad we wanted to do something on the family farm so that our boys could have a rural upbringing like we’d had. To realise this dream, the concept of the SkyScape was born.  The idea started as a hole in the ground with a piece of plastic over it, gradually morphing into the incredible product we have today.  Our first Skyscape was opened in 2017 with an additional two in 2020. 

We set out to provide more than a nights accommodation, we wanted to create an experience that show cased the night sky, the Mackenzie landscape, the beautiful sunrises and the rear commodities of wide open spaces and silence.  SkyScape was built with the international market in mind but since opening  we have discovered that kiwi’s fall in love with it.  To tell the truth each time we stay we fall in love again and again and again….

Omahau Hill Station

Omahau Hill station covers over 6000 acres of hill country and semi-flat land. Located 12km northwest of Twizel, the station runs along the picturesque Ben Ohau mountain range. Mike and Elaine (Bridget’s parents) took over the running of Omahau Hill in 1998. In the intervening years, Mike developed the farm from a basic hill block to a productive farm. Grazing 1400 Merino sheep and 300 Suffolk Cross sheep, the station also runs 200 beef cattle.  SkyScape sits in the Northeast corner of the station, looking out across the Mackenzie Basin.