When Bevan and Bridget Newlands travelled the world, they found themselves drawn to accommodation that felt personal and connected, places built with heart, shaped by nature, and connected to the land and the people who lived there. They loved experiences where you could step outside, breathe crisp air, and look up into an endless sky.

When they eventually returned to the family farm in the Mackenzie Basin to raise their two sons, the idea for SkyScape began to take root. One evening, lying under a makeshift clear panel to watch the stars, they wondered:

What if we could share this feeling with others?

It began humbly with a hole in the ground with a sheet of plastic stretched above it, simply so they could watch the night sky. But as all good ideas do, it grew. It became a sketch, then a small structure, and eventually evolved into the luxury eco-destination SkyScape guests experience today.

The first SkyBed opened in 2017, followed by the second and third in 2020. Since then, guests from all over the world have come to experience what Bevan and Bridget always knew: that this land is magical. That here, in the quiet of the Mackenzie Basin, you can feel both grounded and uplifted at once.

From proposals to anniversaries, stargazing escapes to South Island road trips, SkyScape has become a place where memories take root.