Deep in the wilds of Antarctica, covered by a blanket of snow, lies a magnificent building of gunmetal greys and opulent navy blues. It sits alone in the vast expanse of white, glistening against the ever-present sun during the long season of daylight. The glass windows–wide and spotless–reflect the harsh solar rays, blocking its facade from view for miles upon miles. Like a ghost hovering in the snowbanks, it waits for the lonely to find it. The gilded name above its entrance welcomes those who are brave enough to step foot into the arctic with solidarity and understanding.

It is here, on a typical, unsuspecting New Year’s Eve, that we find a small transport plane breaking through the cloudy early AM skies. Its passenger is on a solo journey, and the worn-down university drop-out has fallen asleep in the cabin. Worn from his long trip from London to Sydney, only to board another plane mere moments later bound for the edge of the world, he has nary an inkling of what awaits him once he steps out into the harsh winter atmosphere. For now, he rests, waiting to disembark into a universe unlike anything his young eyes have ever witnessed. Unable to fathom what is to come, unable to imagine how much his life will change.

Once that small plane touches down upon the cold, unrelenting landscape, Ellis Hughes will find himself upon the front steps of the Lonely Planet Hotel, and everything he thought he knew about life, love, and family will never be the same…

Lonely Planet Hotel - Coming to Tapas on 9.30.2023