4 minute read
72 Hours In The Queenstown Region
FRIDAY
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Wake languidly and stroll into central Queenstown for brunch by the wharf. Several bustling establishments are enveloped by mountain views and boast alfresco tables spilling onto the street.
Queenstown is wonderfully compact and strolling from the wharf to the base of the gondola will only take 10 minutes. Adjacent to Skyline Gondola is Kiwi Birdlife Park, a five-acre wildlife sanctuary that protects and promotes native wildlife via nocturnal kiwi houses and an onsite Honey Bee Centre.
From here you can ascend the slopes of Bob’s Peak by gondola or hike one hour to the top via the Tiki Trail. Short but steep, it’s worth it for the big scenic reveal.
Make the most of Bob’s Peak, whether that be lunching at Market Kitchen Café, or conquering the luge, a bungy jump or zipline. As the morning slips into afternoon, head back down and drive to Frankton, 10 minutes from central Queenstown.
Frankton’s Country Lane is a charming, country-style community where rustic farm buildings now host local start-ups. Discover The Buzzstop Honey Centre, a wine vendor, florist, bespoke furniture and a trio of boutique stores in The Barn. Set in a peaceful courtyard, grab a beanbag and linger over coffee. Don’t miss Bright Ink, a delightful second-hand bookshop housed in a van.
From Country Lane, you can embark on a three hour ‘Ride-to-the-sky’ guided e-bike tour. Powering 800 metres above sea level, hit turbo and drink up the best of Queenstown’s views by peddling to the top of Grant Peak. Don’t worry if you return tired to the bone, Country Lane’s newly installed cabins now offer gorgeous overnight stays. As for dinner, it’s just a seven-minute drive to the Wakatipu Grill at Hilton Hotel, complete with Pinot Pit, an outdoor fireplace overlooking Lake Wakatipu.
SATURDAY
Rise and shine for Arrowtown, a charming gold-rush village beside Arrow River, just 15 minutes from Frankton. Modern influences are yet to infiltrate these parts and walking the main heritage street is to step back in time.
Arrowtown Chinese Settlement © Adobe Stock
Pick up pastries from Arrowtown Bakery, devour beside the river and then walk Bush Creek Trail. This one-hour jaunt winds gently along the banks of the creek, past lingering traces of 19th century Chinese miners and remnants of an outdoor ice rink. Return by retracing your steps.
From Arrowtown, the Bannockburn region is 40 minutes south-east. Peppered with world-famous vineyards, we recommend Akarua Winery for its cellar door and slick outdoor setting, the restaurant at Mt Difficulty for exceptional views or, if you’d like to throw a wild card into the mix, visit Quartz Reef Wines. Lesser-known and far from flash, what Quartz Reef lacks in aesthetics it makes up for in flavour. The surroundings are modest, but the pinot noir is phenomenal and their sparkling wine has a stellar reputation.
Dish at Akarua Winery © Akarua Winery
With a boot full of clinking bottles, it’s onwards to Wānaka. Polish off the afternoon with a lakeside walk, taking a compulsory snap of ‘That Wānaka Tree’ and then spend some time at The Precinct. This industrial multi-storey complex is housed in a former 1970s police station and boasts a stylish community of high-end shops. Browse the boutique wares and stop for a drink at Wee Tart Coffee Shop and Bar. Open until 10pm, bask in its whitewashed tranquillity while enjoying hot dogs and fried chicken in the rooftop garden.
Wānaka Tree © Adobe Stock
Rest your head in Wānaka tonight. For something different, Oasis Wānaka offer luxurious yurt stays with cosy wood burners and hot tubs.
SUNDAY
Part of the Wānaka Hotel on Ardmore Street, Scroggin is an inviting hot-spot for breakfast. With views over the gardens and lake, its Scandi-style interior will draw you in.
Make the most of your morning in Wānaka by perusing the town’s independent stores such as The Next Chapter bookshop. By lunchtime you’ll be ready to swing by Ground Up brewery. Now making up to twenty tap beers, nosey around the brewery and knock back a beer on the deck. Next on the agenda is Cardrona Valley. Nestled between Queenstown and Wānaka, this dazzling stretch of land is accessed via a spectacular drive over the Crown Range, 20 minutes from Wānaka.
Exterior of Cardrona Hotel © Cardrona Hotel
Lamb salad at Cardrona Hotel © Cardrona Hotel
The historic Cardrona Hotel – defined by its vintage Chrysler stationed outside – serves an excellent pub lunch and the beer garden is superb. Right opposite is The Junction. Inside a tiny historic building exists a fascinating emporium of treasures. It may be small, but you could easily get lost in its wares. Drive (or walk) two minutes down the road to Cardrona Distillery and enhance your appreciation for refined single malt whisky with a 75-minute Classic Tour. Next, from the pure alpine water used to make Cardrona whisky, to the mountain range it runs off, experience Cardrona’s rugged high country on horseback or quad bike. Located next door to the distillery, excursions are fully guided and while the horse rides involve river crossings and canters, the quad bikes access alpine terrain only reachable by a grissly motor. The views are exceptional whichever means you choose. Wrap the weekend up with one last night in the valley. Cardrona Hotel offers everything from modern standard rooms to spacious family villas.
Whisky at Cardrona Distillery © Miles Holden
