It is no secret Queenstown, New Zealand is one of my favourite holiday destinations. Because I love it so much I have compiled a list of my Top 10 things to do in Queenstown for you to enjoy, and hopefully experience.
1. Ziptrek Ecotours
Loved, loved, loved. Here I was thinking I was scared of heights, but put me on a cable and shoot me off into the trees and I can’t get enough. The ziptrek starts from the top of the Skyline Gondola in Queenstown. You have the choice of 4 lines or 6 lines – go the 6, 4 is not nearly enough, you are just starting to have fun.
Queenstown’s Ziptrek Eco Tours boasts the steepest zipline. The ziplines run from treehouse to treehouse which are nestled in amongst the Douglas Firs – don’t panic, it is all sustainable and environmentally sound with minimum impact – all of which you learn about on your trek.
Basically it is an elaborate flying fox system, with a little walk in between. The views are sensational, the guides fabulous and a lot of fun, and the ziplines themselves; awesome. After my first zip, I was upside down and inside out and having a ball! You will love it!
For more information visit http://www.ziptrek.co.nz
2. Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopter Milford Sound & Cruise Flight
If you are on a budget, and you plan to splash out only once, then this is the only once you should choose. Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters takes you on scenic flights to a number of destinations. Our flight took us to the Milford Sound to embark on a cruise of the sound, and then back.
The scenery is incredible. Jutting mountains, snowpeaks and aqua tinted glacial landscapes, observed from above, makes for a breathtaking journey. We landed on glacier on Mt Tutoko enroute which is in itself is pretty special… add a proposal from my cherry babe to the mix and it suddenly becomes magical and unforgettable!
For more information visit https://www.glaciersouthernlakes.co.nz
3. Milford Sound cruise
We did the Milford Sound cruise as part of our helicopter flight package, but there are a number of ways that you can get there.
Once you get there, well, the Milford Sound is one of the most beautiful waterways you could hope to traverse. It is awe inspiringly beautiful. Low lying clouds mystically cushion the mountain peaks on either side of the fiord, lush greenery the mountains themselves, and rocky crags and sparkling waterfalls break up what is far from a monotonous landscape.
The fiord itself runs 15 kilometres out to the Tasman Sea, the sheer rock faces on either side scaling up to 1200 meters high. Seals *little squeal* resting on a rocky platform were amongst the wild life spotted on the cruise. It is hard to fault such amazing natural beauty.
For more information visit https://www.glaciersouthernlakes.co.nz
4. Shotover River Jet Boat
If you are an adrenalin junkie and your idea of a relaxing holiday is getting your heartbeat going, then this one needs to go on your ‘must do’ list. Having said that, while Shotover Jet Boats is definitely an adrenalin rush, I didn’t at all find it scary (for those squealers on board). Maybe I am just too trusting that the jet boat drivers know what they are doing and that public liability would be through the roof if they didn’t. Never-the-less it is a fabulous outing.
Flying (although you are technically ‘cruising’) between the Shotover River Canyons is a sensational rush. Narrow canyons, at breakneck speeds (up to 85kph to clarify) in sometimes just 10cm of water, rockfaces and boulders rushing by, perilously close, hairpin turns that feel totally out of control (but obviously are not), and water spraying the shore – it is hard to take it all in! But it is awesome fun!
For more information visit http://www.shotoverjet.com
5. White Water Rafting
We did the white water rafting and Shotover Jet Boat as a ‘combo’ (helicopter to get there). I wasn’t sure how I would go with this. I can be clumsy at the best of times. Put me in a wetsuit, life jacket and helmet that restricts any semblance of controlled movement and my clumsy factor has increased tenfold… attractive factor too… forget doing the hair in the morning… it ain’t going to last…
However, this is a sensational activity. My cherry babe has done white water rafting around the world… me, this was my first. He was filled with quiet anticipation… me with disguised terror. Turns out there was no need to worry… my fears of falling overboard, though it does happen, were misplaced and I was a little more able than I thought I would be. It was comforting to know that had we capsized into the rocks, my Michelin Man outfit probably would have had me bouncing from rock wall to rock wall anyway.
Our journey began with a chopper ride into Skippers Canyon where we were dropped off at Deep Creek and help set up our rafts. This helps calm the nerves, and allows you to get to know your fellow rafters… and decide whose raft you would like to be in…
We were accompanied by some skilled navigators, who instructed us on the finer arts of white water rafting, so that even the clumsiest amongst us (me) demonstrated a level of ability, that made the journey thrilling, enjoyable, and above all… safe.
It is most definitely an adrenalin rush (a nice one), the icy Shotover waters, in New Zealand’s almost arctic climate, ‘refreshing’, to say the least. The scenery blazed past, often so quick it was hard to take it all in, but there are a few gentle patches that allow you to look around without having to hold on for grim life… so ok, I am prone to exaggeration as well as clumsiness… it wasn’t grim at all…
As a finale, I found myself jumping in the river at the end of our journey with a few courageous others and just let myself drift… in order to experience the numbing of my fingers while the rest of my body remained comfortably warm within my wetsuit (suddenly I was liking the wetsuit).
Truly a wonderfully exciting way to really experience Queenstown! Sorry, no pics… was busy hanging on 😉
For more information visit http://www.combos.co.nz/raft/
6. Private Wine Tour
There are a number of wine tours that you can do that allows you to visit the wineries of Central Ottago, and actually enjoy the wine. We opted for a private tour… it was a romantic holiday… and a dozen drunk strangers on a bus, while can sometimes be fun, in this instance we decided we would rather go it alone.
With that said, I think from here on in, I would always opt for a private tour, as it was an exceptional way to visit the wineries, that we wanted to visit.
There are some mapped out tours to chose from, all of which were great. But we had visited a few wineries before, so this time we personalised our tour to visit the ones that we had not, along with a couple of recommendations from our Pinot Thyme Tours guide.
I had my hit list… Chard Farm, Mt Difficulty and Carrick Station (for lunch). Our guide added Amisfield to the mix as well as a few detours on some scenic routes along the way.
Incidentally, our guide was fantastic – Jim – also a winemaker and an incredibly informative one at that.
First stop was Amisfield. We had enjoyed a delicious lunch at Amisfield Bistro on a previous visit – which is another ‘must do’ if you get a chance. This time we were focusing on the wine.
Next stop was Chard Farm, which I think was my favourite. The estate is just beautiful. The precarious driveway on the way in… well, it was precarious. The winery itself picture perfect. The wines… wow… we got seriously led astray. So many great wines. Impossible to choose, so one of each it was. Our host has a special gift of making all guests, tasters (and tyre kickers) feel wonderfully welcome and the tasting was a lot of fun. I am proud to say that I have several of their more premium drops in our wine rack earmarked for some special occasions in the future… or any other good excuse we can find to pop one open.
Lunch was at Carrick Station, another magnificent location… I will eventually come to the realisation that pretty much every location in New Zealand is somewhere in the vicinity of magnificent…
Again, the food was sensational, the wines, stocked up and onto our final destination for the day, Mount Difficulty. The name speaks for itself really. Views from here to infinity, golden rushes showcasing the harshness of the landscape, the wines, warming me from the inside out… Big shout out to our host here as well. It makes such a difference…. to how much you consume, as well as how much you purchase!!!
We were somewhat restricted by what we purchased… initially. Then the very helpful host at Chard Farm gave us a few tips on how to get our mini wine cellar back home, and it was all we needed to lift our restrictions… we have been enjoying our New Zealand wines for quite some time!
At the end of the day, Jim took us past his vineyard, which was a lovely way to end the day. I couldn’t recommend his services enough, whether it be in a private car, as we did, or in one of his group tours. Fantastic way to enjoy Central Ottago and the wines… especially the wines… did I mention the wines??
For more information visit http://www.pinotthymetours.co.nz
7. Hot Air Balloon ride
This would have to be the most magical of all the Queenstown experiences. So much so that I have written a post about this journey alone. Please visit A magical sunrise hot air ballon ride… Queenstown at its scenic best! And read my story there.
For more information visit http://www.ballooningnz.com
8. Horse Riding – The Ride of the Rings
I LOVE horse riding. Growing up on a farm with my own horses, horse riding has always been one of my favourite pastimes. If you like to ride, or even if you don’t, seeing New Zealand on horse back is extraordinary, even more so if you are travelling through the magical and mystical Lord of the Rings country of the Dart Valley, Glenorchy.
Words barely describe the beauty of this majestic region. It’s name, Paradise, is hardly misplaced. The horses are pretty cool too, even if the one my cherry babe was one kept on biting my horse’s bum… he was a little antisocial… the horse that is.
If you are a Lord of the Rings fan, you will immediately recognise key locations used in the filming of the movie. If you’re not, your guides will point them out and it will mean nothing, but you will still appreciate the beauty of the natural forests (aka Wizard’s Vale), the snow capped Misty Mountains and Isengard. Or maybe you are a Narnia or Wolverine fan; they were filmed there too.
The Dart Stables ride is a nice gentle pace, so is suitable for beginners, however, if you are an advanced rider, you are maybe better placed riding with other advanced riders on one of the other rides, as we did find it a bit annoying at times being in a group with beginners, who said they could ride and clearly could not.
Great day out! Did I mention I LOVE horse riding??
For more information visit http://www.dartstables.com/riding-options/the-ride-of-the-rings
9. Have a Fergburger!
You cannot visit Queenstown without having a Fergburger. Don’t know what I am talking about? Visit this page Fergburgers… the best burgers in Queenstown.. and everywhere else! and take my word for it, they seriously are the best burgers that you will ever have.
10. Skiing Queenstown
And finally… if it is ski season… you just have to go skiing! Queenstown’s skiing is incredible… even for a beginner like me. For a beginner’s account of skiing Queenstown, visit my previous post Queenstown’s winter wonderland for beginners… surviving your first ski trip!
If you are an advanced skier, well, I don’t need to tell you about Queenstown skiing, you would already know!
And that is my Top 10!
This story was written by Petra Frieser – Pebbles + Pomegranate Seeds
