Wanaka

Wanaka and the Southern Lakes region are famous for its dry inland climate, beautiful lakes, snow-capped mountains and vast wilderness of Mount Aspiring National Park, our third largest park and probably the most mountainous. The three largest of the hundred glaciers in the region flank Mt. Aspiring. The park provides stunning scenery as well as an outdoor paradise for hikers, skiers, bikers, kayakers, adventurers and anglers. Nestling up against the Southern Alps, Lake Wanaka is a playground for adventure; sailing on the lake, kayaking, rock climbing, biking, fishing, scenic and helicopter flights and a huge diversity of short hikes and multi-day treks. The village itself is charming and enjoys superb lake views as well as good cafes, galleries and restaurants.

Queenstown

Queenstown is New Zealand’s premier tourist resort. Enjoying a beautiful lakeside location, the town is sophisticated and has a multitude of activities, restaurants, shops and cafes. Our personal preference, though, is Arrowtown, just 10 minutes away and a quaint and lovely old gold-mining village that has much of the Queenstown style, without the crowds. Arrowtown lies at the entrance to the dramatic Gibbston Valley, one of Central Otago’s subregions for superb pinot noir.