Flying into Queenstown is an experience in itself, but hire a car and head into the dramatic landscapes of Central Otago and you’re instantly in another world. This place is as far from the sea as you can get in New Zealand (but still only 130 kilometers, or 80 miles, away) and boasts the hottest, coldest and driest climate. It was once crowded with gold-rush fortune seekers, but today Central Otago’s claim to fame is gold award-winning Pinot Noir. It’s not only the world’s southern-most winegrowing region, but also New Zealand’s fastest-developing wine region - and it’s easy to see why. Join a wine tour or follow a wine trail and taste the difference that this unique soil and continental climate brings to grapes grown here. There’s nothing like a Central Otago wine to toast a great day on the ski slopes or an adventure in this outdoor playground with its colourful gold-mining past.
Don’t miss:
- Central Otago’s founding winery, Gibbston Valley Winery - offers the ultimate in relaxed luxury, fine wine, culinary excellence and 5- star personal service.
- The multi-day Otago Central Rail Trail - popular with leisure cyclists, as are the two newer Roxburgh Gorge and Clutha Gold cycling and walking trails.
- Visit a local orchard – depending on season, apricots and cherries are the specialty here.
- Walk up to Alexandra’s clock on the hill – at 11 metres wide, it is one of the largest in the world.
- Lake Roxburgh is a great venue for kayaking, boating, water skiing or just plain sailing.
- Real Dog Adventures – a sled ride and personal encounter with Alaskan Malamute Dogs.
- Highlands Motorsport Park - sit alongside a professional race driver on a Supercar Fast Dash reaching 100km/h in just three seconds.
- Naseby – New Zealand’s ice sports hub – has the southern hemisphere’s only Olympic-standard curling facility and natural luge track.
Getting there:
Fly to Queenstown from Auckland (1h 30m); from Wellington (1h 20m); from Christchurch (1h 15m); from Sydney (2h 50m). Drive from Dunedin (3hours); from Christchurch (5 hours).
