If you do one adrenaline activity in Queenstown, make it this one. The Shotover Jet is the only company permitted to operate within the spectacular Shotover Canyon high performance boats designed specifically for the river take you through at up to 90 kilometres an hour in as little as 10 centimetres of water, performing thrilling 360-degree spins within a hair’s breadth of dramatic cliff faces. It’s equal parts terrifying and magnificent, and we promise you’ll be grinning the entire way back. Book ahead — this one sells out.

Book online: shotoverjet.com

The perfect way to wind down after a day of adventure!. Perched above the Shotover River and just moments from the centre of Queenstown (with a complimentary courtesy shuttle provided), Onsen offers private, exclusive use cedar hot tubs with panoramic views across the shotover gorge. They also have an award-winning day spa offering their famous Tri Bathing experience – steam shower, soak and cold plunge!

Advance booking is essential — particularly during peak season.

Book online: onsen.co.nz

Step back in time aboard one of New Zealand’s most iconic vessels. The TSS Earnslaw is the oldest passenger-carrying commercial steamship in the Southern Hemisphere, and she’ll carry you across Lake Whakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm — a preserved rural station nestled against the mountains.

Once ashore, a rural host guides you through the farm, with sheepdog demonstrations in the amphitheatre and hands-on encounters with sheep, deer, cattle and alpacas. It’s family friendly, genuinely New Zealand, and one we’d happily do again!

Book online: realnz.com – Walter Peak Farm Tours

One of the most beautiful half-days you can spend in the region — and an excellent excuse to visit several wineries.

The Gibbston River Trail follows the Arrow River Bridges Trail, connecting Arrowtown to the Gibbston wine region through the Queenstown Trail network, passing the historic Kawarau Suspension Bridge and winding high above the Kawarau River past Gibbston’s vineyards. The trail is 8.7km, graded easy to moderate, and takes around 2–2.5 hours to ride.

E-bikes are available from operators in Arrowtown, and most offer a shuttle back so you can taste freely along the way.

Hire options: Better by Bike  |  Arrowtown Bike Hire  |  Gibbston Valley Bike Centre

Central Otago is one of the world’s great wine regions — and it just happens to surround our wedding venue. Take a self-guided trip or join one of the many wine tours available departing from Queenstown or Arrowtown. Here are some of our favourites worth visiting:

• Amisfield (Queenstown) — Elegant bistro dining and beautiful grounds, right on the way into town. amisfield.co.nz

• Carrick (Cromwell) — Stunning stone cellar door with panoramic views and a wonderful restaurant. carrick.co.nz

• Mount Difficulty (Cromwell) — One of the region’s flagship producers, with a cellar door perched above the Bannockburn Sluicings. mountdifficulty.co.nz

• Peregrine (Gibbston Valley) — Unmistakable architecture — the winged roof alone is worth the visit. peregrinewines.co.nz

• Gibbston Valley Wines (Gibbston Valley) — One of the originals, with a cheesery, restaurant and cave cellar carved into the schist rock. gibbstonvalley.com

• Mt Rosa (Gibbston Valley) — Boutique and beautiful; a hidden gem on the Gibbston back road. mtrosa.co.nz

• Kinross (Gibbston Valley) — A lovely spot for a long lunch, with cottages if you feel like staying the night. kinrosscottages.co.nz

• Rippon (Wānaka) — One of the most photographed vineyards in the world, set on the edge of Lake Wānaka with biodynamic farming and exceptional Pinot. rippon.co.nz

• Felton Road (Cromwell/Bannockburn) — World-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from one of the most lauded estates in the Southern Hemisphere. feltonroad.com

Routeburn Track

For the walkers among you, this is a bucket-list experience. The Routeburn Track is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, spanning 33km along the spine of the Humboldt Mountains through Fiordland and Mount Aspiring National Parks, revealing towering peaks, alpine meadows, and clear mountain lakes.

The full track takes three days, though it also offers excellent options for day walks — including the three-hour return Key Summit Track from the Divide car park. Bookings via DOC are essential in season.

More information: doc.govt.nz – Routeburn Track

Ben Lomond Trail

For something closer to town with a serious payoff: the Ben Lomond Track rewards you with stunning 360° views over Queenstown and the surrounding region. The summit sits at 1,748 metres and can be reached in 6–8 hours return, or the saddle in 3–4 hours. The trail starts from the Gondola base station on Brecon Street, right in the heart of Queenstown. 

Take the Skyline Gondola up to save your legs for the climb itself.

More information: doc.govt.nz – Ben Lomond Track

Don’t leave the region without taking this road. The Crown Range Road is New Zealand’s highest sealed alpine pass — a spectacular winding mountain route connecting Queenstown and Wānaka.

The non-stop drive takes roughly 70 minutes, with breathtaking alpine scenery throughout and epic views over the Wakatipu Basin, Lake Hayes, and the Arrowtown valley. Stop at the summit lookout, continue through Cardrona Valley — and if timing allows, pull over at the historic Cardrona Hotel for a drink. 

Wānaka itself is worth at least half a day, with lakeside walks and Rippon Vineyard right on the water’s edge.

Itinerary guide: Queenstown to Wānaka Scenic Drive

Fine dining | Lake Hayes | Lunch & dinner

If you’re going to splash out once during your time here, make it Amisfield. 

Set within a 200-acre winery overlooking Lake Hayes and the snow-capped mountains behind, the restaurant is led by Executive Head Chef Vaughan Mabee — a Three Knife award winner who trained under Martin Berasategui and spent time at Noma in Copenhagen. 

The result is a multi-course tasting menu of extraordinary creativity, rooted entirely in the landscape and seasons of Central Otago. Book well in advance, dress beautifully, and allow the whole afternoon.

Book online: amisfield.co.nz

Multi-venue precinct | Arrowtown | All day

A $200 million transformation of a historic 1860s farm near Arrowtown, Ayrburn has quickly become one of the most talked-about destinations in the region. 

The precinct spans multiple venues — from The Woolshed’s elegant bistro dining to the tapas-and-wine bar at The Manure Room (the name is better than it sounds, we promise), The Bakehouse for all-day dining, and the beautiful gardens and grounds to wander between. Come for a long afternoon, work your way through the venues, and taste the estate wines along the way. 

It is genuinely worth the drive out.

Explore: ayrburn.com

Contemporary New Zealand | Central Queenstown | Dinner

Founded by Michelin-starred chef Josh Emett — who spent over a decade working alongside Gordon Ramsay across London, New York and Melbourne — Rata is one of Queenstown’s most enduring fine dining institutions.

Tucked away from the main street behind a canopy of native trees, the restaurant has a warm, neighbourhood feel that belies the calibre of cooking. The menu is an elegant celebration of New Zealand produce: seasonal, well-balanced, and beautifully executed. Perfect for a special dinner with a stellar wine list to match.

Book online: ratadining.co.nz