Southern Lakes Region - Places To Go

Campervanning: the spontaneous way to travel

If the idea of a guided tour brings you out in spots, you’ll be wanting to bring yourself to the spots you most want to see. Read the story . . .

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Road trips

Great Coast Road: roadtripping at its best

Drive the length of the South Island, skirting the West Coast and traversing through the Southern Alps, and experience bountiful roadtripping at its very best. Read the story . . .

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Activities

Bungy jump in Queenstown: test your limits

Pay homage at the home of contemporary, commercial bungy by strapping on a bungy cord and throwing yourself into the ether. Read the story . . .

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Activities

Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw

Cruise Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown aboard the elegant ‘Lady of the Lake’, the last remaining coal-fired steamship operating in the southern hemisphere. Read the story . . .

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Road trips

Queenstown to Glenorchy Road: a drive to Paradise

Enjoy forty-five minutes of emerald lake water and bush-clad hills, against a backdrop of snow-touched mountains as you drive from bustling Queenstown to picturesque Glenorchy – via Paradise. Read the story . . .

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Heritage and history

Arrowtown: a picture-perfect living museum

Autumn. That’s the time to visit. Much of this part of the South Island takes on a splendid glow at that time of year. None more so than Arrowtown which is, frankly, already right off the cutesy scale as it is. Read the story . . .

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Natural attractions

Queenstown Hill Time Walk: a rocky delight

Queenstown Hill, just out of town, is more than worth a peek, and you can make its peak in an hour if you get a wriggle on. Read the story . . .

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Natural attractions

Rob Roy Glacier Track: glaciers, waterfalls and thieving parrots

The drive there is almost as energy-sapping as the walk to the top of the glacier. But it's worth it to experience one of the region’s most stunning walks. Read the story . . .

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Great walks

The Routeburn Track: the ultimate alpine adventure

It's one of the country’s most famous walks so, let’s get the house- (or hut-) keeping out of the way first: you’ll need to book in the heavy season. Read the story . . .

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Activities

Wānaka: kicking the autumn leaves

Lake Wānaka is an aquatic playground for anglers, water-skiers, jet-boaters, sailors, swimmers and windsurfers... and more. And then there's autumn... Read the story . . .

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Activities

Night skiing at Coronet Peak

Few people find themselves out in the mountains at night, so quite apart from the skiing, just being on the slopes under the stars is an unusual and affecting experience. Read the story . . .

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Activities

Queenstown: the sky’s the limit

You feel pretty brave, standing there on the edge, your toes dangling in the void, the river moving lazily 100 metres below. Read the story . . .

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Things to do

The not-so-distant summit: day hikes to mountain tops

Mountain climbing doesn’t just have to be for the experienced or those inclined to take risks. There are plenty of spectacular summits in New Zealand that can be reached with little more than the right provisions, a propensity for physical exercise and common sense. Read the story . . .

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Activities

Southern Lakes: a place for all seasons

In the constellation of New Zealand’s star attractions, the Southern Lakes region burns so bright that, if it were up in the sky, it would be visible in full daylight. Read the story . . .

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Heritage and history

New Zealand on film: more than hobbits and snowy mountainscapes

Movies have put New Zealand on the map. But there's much more to New Zealand film than The Lord of the Rings... Read the story . . .

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Natural attractions

The Blue Pools of Haast Pass

Māori knew about the glacial defile between the coastal flats of South Westland and the high tussock-land surrounding the southern lakes from their expeditions in search of pounamu. Read the story . . .

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