We just finished the Routeburn Track with Angelo G. As our guide. He picked us up at our hotel in…read morethe morning and explained the area history, flora and fauna along the way to the National Park. This is the best hike we have been on. Angelo was very professional and well versed in the demands of the trek. He is very knowledgeable about the plants and birds we encountered along the way. We learned a lot and enjoyed ourselves through the whole day. I highly recommend this tour! Thank you Angelo and Nomad Safaris.

We took the Lord of the Rings Glenorchy tour. We went to 5+ filming locations, our guide had a…read morebunch of anecdotes and facts to share, and we got to see pictures from the films to help us realize where we were. I won't ruin the surprise, but there is a very cool photo opportunity at the end of the tour as well. Essential for Tolkien fans!

Did the Milford Sound cruise with charter from Queenstown. It was unbelievable!!! 11/10!! Yoda was…read morethe driver and very good at it. Ellie was the tour guide and provided the best commentary along the drive to the cruise. You get the chance to stop at the most iconic, picturesque stops along the way. They also give you upgrade options for the commute back, like small plane or helicopter. I decided last minute to try the helicopter return tour and Ellie scrambled to make it happen as you need at least four others to join. Turned out that another bus had some interested passengers and I was pleasantly surprised when I returned from the cruise that she had it lined up!!! Wow, epic trip especially for those wanting to experience the country side outside of Queenstown. HIGHLY recommend!!!

Great tour of the lake with the backdrop of stunning snow clad mountains…read more Lunch on board was very good. Main course is a meat lovers platter which of beef cheeks, pork spare rib and slow cooked lamb - all delicious Friendly staff with informative commentary

As I was planning activities to do while in Queenstown, I stumbled upon this place that offers bike…read moretours that had really positive reviews. However, since I have never really done long distance biking before, I was hesitant to sign up for one of the tours that takes you further in and you bike back to the shop in downtown Queenstown. I decided to just rent an e-bike for half a day which would allow me to go at my own pace and return when I wanted to. Honestly, it was one of the best days of my life-the breathtaking scenery of Queenstown and the comfort of my own solitude exploring the bike paths overlooking Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown trail, Shotover bridge/river, Kawarau River... The person helping me at the shop was really friendly-helped walked me through how to use an e-bike (it was my first time using an e-bike but thought it would be the safest option in case I tired myself out later) and helped to adjust the seat as well when I had some trouble. The e-bike had different levels of support (eco, medium, and high)-I used eco mode for most of the time but used medium and high on my way back and it hardly used any of the battery life at all (there is a level usage on the screen). They provide you with a map which I used along with my phone to ensure I was on the right path but there are also many signs along the way, so I would say it would be hard to get lost. I would totally recommend this bike shop if you want a little adventure during your stay in Queenstown -something not as crazy as bungee jumping but will give you a thrill and some amazing views.

VISIT: end of February 2020 TOUR: Bike the Bridges -…read moreArrowtown to Gibbston Supported Tour VIEWS: 5 stars HELP FROM TOUR GUIDE: 5 stars SUITABLE FOR ALL ENDURANCE LEVELS: 4 stars DEALS: I found them through Chase Ultimate Rewards and several other sites MEETING SPOT: close to Fergburger and Fergbaker This tour was an honest pleasant surprise for us. The videos online looked cool, but mostly we got to experience so much that I don't think we would have seen. I would have never made a special trip to Arrowtown or Gibbston just based on the research I did, but what a beautiful way to view this amazing country! You meet at their meeting spot where the tour guide will drive you to your starting point. The tour guide stayed with everyone until they were comfortable on which path they were following and made sure that bikes and helmets were all sized appropriately. Our tour guide even gave special care to someone in our group that didn't speak English. You can leave items in the van, if you'd like, but my husband and I just had everything in our backpacks as the van is only there during certain check points. After that you are pretty much on your own with the bike tour, which was refreshing that you could go at your own pace. You see your tour guide at regular intervals along your track and that's always refreshing, in case you get tired you can always hop in the van. Along the way, you ride by the AJ Hackett bungee jumpers which was a nice stop to watch and use the restrooms and grab snacks, if you need. Then our tour ended at the Gibbston Winery which was just a nice treat after a good workout. ACTIVITY LEVEL: one of my biggest tenets is that the company dubs the Bike the Bridges tour a relatively easy ride and although it was, I was personally surprised at how much of a workout was. There was a good amount of inclines/declines and I workout regularly and have an active job, so I was relatively surprised. However, I realized after being in New Zealand that many of their residents are so active that I'm sure this would be an easy ride. For those on the fence, they do have electric bikes for rent, so that might be the way to go. NAVIGATION: the navigation is very easy and the trails are clearly marked. As mentioned above, your tour guide also makes sure he's waiting at regular intervals along your trail, so I wouldn't let that deter you I WOULD 100% DO THIS AGAIN: I am not a typical tourist that would return to do things again, but I cannot begin to explain how magical this was. Plus the tour was a half day, so we actually booked this the afternoon of our first full day in New Zealand to give us time to adjust to jet lag and the long tour the day before

Great Experience! Cruise ride, buffet, show and farm animals!…read more We did they evening bbq dinner (not Texas bbq, don't expect bbq sauce, they mean grilled meats) Cruise: the was relaxing, they had a bar areas with snacks, drinks and food options to buy Dinner: There are a wide variety of food (salads, bread cheese, appetizers, meats and desserts) you'll find something you'll like. It was a buffet style, the meats were lamb, chicken and venison Show: they sheer a sheep in front you and give you background knowledge Animals: once the show is done you can head to the gift shop or see the animals Overall great evening dinner experience HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Taking a leisurely cruise on the TSS Earnslaw along the majestic Lake Wakatipu is something not to…read moremiss while visiting Queenstown. The TSS Earnslaw is a 120+ year old coal steamship that is maintained almost exactly to how it was at that time. It's quite a large vessel at 48 meters long with two levels. You can access almost the entire ship. There's a top view the engine room to see the coals being shoveled into the furnace while also feeling the heat! There's a cafe where you can purchase food, coffee, and drinks with a good amount of tables to sit, a small museum/photo gallery of its history, and just where ever you are on the ship, you will always have amazing views of the pristine Lake Wakatipu and the mountain range. It can be windy, and the stairs can be steep and slippery, so be careful. You can purchase tickets on their website, or at the RealNZ Visitor Centre ticket counter located at the wharf along Beach Street. There are other activities you can add on with your cruise, such as the Walter Peak Farm Tour (with afternoon tea), a Gourmet BBQ Dinner at Walter Peak's Homestead Restaurant, or an Eco Experience where you tour the farm's gardens and grounds. In other words, the TSS Earnslaw's destination is Walter Peak High Country Farms, which you can partake in activities, or walk around yourself and catch the next ride. Overall, this was a very fun and enjoyable experience, and a must do while visiting Queenstown. The whole cruise was 90 minutes. It was a smooth ride, and the food and coffee is more than acceptable. The staff were friendly.

Decided to join this tour last minute after original plans were cancelled due to weather…read more Not only were the beers really good but Lewis simply made the tour. He was extremely personable, knowledgeable and made the tour very personalized in a group setting. Adding a stop between the breweries also added to the special nature of his tour. Would recommend to anyone visiting with a free 3-4 hours.

From the owner: Great day out trying Queenstown's best Craft Beers. Enjoy 13 tastings over three different stops…read morewith an included beer and food matched lunch. Visit at least 3 breweries over three stops on your afternoon out. Try a brew with a view today!!

We chose Jucy because we figured we'd take advantage of the half-priced driver promo…read more The cruise wasn't busy at all. We had originally booked the 9:45am departure but decided it was just too early. I actually emailed them and it was changed to 11:45am by their customer service rep (thanks again!). We paid the difference in price upon arrival at the ferry terminal. Since the rain was ongoing, we actually preferred a shorter trip. Some of the other companies offer a longer cruise at a slightly higher price. We were happy with what we got. The weather... It was rough. The views though, gorgeous. The waterfalls were probably at their maximum due to the rainfall. I stayed outside for most of the time on the second level where there was coverage. This was not a five star only because I think if they actually reached capacity (200 people) it really would not have been enjoyable. Under our conditions and circumstances, it was a solid 4 star experience. The captain was very friendly and I was able to chat with him for a bit. That was cool.

Awesome trip, the company/driver will to their best to make it as memorable as possible…read more Limited time long day so stops are bit hurtied at some times but understandable why. Would recommend to get the buffet lunch or even if you have a time pack your own or bring something you would enjoy, we got the rolls/burritos and they were just Okey.

We spent 2 days with Lee, the owner of Alpine, as our tour guide around Queenstown. First of all,…read morehis personality is great and we really enjoyed our time with him. Second, our first day with him was rainy and he had already decided and planned swapping activities for the day. He is very knowledgable about the area as he grew up there, and this was evident at some of the wineries we went to with him since the owners spent extra time with us and made the experience that much more fun! If you are looking for someone to plan your time in Queenstown you should definitely contact Alpine! There is so much to do in this area that it can be overwhelming to narrow it down and Lee can help steer you to the activities that would work best for your age, activity and interest levels.

From the owner: Alpine Luxury Tours operates luxury private tours and experiences with private guides based in…read moreQueenstown. We show people New Zealand in ways they never thought were possible. Our experienced team of local experts go above and beyond to provide truly unforgettable, luxury experiences. Based in Queenstown, our local knowledge enables exclusive access to some of New Zealand's most stunning destinations. Through the eyes of our local guides, we love being able to share them with you Family owned and operated, we take pride in luxury and environmental practices above all else. Our bespoke tours regularly see guest take to the skies and the seas in privately chartered helicopters, planes and cruise vessels - each available at a moment's notice. Because when your trip to Queenstown is an all-access-pass to stunning vistas and adventurous activities, who better to show than people who have called it home for decades?

Dan was our incredible tour guide on this fun tour, full of exciting information about the LOTR…read morefilming as well as other movies. Dan knew so much about all of it and was extremely well spoken, funny, and thoughtful about his group. Really loved this so much! Thank you for a super fun afternoon!

We really enjoyed our day with Joel and his assistant. Pure…read moreGlenorchy is one of the few tour companies with Dept. of Conservation consent that enables them to get you right to the film locations. They are owner/operators that concentrate on small groups to ensure everyone is treated as a guest, not a number! Our lunch stop with tea was in Glenorchy in the famous red shed. We took a lot of pictures and video.

We had a nice leisurely & not overly crowded cruise around the lake. Beautiful scenery,…read moreKnowledgable & funny skipper. There is snacks + drink on board. Plenty of opportunities for photo ops & history of the city. We really enjoyed this tour!

My niece and her husband flew from Wellington to join us on Million Dollar Cruise, which sails Lake…read moreWakatipu. They had paid for it but surprised us when they told us what they had planned! I hadn't seen my niece since 1996! We had excellent weather, considering it was late October. Prior to boarding we saw the captain feeding Brown and Rainbow trouts and it was interesting in how the fish quickly surfaced to feed. We saw the Remarkables towering above, tranquil Willow Island, Million Dollar lakeside homes and golf course, and the Kawarau Falls Dam. All in all, it was a great cruise and we enjoyed it - not crowded and beautiful scenery and lots of great photo ops. Nice 90-minute tour.