Lots of history here, now overrun by tourist-targeted souvenir and clothing stores, and quaint…read morerestaurants and cafes that charge hotel-like prices. Despite the tourist marketing, the history of Arrowtown and its Chinese settlement is really the main selling point for me. And, too, its beautiful locale is well-worth the trip out of Queenstown....

This historic town was once an early Chinese goldminers' settlement during the gold rush era. This…read moretown is also where Lord of the Rings movie location shots was taken. It is about 20minutes drive from Queenstown. Point of interests include the miners' cottages, lakes districk museum and some nice cafes in this quaint little town.

Kinross was our second winery (out of three) that we visited in the Gibbston area. We had no idea…read morebut they are purveyors for about 5 other small, boutique wineries. We dropped in on a Saturday morning (around 11:45am) and were able to squeeze in a wine tasting. You can do a guided tasting or else you can get a flight of wine and drink at your leisure. Both are the same price ($15.00 NZD) for 5 wine tastings. Get a guided one. You only get the fee waived if you make a purchase of at least $75.00 NZD (crazy). We had an excellent host that really knew his wines and described in detail the wine maker, flavours and food pairings that each wine would excel with. Really impressive. He even catered the wines to our preference so that we had 3 whites and 2 reds. They also have a food menu but it's pricey. Menu consisted of sharing, snack & sides, pizza and mains. The wood stove pizza oven outside looked pretty legit. - Rosé - off dry, lighter, paler rosé. You smell strawberries. Definitely one of the better rosés we've had. Perfect for summer drinking. - Pinot gris - very luscious, full body which was pretty unique for a pinot gris. Pairs well with lighter food. - Riesling ($29.00 NZD) - pear at the beginning and then cuts to a citrus acidy flavour. Off dry. Very nice and it's an organic wine. This would be good with spicy food. - Pinot noir - this one was a biodynamic wine ($47.00 NZD for a bottle). Pairs well with duck or a spicy lamb. - Pinot noir 2016 - softer tannens and smoother than other young pinot noirs. Another that excels with rabbit or gamey food. Fantastic, knowledgeable host. This was our favourite winery of the three that we tried in the area.

Kinross was an amazing experience! The cottages were relaxing and cozy, offering rest I hadn't had…read morein years! The wine tasting experience was a great deal and I loved how they showcased the different wineries in the area. The first evening was made complete with a pizza and a picnic hamper to complement the Kinross Pinot Noir. We sat at the picnic table on the hilltop that overlooked the vineyard with the mountainside as a backdrop. These elements made for a romantic atmosphere for when I proposed to my now fiancé . We received a breakfast box to make use of the kitchenette in the cottage and enjoyed the freshness of the specially curated menu. I could not have been more pleased with the experience at Kinross! I would give them 6 stars if I could!

Really nice stay here. Great location, spacious rooms and my favorite--- two in room coffee…read moremakers! Comfy bed and a small table that can be used for dining in. Hotel breakfast was really good with great French press coffee. Very friendly staff. Really close to the start of the gondola, easy walk to the start.

Sofitel Queenstown is definitely French chic! I was lucky…read moreto have a club room and enjoyed cocktails and appetisers in the Rouge lounge each evening. The staff at the hotel were standout. Friendly and attentive. The hospitality really made for a great stay in beautiful Queenstown.

We had a 2 night stay in a Riverside Chalet with Breakfast and Dinner Included…read more Pros. View is absolutely unmatched. Chalet was very nice and recently updated. Service. Location to Milford Sound. Cons. Sandflies. Makes outside area unusable at times. Breakfast. Very Subpar. Location. Close to nothing else which is both and pro and con. Price. It's extremely pricey. Despite the price I would recommend it for a 1 night stay. Go early to Milford Sound and get to hotel at check in and soak it up.

Nice place to stay. Only game in town so prices are high. Bring bug repellent and use it! Two…read morenights is plenty as there are only 3 short hikes and the cruises to experience. Other hikes are 40km away which makes for long travel Too and fro. We left a day early. No refund policy but even that didn't keep us there.

Completely charming pub, BnB, restaurant!…read more We spent a night here and the accommodations are fine...it is an old place. But what is great is sitting outside with the fire drinking pints, bottles of wine, and charcuterie board or order from their restaurant....and than staggering back to your room!!!! Beautiful location and grounds. Great coffee. Visit Bradrona, Peregrine vineyards, and Cardrona distillery to complete the fun!

This is a great roadside stop for a meal. There is indoor and outdoor seating. You order at the bar…read moreand they deliver your food. We had a lamb sandwich that was amazing. The soup of the day, cauliflower and parsnip, was very good. They have fire places inside and a fire out outside. You can roast marshmallows outside. There is a playground for kids. There is a shop. The hotel actually has rooms for people to stay. We parked across the street.

The Millhouse is in a reconditioned mill that is the centerpiece of the Millbrook Resort. We had…read morethe opportunity to eat twice there and it is wonderful. The chef is known as one of the few Lamb Ambassadors of New Zealand and with good reason. We found all the meats there to be impeccably grilled and well seasoned. The flavor is terrific. The wine list has been recognized many times by Wine Spectator and the staff is very knowledgable about the local wines of the Otago. This was a great place to try wines by the glass and get. sense of the region. We loved the Gibbston Winery wines and that made it easy to go on a wine tour later. Reservations are absolutely essential in this place, it is small and intimate. So make sure to be prepared. The ambiance is very romantic and we loved the fixtures and the setting next to the Mill pond. You can also dine outside or have a cocktail outside to enjoy the sunset before going inside to have dinner. Highly recommended!

The Millhouse Restaurant is tucked away inside The Millbrook Resort and features one of the few…read moreJapanese menus in Arrowtown. You'll find quality sushi, sashimi and Miso broth concoctions along with standard NZ fine dining staples (Venison, Pork Belly, Beef Fillet, Market Fish, etc.). The service is top notch and the wine menu offers enough to pair with the eclectic menu. Perfect for a romantic dinner or special group occasion.

TLDR: Great cocktails. Snails paced service…read more Finally! An elevated cocktail bar with some originality. I came here earlier this week and had a window-side seat. The cocktails were superb and original and the team definitely knew what they were doing. Unfortunately the evening was ruined by horrifically slow service (Note to the managers: This is costing you money). There were only two staff members working, but there were only 8 tables or so. Definitely come here for a drink, but don't be in a rush.

Amazing views of bay. Good food but small servings. In the middle of the Queenstown action and…read moreshopping.