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.

Obviously living in Hawaii, I don't really snowboard ever…read more So I immediately signed up for lessons. They assigned us a meeting time and then broke us down into smaller groups depending on our snowboarding levels. My friends and I got assigned to Niko. He was super fun and was extremely helpful at teaching us the basics. We even ended up signing up for a second day of lessons! Thanks Niko for helping us and making my snowboarding experience that much more awesome! Honestly, I was pretty proud of myself making it up the lift and going down the green! Of course I fell left and right =___= but by our last day I made it down without falling once!! Victory is mine.

I am no expert when it comes to sports. Especially winter sports. We don't see much snow in Hawaii…read more Our experience at Coronet Peak exceeded expectations. We arrived at 7:45 am to beat the rush as we knew we needed to register. Turns out, the systems were down and we'd be unable to register until they came back up. So we asked the staff and they were extremely helpful in allowing us to grab our rentals first and gear up before 1. the systems came up and 2. the large group of kids began lining up for their ski rentals. The rental area employees were also able to open a little early for us again on another day to beat the rush of the kids. I cannot express the amount of gratitude we have for them taking that extra step. One of the members from our group stayed behind to hold our spot in line as he already brought his personal snowboard and boots. Though as we returned from grabbing our rentals and putting on our boots, a lot of newcomers were extremely unhappy that we "cut" in line, which is understandable in their situation, but still a little hostile. Soon after taking a few hard spills on the mountain, I realized that my two day snowboarding skills accumulated over a 5 year span was no longer going to cut it here. I went to the customer service desk to see if I could trade one day of rental/lift for a lesson. They normally do not allow refunds so the clerk needed to double check. Needless to say, they were able to exceed expectations again and go ahead with the lessons. I joined some of my other friends in the afternoon lesson with Niko instead of joining a random adult class. Having the time to practice with a bit of guidance was actually very helpful. We signed up for another lesson the following day just to get us up to a comfortable level. I ran the coronet express up to the blue line peak at the top by the time we completed our trip. Not bad for a beginner. Overall, the service here is impeccable. Lessons are highly recommended even at the slightly steep price. They even hand out chocolate fish at the end of the day which is kind of cool.

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

My girlfriend and I had an awesome morning with Erwan (the guide) and his mountain shredders! In 5…read moreminutes on the training area, we were already trying wheelies and drifting it! He then took us to an amazing track in between a wineyard. The sun was shining, the air was pure, the landscapes amazing and the FUN was real! I recommend it to anyone looking for an adrenaline rush or even for a family cruise as the speed is easily controlled.. Thanks Erwan, and see you next time!!

Although we stayed at a condo within the resort, we had no direct dealings with the management. So…read morethis review is about our experience with the owners and the condo located at Benbrae Resort. The condo we stayed in was absolutely fantastic. To quote my youngest when we first walked in: "NOW THIS IS A CONDO!" 2 bedrooms / 2 baths Full and modern kitchen. Even has a dishwasher - hell, I don't even have one of those at home. Didn't use it, however. Forgot how to after 13 years without one. Gas fireplace . . . excellent, my family loved this. Quiet neighborhood. Lower units have parking spaces/stalls. Upper unit parking is right in front of each unit, along the driveway/roadway. Rubbish/recycling containers on premises, just a bit inside the entrance/exit. There's a pool and hot tub. We didn't use the pool since it was winter when we visited, but I did witness a few adventurers dipping in. Braver than me - I fear the ice water might stop something I'd rather it didn't . . . like my heart . . . not to mention the "shrink" factor implications. The hot tub, on the other hand, was FANTASTIC!!! My girls LOVED it. Oh, this ISN'T a jacuzzi, it's a simply a hot tub/hot pool. NOTES: There are NO food stores of note nearby. Buy food in Queenstown or Wanaka. There is, however, a restaurant/bar at the Cordrona Hotel. Queenstown is a 45-60 minute drive depending on road quality (snow, ice etc). over the Crowne Pass. Almost 2 hours drive if it's closed. Wanaka is a 20-25 minute drive. Cardrona Alpine resort (alpine skiing) and Snow Farm (cross country skiing) are both 20 minuets away, but on opposite mountains. Rent a 4WD and carry chains AT ALL TIMES. These drives can be challenging if you're not accustomed to driving mountain roads in winter conditions. This is a GREAT base if you aren't committed to any specific activity. Both ski resorts offer lodging if you just want to either alpine or cross country ski exclusively. Staying there would save the treacherous and, at times, terrifying daily commute.

This resort is about 50 minutes away from Queenstown and its out of nowhere! There's nothing to do…read morehere besides snowboarding or skiing. Even if you want to do that you would have to drive an additional about 30 minutes up to Cardrona Alpine Resort. After checking out Cardrona Alpine Resort, we decided to check in and drop off our luggage before driving back to the party life in Queenstown. As we were settling in there was a knock at the door. It was the manager and she was asking us how many people were in the room and we stated four. We explained to the manager that the other two people will be heading back to Queenstown while we stay here. She had the nerve to say "ok I don't like people sneaking other people in. I'll be back to check up on you guys!" Really? Unbelievable!! The manager was basically accusing us of sneaking additional people into our room. Really? Since when we can't have guests? How dare her of accusing us of doing such thing. That kind of ruined our trip. Worse customer service ever! I would recommend staying in Queenstown and just drive to Cardrona. There are more things to do in Queenstown and no one from the hotels would bother you like this one. Again there's nothing to do in Cardrona besides snowboarding or skiing and you can't be doing this all day long.

Heli Tours is probably one of the greatest ways to see Milford Sound, beautiful Queenstown, and…read moreglaciers so quickly! It is a bit pricey, but definitely worth the $$$$! We booked our tour through Happy Travels in downtown Queenstown for the fly+cruise+fly package! Our tour details: 9am - We called ahead to make sure the weather was good to fly and our trip was not going to get canceled. There was a Heli Tours van that picked us up from our hotel in Queenstown! 9:15am - We got to the Heli Tours office and waited for 2 more people to arrive. 9:30am - Our tour was suppose to start at 9:30am sharp, but the other folks never showed up. 9:45am - Only 4 of us, including the pilot (Ben)! It was so awesome!! There was a quick safety briefing. We got on the heli and we were all super excited to be in a heli for the very first time! Ben did some commentary, but it was honestly difficult to hear everything he was saying. Also the window had our reflections so it was a bit difficult to take pictures through the window clearly. We flew over many beautiful rivers and mountains. 10:25am - When we landed in Milford, Ben escorted us onto the bus that took us to where the boats were. We hopped onto a small boat for our 10:45am departure with about 20 other people and they had a sectioned off area for the Heli Tours group inside the boat!! There was free tea/coffee and chocolate cookies. I really enjoyed the cruise through Milford Sound and because we were on a smaller boat, we got to go up close to the waterfalls!! Got a free shower too! LOL! 11:45am - After the cruise, Ben escorted us back onto the bus heading back towards the helipads! 12:30pm - Landed on a glacier! Took a bunch of photos! It was quite the experience! The fluffiest powder of snow I've ever felt and stepped in! It was so fresh!!! Unbelievable! 1:00pm - Headed back and flew over towards Queenstown 1:30pm - Arrived back at the Heli Tours office by the airport 1:45pm - Got a van ride back to our hotels 2:00pm - Arrived at our hotel It was definitely one of the greatest experiences ever. If you can afford a helicopter ride to see Queenstown/Milford, it's by far the best way to see so much in a short amount of time! This tour was really great because we got escorted throughout our tour and we were well taken care of! Ben was a great pilot and he made everyone get a chance to sit up front! I only wished they somehow had a Milford/Doubtful Sound tour! That would be so worth it since I haven't seen any tour group have both in one day! TIPS: - If you do book this tour, I recommend booking it thru Happy Travels. - Wear sunscreen and apply frequently (I got sunburned) and bring sunglasses! Wear appropriate shoes for the wet boat ride and the snowy glacier. Layer because it gets hot inside the helicopter and then it's quite cold outside the boat and on the glacier!

Walter Peak Farm is a unique New Zealand farm experience that is only accessible via the TSS…read moreEarnslaw cruise, so you must book the cruise to be able to partake on the different tours and activities the farm has to offer, but I do highly recommend it! You can choose from the guided farm tour with afternoon tea, garden tour, gourmet BBQ dinner, and other activities based on the season. We chose the guided farm tour with afternoon tea. After disembarking the ship, a guide will direct you where to go depending on what you booked. Our first stop was the afternoon tea, and wow, I suggest you don't fill up on the ship because there was a very nice variety of scones, sandwiches, baked items, coffee, tea, and etc. Definitely enough for a meal! Everything was good. Coffee was good! After the meal, you had some time to walk around until the tour starts. The tour was fantastic. Our guide was really informative and upbeat. We had opportunities to meet and feed many farm animals--cattle, sheep, alpacas, goats, and pigs. But not too sure about putting your entire hand into the cattle's mouth to feed it. Wish I was a kid, so I'd find it fun and interesting rather than weird and disgusting lol. The farm is maintained quite well. Even the animals seemed cleaner than what I've experienced. Next was the Sheep Show where you got to see farm dogs herd sheep, and a live demonstration of sheep sheering. Fresh wool anyone? Yes, you can take it with you if you want. The whole tour was roughly 3.5 hours, and you'll have time to visit the gift shop before the ship arrives. You'll hear the horn when it's time to board. Overall, this was an interesting experience, and definitely recommended and a fun addition your TSS Earnslaw cruise. The staff is really friendly and upbeat. Where else can you stick your hand into the mouth of a cattle, and take home super fresh off the sheep wool?

My fiancé found this excursion, and it did not disappoint! We wanted to explore more of Queenstown…read moreand going to Walter Peak farm. provided us the perfect excursion out during a fall winter season in New Zealand. We received a lot of education around the agriculture on the farm, herding, sheep, and the meat! The buffet was fantastic! It offered a lot of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options! If you love meat, like I do, you'll absolutely love this place. They had so much seafood and meat you could ever imagine. I really enjoyed learning about how the dogs heard the sheep on the farm. It's truly a unique business and I would 10 out of 10 recommend anybody go to the farm!

We decided to treat ourselves to a B&B on our honeymoon camper van trip and picked this place…read morebecause the review in Lonely Planet sounded great. It was better than great! The staff is really friendly, the house immaculate and very well decorated, and the views spectacular. The lake is just 100 meters away from the cute English countryside style yard. The town is quaint and close enough to walk and yet far enough away so you don't feel like you're in a town. And did I mention the views? If you're in Glenorchy, you need to stay here. :)