New Zealand’s Southern Lakes: A luxurious playground price slowing down for

When you’ve got ever checked out a map of the South Island and puzzled the place the surroundings turns from lovely to fully unreal, the reply is the Southern Lakes.

Queenstown may be the draw card that brings you to the Southern Lakes, however let it even be the launchpad for locating what the locals generally seek advice from as paradise: the panorama and life-style past. 

Stretching throughout western Southland, Central Otago and up into the Mackenzie Basin, this area is New Zealand’s most spectacular alpine playground. Assume huge wilderness, glacial lakes, and mountains that appear like they had been designed for postcards, however one way or the other really feel even higher in individual. It is usually a spot the place uncooked pure magnificence meets genuinely world-class hospitality, which is why so many discerning travellers return time and again.

What makes the Southern Lakes so particular?

The Southern Lakes area is constructed round a few of New Zealand’s most iconic landscapes. It’s residence to 3 of the nation’s largest lakes, together with its deepest, and dramatic U-shaped valleys carved by historical glaciers. UNESCO World Heritage protected wilderness sits proper alongside refined, high-end experiences and a few discretely positioned and respectfully designed personal villas and residences.

At its coronary heart are three main lakes, every shaping a special form of journey.

• Lake Te Anau – South Island’s largest and Southland’s deepest
• Lake Wakatipu – New Zealand’s longest and Otago’s deepest
• Lake Wānaka – the fourth largest in New Zealand

Every one presents its personal flavour of the Southern Lakes, from wide-open lakefront calm to dramatic, mountain-ringed journey bases. Round every, a group has shaped and every usually finds a major place on each traveller’s New Zealand South Island itinerary.

Wānaka or Queenstown?

One of many first selections travellers face is the place to base themselves. There is no such thing as a unsuitable selection, however there may be positively a proper selection to your model of journey.

Why individuals love to remain in Wānaka 

Wānaka has fought onerous to take care of its lakeside alpine appeal and as such you’ll discover plenitful impartial companies providing premium eating, boutique procuring, and quick access to each journey and wellness. It’s household pleasant – flat, walkable and with plentiful outside or indoor actions. It’s additionally splendidly central for exploring a number of nationwide parks and wine areas.

Wānaka fits travellers who need house, surroundings and a barely slower rhythm to their days. Assume lake swims, mountain walks, wines within the afternoon, and evenings that really feel unhurried.

Why individuals love to remain in Queenstown

Queenstown arguably has the best focus of high-adrenalin experiences wherever in New Zealand, if not the world. Add a global airport with direct connections to Australia and throughout the nation, plus one of the best number of luxurious eating and nightlife within the area, and you’ve got a vacation spot that hums with power.

Queenstown is ideal if you would like the motion shut by, quick access to experiences, and a visit that leans a bit of extra in the direction of high-octane.

The rarest stays: heli-only and unique retreats

For some travellers, the Southern Lakes is about going off the overwhelmed monitor completely. Journey a brief distance exterior of Wānaka and Queenstown and the considerable, undulating panorama hides a few of the nation’s most unique lodging. 

Heli-only-access stays supply final privateness in distinctive, high-country places, accessible solely by helicopter. They’re for individuals who need wilderness with out compromise and experiences that really feel true to their setting. Then there are unique stays the place discretion is assured. Gated properties with helipads, large landscapes, concierge help, and each element designed for friends who worth house and quiet luxurious.

These are the stays that make you’re feeling like you might be in your individual world, whereas nonetheless having one of the best of the area inside attain.

Experiences that match the panorama

The Southern Lakes shouldn’t be a spot you come to take a seat nonetheless, until that’s precisely what you might be craving. It presents each extremes, typically in the identical day.

Adrenalin fixes

If journey is excessive in your checklist, you’ll be spoiled for selection. Heli-skiing into pristine powder, backcountry mountain climbing with professional guides, bungy leaping, skydiving, jet-boating, canyoning, through ferrata and extra. Right here, “large time out” is the baseline.

Meals and wine

The Michelin Information is lastly coming to New Zealand and that first publication shall be fascinating.

• Between Arrowtown and Queenstown, Amisfield Restaurant has already stamped its mark as one of many world’s finest eating places.
• Waiheke Island’s Man O’ Battle Vineyard has just lately opened a chic restaurant within the coronary heart of Arrowtown.
• Wānaka has a beloved and ever evolving road meals scene.
• Central Otago’s Sanga Pies has even managed to take the common-or-garden New Zealand pie to the subsequent stage of unctuousness.

Foodies are in for a deal with from below the radar eating places and cooks.

Twin downtime

Between guided fly fishing in distant waters and personal wine tastings and winery excursions, plus chef-led eating experiences that exhibit native produce at its finest, you possibly can mix lively experiences with these extra sedentary. 

When it’s time to decelerate, the Southern Lakes does that fantastically. Assume secret lake-side saunas, scenic flights over the area’s peaks and lakes, and personal lake cruises that really feel calm and indulgent in equal measure.

The great thing about this area is that you just don’t have to decide on between exhilaration and restoration. You’ll be able to completely have each.

When to go to, and when to ebook

The seasons are delightfully so distinct right here, which suggests two issues:

1. Timing shapes the whole lot
2. There are not less than three causes to plan one other journey

By way of meteorological seasons, spring covers September, October and November. Ski season blends into considerable blossoms, paddock after paddock of new child lambs, lengthening days and pre-peak pricing on actions and lodging. A good time for images followers and outside adventures with out crowds.

Stretching from December by to the tip of February, summer time is scorching spherical right here – though if November’s climate behaves you’ll positively want the sunblock then too. Lakes are glacial, so not often really heat up however days by the lake do present the right cool off right now of 12 months and any quantity of mountain climbing or path wandering will possible lead  you to hidden lake or river seashores. It’s peak season, so reserving forward issues.

Leaf-peeping amidst the golden poplar landscapes of the Southern Lakes and Central Otago is solely gorgeous from March by April and into Might. In a spot usually most related to evergreen hillsides, the colors of autumn are sometimes a real delight. Wine harvest makes it an attention-grabbing, if bustling, time to go to the numerous wineries. And the still-warm days and fewer individuals placed on a very recent and lovely spin on the area.

You already know it’s winter by the point June comes round. The locals are praying for early snowfalls and the ski fields are prepping for it – count on them to open mid-July. If you wish to expertise a good winter, that is the place. The mountainous panorama is snow-capped even in the event you don’t get near the powder your self. New Zealand’s greatest ski discipline, Cardrona, is true right here plus backcountry heli-skiing is obtainable for individuals who want an additional adrenalin kick. Demand spikes with good snow, so one of the best lodging goes early.

How lengthy must you keep?

A fast, sensible rule: the Southern Lakes rewards time.

• First-time guests (5–7 days): base in Wānaka or Queenstown, give attention to iconic websites and a few premium experiences to firmly safe this place in your coronary heart.
• Returning guests (7–14 days): attempt a two-base journey, add deeper adventures like heli-skiing, mountain climbing or meals and wine immersion.
• Southern Lakes fans (14+ days): go multi-base throughout the area and design your journey round unique, seasonal experiences.

In brief, give your self sufficient time to fall in love with the place.