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

When you have ever checked out a map of the South Island and questioned the place the surroundings turns from stunning to utterly 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 check with as paradise: the panorama and way of life past. 

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

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 a few of the nation’s largest lakes, together with its deepest, and dramatic U-shaped valleys carved by historic glaciers. UNESCO World Heritage protected wilderness sits proper alongside refined, high-end experiences and a few discretely positioned and respectfully designed non-public villas and residences.

At its coronary heart are three main lakes, every shaping a distinct 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

Each provides its personal flavour of the Southern Lakes, from wide-open lakefront calm to dramatic, mountain-ringed journey bases. Round every, a neighborhood has fashioned 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 isn’t a mistaken selection, however there’s positively a proper selection to your model of journey.

Why individuals love to remain in Wānaka 

Wānaka has fought arduous to keep up its lakeside alpine appeal and as such you’ll discover plenitful impartial companies providing premium eating, boutique procuring, and easy accessibility 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. Suppose 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 the perfect number of luxurious eating and nightlife within the area, and you’ve got a vacation spot that hums with power.

Queenstown is ideal in order for you the motion shut by, easy accessibility to experiences, and a visit that leans slightly 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 observe solely. Journey a brief distance exterior of Wānaka and Queenstown and the ample, 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, massive landscapes, concierge assist, and each element designed for friends who worth house and quiet luxurious.

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

Experiences that match the panorama

The Southern Lakes shouldn’t be a spot you come to sit down nonetheless, except that’s precisely what you’re craving. It provides each extremes, typically in the identical day.

Adrenalin fixes

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

Meals and wine

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

• Between Arrowtown and Queenstown, Amisfield Restaurant has already stamped its mark as one of many world’s greatest eating places.
• Waiheke Island’s Man O’ Conflict Vineyard has just lately opened a elegant 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 following degree of unctuousness.

Foodies are in for a deal with from underneath 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 greatest, you’ll be able to mix energetic experiences with these extra sedentary. 

When it’s time to decelerate, the Southern Lakes does that superbly. Suppose 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 simply would not have to decide on between exhilaration and restoration. You may completely have each.

When to go to, and when to ebook

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

1. Timing shapes every thing
2. There are not less than three causes to plan one other journey

When it comes to meteorological seasons, spring covers September, October and November. Ski season blends into ample 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 means of to the top of February, summer season is sizzling spherical right here – though if November’s climate behaves you’ll positively want the sunblock then too. Lakes are glacial, so hardly ever really heat up however days by the lake do present the proper cool off right now of 12 months and any quantity of climbing or path wandering will probably 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 beautiful from March by means of April and into Might. In a spot typically 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 cute spin on the area.

You understand 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 for those who don’t get near the powder your self. New Zealand’s greatest ski discipline, Cardrona, is correct right here plus backcountry heli-skiing is obtainable for individuals who want an additional adrenalin kick. Demand spikes with good snow, so the perfect 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, 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.

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

Kate Stinchcombe-Gillies

Kate Stinchcombe-Gillies is CMO of Launch NZ. Launch NZ represents a portfolio of luxurious vacation lodging in Wānaka and Queenstown – their ardour being to attach friends to every thing that makes this a part of the world so particular. If you want to be a visitor blogger on A Luxurious Journey Weblog to be able to elevate your profile, please contact us.