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Sarah | 18 years local | Your Arthurs Point Neighbour
“It always surprised me whenever I visited Queenstown from the north island how much it felt like I was coming home. I was immediately drawn to this place from the first time I visited it so I guess it was inevitable I was going to end up here.
My favourite thing about Queenstown is it’s seasonality and what the different times of year can offer. Long hot days in summer where it is light until ten o’clock to the action packed snow season in Winter. To me the most under-rated time of the year is Autumn. It’s a calm time of year with incredible colours in the landscape.
This would be my favourite day out with a friend visiting town…….
A morning walk around Lake Hayes which is 9km loop track with some of the districts most stunning views. Start at the rowing club and head in either direction It’s long enough to give you a good work out but not too strenuous. Flying around it on an e-bike would be fun also.
Follow that by a good coffee and breakfast at Akarua Winery just down the road.
Drive (or bike….) through Queenstown’s rural roads including Speargrass Flat Road. Absolutely stunning age old trees towering over you in bright yellows and oranges with historic schist huts and ruins visible from the road at Thurlby Domain.
Head to Gibbston Valley to visit some of Central Otago’s best wineries. A stop off at Wet Jacket Wines and Whitestone Cheeses is a must at the cellar door there.
Head back to Arrowtown for a stroll along the shops and cafes. The trees out there will be gorgeous and if you are up for more of walk I would do the walk around the Arrow River (4km) which is very gentle and really worth it. Or if you are keen on a good workout again…Tobins Track will take you high above Arrowtown with a stunning outlook from the top overlooking the whole basin. A locals favourite.
Amisfield Wines for lunch. A must. Delicious and a beautiful setting.
Pop off for a massage and relax at Millbrook Resort. I think they are the best in town and the resort is really lovely especially in Autumn. You don’t have to be staying there to visit and use their restaurants and facilities.
Finish the day with a pinot noir at the Blue Door in Arrowtown in the front of the fire, then book Aosta for dinner. If you would rather finish the day in town then I would head to the Lodge Bar for a cocktail by the lake and dinner at Rata.
A decadent day for sure but oh so good!”
whitelawmitchell
