If in case you have ever checked out a map of the South Island and puzzled the place the surroundings turns from stunning to fully unreal, the reply is the Southern Lakes.
Queenstown is likely to 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 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. Assume huge wilderness, glacial lakes, and mountains that appear like they have been designed for postcards, however someway really feel even higher in individual. Additionally it is 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 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 type 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 provides 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 big 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 any improper selection, however there may be positively a proper selection in your fashion of journey.
Why individuals love to remain in Wānaka
Wānaka has fought onerous to take care of its lakeside alpine attraction and as such you’ll discover plenitful unbiased companies providing premium eating, boutique purchasing, 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 area, 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 anyplace in New Zealand, if not the world. Add a global airport with direct connections to Australia and throughout the nation, plus the most effective collection of luxurious eating and nightlife within the area, and you’ve got a vacation spot that hums with vitality.
Queenstown is ideal if you’d like the motion shut by, easy accessibility 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 crushed monitor solely. Journey a brief distance exterior of Wānaka and Queenstown and the considerable, undulating panorama hides a number of the nation’s most unique lodging.
Heli-only-access stays provide final privateness in distinctive, high-country areas, 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 assist, and each element designed for friends who worth area and quiet luxurious.
These are the stays that make you’re feeling like you might be in your individual world, whereas nonetheless having the most effective of the area inside attain.
Experiences that match the panorama
The Southern Lakes will not be a spot you come to sit down nonetheless, until that’s precisely what you might be craving. It provides 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 climbing with skilled guides, bungy leaping, skydiving, jet-boating, canyoning, through ferrata and extra. Right here, “large day trip” is the baseline.
Meals and wine
The Michelin Information is lastly coming to New Zealand and that first publication will likely 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’ Struggle Vineyard has not too long ago opened a elegant restaurant within the coronary heart of Arrowtown.
Wānaka has a beloved and ever evolving avenue meals scene.
Central Otago’s Sanga Pies has even managed to take the standard New Zealand pie to the subsequent degree 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 simply do not need to decide on between exhilaration and restoration. You may completely have each.
The whole lot that you must plan your journey in 2025
When to go to, and when to e-book
The seasons are delightfully so distinct right here, which suggests two issues:
Timing shapes every thing
There are at the least three causes to plan one other journey
When it comes to 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 way of to the top of February, summer time 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 at the moment 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 just beautiful from March by way of April and into Could. In a spot typically most related to evergreen hillsides, the colors of autumn are sometimes a real delight. Wine harvest makes it an fascinating, if bustling, time to go to the numerous wineries. And the still-warm days and fewer individuals placed on a totally contemporary and cute spin on the area.
it’s winter by the point June comes round. The locals are praying for early snowfalls and the ski fields are prepping for it – anticipate them to open mid-July. If you wish to expertise an honest winter, that is the place. The mountainous panorama is snow-capped even if you happen to don’t get near the powder your self. New Zealand’s largest ski subject, Cardrona, is true right here plus backcountry heli-skiing is out there for individuals who want an additional adrenalin kick. Demand spikes with good snow, so the most effective 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, concentrate on iconic websites and a few premium experiences to firmly safe this place in your coronary heart.
Returning guests (7–14 days): strive a two-base journey, add deeper adventures like heli-skiing, climbing or meals and wine immersion.
Southern Lakes lovers (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.
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 with a view to elevate your profile, please contact us.
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