Skyline’s Stratosfare Restaurant & Bar

From humble beginnings in 1967 as a chalet serving tea and scones to visitors delivered by Kombi van, the modern Skyline complex at the top of the Queenstown gondola now has approximately 800,000 visitors annually.

Views do not get much better than this, with the panorama spanning Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and across the wide expanse of Lake Wakatipu, with Cecil and Walter Peaks rising as spectacular crests on the other side. Stratosfare Restaurant accommodates up to 350 guests per sitting, so it's not exactly a personalised and intimate dining experience, but with vistas like this wrapped around the restaurant windows, that compromise is worth it.

The buffet is replete with iconic New Zealand fare infused with an international flavour, from bao buns filled with braised jackfruit, to freshly made sushi, New Zealand mussels and Wakatipu white brie cheese. There are copious quantities on offer, so do a few rounds with an empty plate in the first instance to work out how best to tackle this extensive feast. After finishing dinner with teppanyaki ice cream, consider stepping outside for a star-gazing tour if the stars are out and blazing brightly. And if there's still any room after the tour, finish with a complimentary hot chocolate. Plan for a solid bike ride the next day.

Brecon Street. (03) 441 0085, skyline.co.nz/queenstown/dining