Treble cone
You won’t find a better view from any ski resort in New Zealand or Australia, thanks to Lake Wanaka, which stretches for 42 kilometres, its colours morphing from fjord-green to lagoon-blue depending on the time of day. But Treble Cone (treblecone.com), less than a two-hour drive north of Queenstown, is not just about views. It’s home to some of the most challenging ski terrain – steep chutes you can get on straight off the chairlift – in Australasia. Beginners love its flatter landscape that delivers those lake vistas. Base yourself in family-friendly Wanaka, about 40 minutes away.
Stay
Pat the lambs, play pétanque or croquet and take a dip in the heated pool on the lawns of Lime
Tree Lodge (limetreelodge.co.nz), set on four hectares less than 10 minutes from Wanaka. Or go all-out and hire Whare Kea Lodge (wharekealodge.com), a private residence with room for you and 11 friends and family. The peaks look close from here but for an even more intimate perspective, take the 20-minute scenic flight to the property’s Chalet, which sits on the edge of Mount Aspiring National Park, with grand glaciers visible from every window.
Eat and drink
Wanaka has established itself as one of regional New Zealand’s hottest culinary destinations and tapas restaurant Kika (kika.nz) epitomises the town’s laid-back style. Choose the Just Feed Me option and have chef/owner James Stapley prepare local delicacies such as grilled Ora King salmon and local duck waffles. Or try a Kiwi twist on French cuisine with the low-key fine dining at Bistro Gentil (bistro gentil.co.nz), where chef Mario Rodrigues is known for his slowbraised Te Mana lamb backstrap. For something more rustic, drop in at the local pub, The Speight’s
Ale House (wanakaspeightsale house.co.nz), and order Grandma’s lamb fry – lamb’s liver seared with bacon, mushroom and onion.
Off-piste
Central Otago is the country’s southernmost wine region, producing world-class pinot noir. Sign up for a private full-day excursion of the area’s premier cellar doors with
Wanaka Wine Tours (wanaka winetours.com). If you have time to stop at only one of them, make it Rippon (rippon.co.nz), a picturesque winery with an edge-of-the-lake location and equally smooth reds.