Further afield
Take advantage of Matakauri Lodge’s partner offerings or simply strike out on your own to explore the Queenstown region.
TAKE TO THE SKIES
Founded by Louisa “Choppy” Patterson more than 30 years ago, Matakauri partner Over the Top offers scenic flights as well as a “Picnic on a Peak” package where you can be dropped off on a mountain for a picnic lunch in seclusion. Go to www.flynz.co.nz.
HIT THE WINE TRAIL
The Central Otago wine region is an easy day trip from Queenstown. A guide/chauffeur from Matakauri partner Black ZQN (www.blackzqn.com) can take you on tour to sample some excellent pinot noir, riesling and sauvignon blanc. Black’s drivers are locals connected to the community, so you may well end up being introduced to the owner or the winemaker when you pop in to a vineyard cellar door.
EXPRESS SERVICE
The Coronet Peak ski field (www. nzski.com) is only 25 minutes from Queenstown. There are 280 hectares of terrain, including plenty of challenging runs, with the longest a touch under 2.5 kilometres long. Snowbiz offers Matakauri guests a ski concierge service, coming out to the lodge to fit boots and equipment before you hit the slopes. Go to www.snowbiz.co.nz.
FIRST RESORT
At Louis Vuitton’s “mountain resort” store, which opened in the new Skyline building in October, you can inspect the house’s fine leather goods seated at a long wooden table made from a piece of Kauri pine that’s approximately 42,000 years old – if you can tear your eyes away from the views of the lake through the floor-to-ceiling windows, that is. 9–11 Marine Parade, Queenstown.
ARROWTOWN AFTERNOON
Picturesque Arrowtown (above) was established during the 1860s gold rush, with compact weatherboard cottages and civic buildings from that era still standing. Check out the Nadene Milne Gallery at 16 Buckingham Street before heading to Chop Shop Food Merchants at 44 Buckingham Street for lunch.