Queenstown luxury Turn up the
These days Queenstown is quiet and idyllic, the perfect place for a European-esque winter getaway, writes Sinead Corcoran
While there’s no denying it absolutely sucks that you’re going to have to table your plans to eat your way through Italy for the foreseeable future — I have an even better plan for you.
If you’re a born-and-bred Kiwi, I’m guessing you’ve already been to Queenstown — but I also bet that when you went it was heaving with tourists, right?
Well, in a blessing and a curse (obviously, mostly a coronavirus curse), these days Queenstown is quiet and idyllic so it’s the perfect place for a European-esque getaway, without suffering through the long-haul flight, jetlag and crowds.
Because Air New Zealand is not banking on long-haul international routes getting back to anywhere near pre-Covid-19 levels for another year, you’ll be saving so much coin forgoing those lavish international holidays. On that note, I think you simply must treat yourself on this trip. You deserve to be pampered! You survived a pandemic, remember? Okay, so the last time you went to Queenstown you slummed it in a local backpackers or budgetfriendly accommodation so you could spend all your money on partying and bungy jumping, and now you’ve got no clue how to plan a glamorous adult vacay?
Don’t worry, I’m here to help — because pre-Covid, I was lucky enough to spend a fancy weekend in Queenstown, and I spent the duration of miserable lockdown dining out on the memories.
First things first, book your not-sohumble abode — Gibbston Valley Lodge & Spa.
There are no cheapo backpackers’ bunk beds here folks — just lavish private villas with secluded courtyards overlooking the vines. Spend an afternoon drinking local wine in the sun-drenched conservatory or if it’s chilly, cosied up in front of the lodge fireplace.
Peckish? Thought so. Book the exclusive lodge cellar for dinner and a soak in the on-site spa pool, then snuggle up in the on-site movie theatre while you crack open another bottle. (You’re basically in Italy remember! Eat, pray, drink!)
The next day, after a hugely self-indulgent sleep-in (until noon at the very least, you’re in Europe remember! It’s the done thing there, I think). I’ve got plans for you. Book a biking wine tour through the vineyards to burn off all the carbs and booze, but make sure you book an e-bike. Now is not
the time to show off to your mates that you’re basically Lance Armstrong, we need to conserve all our energy for eating and drinking, remember?
Spend the arvo half-heartedly pedalling while you snack and sip your way through local vineyards Peregrine, Kinross and Brennan before collapsing in front of the fire again.
When you eventually wake from your pinotinduced slumber, head back into Queenstown’s CBD for the ultimate luxury pampering experience — Onsen Hot Pools.
If you haven’t heard about Onsen you definitely would have seen it on Instagram; it’s the bougie spa pools nestled in the mountains that overlook the Shotover River canyons.
The private hot pools seat four people, so take your mates or your partner — or heck, even just go by yourself for some luxurious “me time”.
I’ve done all three options so I can vouch for how blissful they all are; the only downside of going alone is having to try to wrangle a bragging selfie without dropping your phone in the pool (and you know the smug selfie is half the point of going).
Also — I promise I don’t have a drinking problem — you can take wine in there if you’re that way inclined.
Once you’re sufficiently pruney, hoon back down the mountain and book a table at Blue Kanu.
I’ve eaten all over Queenstown and, aside from the absolute musttry Ferg burgers, this Polynesian-influenced eatery is hands down the best food in town. Think golden tempura shrimp, char siu pork ribs, crispy Szechuan calamari and Fijian market fish kokoda.
Don’t worry about deciding what to order, just “trust the wok”, and they’ll serve you up all their favourites — everything’s good, so you can’t go wrong.
See! You wouldn’t get Polynesian food in Italy, would you? Forget Europe, Queenstown is your new luxury OE.