Nothing clears the head quite like the bright skies and crisp air of a near-freezing morning in Queenstown. A few deep breaths are all it takes to feel refreshed and revitalised, ready to take on the day ahead. This is just as well, as the region is home to some of the world’s best pinot noir and the tendency to overindulge soars as the temperature drops.
Of course, you don’t need to spend your days blasting down the region’s ski fields to enjoy a winter escape in Queenstown. Although it does add a certain satisfaction as you treat yourself to a venison steak dinner or while away an afternoon wine-tasting through the Gibbston Valley.
The longer you spend exposed to that fresh, bracing air, the more decadent it feels when you find your way back to an open fire or sink yourself into a steaming hot bath or spa pool. Once you’ve sorted your accommodation (or maybe looked for the best Queenstown homes on the market), you’ll be considering your itinerary. Here, we explore the best places to eat, drink, shop and play in and around Queenstown.
Best Queenstown restaurants
Ayrburn
One of the most ambitious hospitality projects to ever land in New Zealand is now open in one of the country’s most picturesque settings. Located between the charming historic village of Arrowtown and the pristine shores of Lake Hayes, Ayrburn serves up majestic views of Aotearoa’s Southern Alps – including Coronet Peak and The Remarkables – from across a manicured estate, which was first established as one of the area’s earliest sheep farms in 1864. Today, those original farm buildings have been painstakingly refurbished as part of a $184 million development to house nine unique venues.
Just a 25-minute drive from Queenstown (with shuttle buses available), the destination dining precinct is home to The Manure Room (wine bar), The Burr Bar (cocktail bar), The Barrel Room (private dining and wine cellar), The Dairy (ice creamery) and The Woolshed (casual dining). They are also joined by The Bakehouse (café and deli) and R.M Specialty Meats (butcher), The Woolshed (bistro-style dining), and opening this July, Billy’s – a modern take on the region’s deep Chinese heritage.
Ayr Ave, Arrowtown
Amisfield
Chef Vaughan Mabee’s food looks like the fantasies of a twisted taxidermist. Duck heads stare blankly at the ceiling. Deer antlers drip what appears to be blood. Severed green fish heads hold what looks like tiny ice creams in their open mouths. It looks like Dark MOFO on a plate.
What you can’t see through Instagram, though, is that every mouthful of this extraordinary meal, without exception, is delicious in a way that will have you gripping the edge of the table. The ‘blood’ in the antlers is a plush, sensual deer milk ice-cream topped with a sauce of local berries, ones that make up part of the deer’s diet. The seaweed tuille cornets inside the fish mouths were filled with delicate pieces of greenbone, also known as butterfish, kicked into gear with horseradish and parsley powder.
Mabee, who currently sits at number 44 on the Top 100 World’s Best Chef Awards – the first New Zealand chef to make the list – can cook. The menagerie isn’t there to shock or appal but to tell the unflinching story of the land on which this boundary-obliterating chef lives, works, hunts and gathers.
“What I make is borderline art,” says Mabee. “And there are few chefs who make art that tastes as good as it looks.”
10 Lake Hayes Road, Queenstown
Bannockburn Hotel
Locals will be furious for us sharing this inside secret (which sits a solid hour’s drive from Queenstown or 40 minutes from Arrowtown), but we would be remiss not to mention this hidden gem, which arguably sports the best wine list in all New Zealand.
Just a stone’s throw from Bannockburn’s famed Felton Road – home to some of the region’s most acclaimed wineries – you’ll find the dining room and sprawling garden peppered with winemakers and industry experts. Paired with a perfectly executed menu of European and Latein American-inspired small, sharing plates, made from local produce, the only thing more glorious than sipping a glass of 2017 Felton Road Bannockburn Pinot Noir (sold out universally yet somehow available here by the glass) is pairing it with the spectacular views across the Bannockburn Valley and Kawarau River.
420 Bannockburn Road, Cromwell
Mora Wines & Artisan Kitchen
Whether you’re craving a leisurely brunch, a satisfying lunch, or simply a cheese platter to graze on, Mora (formerly Akarua Wines) offers some of Queenstown’s finest all-day dining, all set within one of the region’s most picturesque locales. The name “Mora” comes from Latin, meaning to linger and take pause, exactly the relaxed experience the restaurant invites its guests to enjoy.
Every dish on the menu is paired with a recommended wine: savour the Mora Eden Chardonnay alongside the rich artisan seafood chowder, or try the Mona Pinot Noir with the earthy mushroom arancini. Housed in a charming heritage cottage, the kitchen and dining room exude cozy elegance, while outside, an alfresco courtyard stays warm and inviting thanks to open fire pits and an adjoining cellar door.
265 Arrowtown-Lake Hayes Road, Arrowtown
Aosta
Supporting the argument that Queenstown’s best restaurants aren’t found in Queenstown at all, Aosta continues to lead the charge as one of the region’s most in-demand dinner bookings. Executive chef Ben Bayly – the creative force behind some of the country’s best restaurants – is responsible for a menu of northern Italian classics, combined with local New Zealand produce. Think kina [sea urchin] pappardelle with shaved paua [abalone], followed by lamb involtino or wagyu bavette with caponata.
Now open seven days, you will find sibling venues Little Aosta, serving up wood-fired pizza, pasta and Spritz, and Blue Door Bar, serving up cocktails and killer snacks, sharing the same historic alleyway.
18 Buckingham Street, Arrowtown
Blue Kanu
When you want to combine great food with good times, Blue Kanu is the place to take your party. Blending Pasifika and Asian flavours to create their unique style of cooking, which they like to call “Polynasia”, Blue Kanu serves up tasty tropical fun, no matter how cold it is outside.
16 Church Street, Queenstown
The Boat Shed
For the best breakfast (or lunch) with a view, join the locals at The Boat Shed. Housed in the restored Railway Shipping Office, this lakeside café and bistro dishes up generous serves that are as pretty as the surrounding views. A breakfast butty may be just what the doctor ordered.
9300/847 Frankton Road, Frankton, Queenstown
Tanoshi
You don’t have to spend a lot to eat well in Queenstown, especially if you can grab a stool at Tanoshi Cow Lane. The back-alley, Osaka-style dining is paired with authentic, traditional Japanese cuisine, for small or large groups looking to relax. The small but mighty teppan bar serves up ramen and donburi for lunch, before switching to a menu of Japanese tapas for dinner. If you can’t get into the restaurant, they have a separate take-out bar, Ramen Ramen by Tanoshi, just up the road.
Skyline Arcade, Queenstown
The Winery
If neither time nor weather are on your side, The Winery is the perfect one-stop shop to sample wines from throughout the region, as well as a few further afield. With two locations (one in Queenstown, one in Arrowtown), The Winery’s unique self-serve dispensers are both fun and convenient, allowing you to select either a taste, half glass or full glass from a wide range of New Zealand wines, while an electronic card keeps track of your tab. Add a cheeseboard to your tab, and this could be the best way to spend an afternoon.
Be sure to chat to the staff, who know their stuff and will happily guide you through the regions. Once you’ve found a favourite, order a cheese board and make the most of the open fireplace.
9 Ballarat Street, Queenstown
27 Ramshaw Lane, Arrowtown
Best Queenstown shops
Queenstown Market
If you’re in Queenstown over a weekend, the Saturday Queenstown Market is a must. You could say this market has one of the best views in the world, situated on the edge of the lake, between rows of restaurants and piers that lead tourists to water adventures. Here you’ll find clothing designers, potters, jewellers, knitters, soap makers and more, offering something special for you to take home.
68 Beach Street, Queenstown
Seletti
Founded by Sarah Richards and Anna Conney in 2009, in the heart of Queenstown, homewares brand Seletti has since reached global status. En route to (or from) a decadent lunch in Arrowtown, step inside the Seletti Concept Store, an art gallery-homeware store hybrid. The Kintsugi Japanese plates and coffee cups may be their best-known collection, with the broken pieces refixed with gold. Hang these on the wall, rather than on the dinner table.
With art and fashion, inciting the new and unconventional, you may have to buy another suitcase to carry all your treasures home.
28 Buckingham Street, Arrowtown
Elle & Riley
If there’s anywhere in New Zealand where Cashmere is a necessity, Queenstown is it. Especially in the winter, when you can enjoy your glass of pinot noir in unmatched comfort.
Created by mother-daughter duo Yolande Ellis and Elle Pugh, Elle & Riley is a must-visit destination for all visitors, local and international.
23 Beach St, Queenstown
Things to do in Queenstown
Scenic flight
The only thing more impressive than marvelling at the Southern Alps from the ground is marvelling at them from the air. Get up close and personal with Queenstown’s magnificent mountains, offering unobstructed views. A four-hour trip will take you to Milford Sound, where you will then enjoy a scenic cruise to experience the natural wonder up close.
Book a Queenstown scenic flight now.
Gibbston River Trail
Every seasoned skier knows the only way to stop those leg muscles from seizing up is to keep moving. Grab a bike and peddle through Gibbston Valley, with pit stops at various cellar doors along the way. The road up to Chard Farm – overlooking the Kawarau River – offers some of the most spectacular views in the region, while Mt Rosa Wines is famous for warming visitors with their signature mulled wine. The full trail is nine kilometres of easy riding, starting at Kawarau Suspension Bridge, with many operators offering pick-up and drop-off options.
Onsen Hot Pools
Plenty of hotels offer their own private spas and saunas, but none can compete with the scenic drama of Onsen Hot Pools, overlooking the Shotover River. Instagram has made this spot a Queenstown cliché, but nothing can diminish the joy of peeling off your thermals after a long day on Coronet Peak and stepping into this bubbling nirvana.
Plan ahead to book your spot at Onsen Hot Pools, as this is one of the hottest tickets in town.
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