Local Area
Queenstown
Queenstown’s mountains, rivers and lakes offer an endless variety of outdoor experiences. From adrenalin fuelled skydiving, heliskiing and canyoning to jet boating, rafting, and climbing. From peaceful sailing and fishing on Lake Wakatipu to gentle strolls around Queenstown Gardens. In winter, the Remarkables and Coronet Peak skifields offer exceptional skiing and for golf enthusiasts there are several outstanding golf courses nearby, including Millbrook Resort. Queenstown offers fine dining and cosmopolitan cafes, boutique wineries and art galleries. The resort town also hosts sports and cultural events – from the winter festival to jazz concerts, one-day international cricket to rugby sevens. Queenstown is a 15 minute drive from Nau Mai.
Arrowtown
Discover Arrowtown’s quiet charm and historic settlements, once bustling with gold miners. Walk, bike or horse trek along the Arrow River, try your hand at gold panning or visit the Lakes District Museum. Enjoy an alfresco lunch in summer or an ambient fireside dinner in winter at one of Arrowtown’s stylish restaurants. Arrowtown is spectacular in autumn when the tree-lined streets are ablaze with colour, and only about 10 minutes away from Nau Mai.
Central Otago
The stunning Central Otago region, home to artists and writers, can be reached by a short drive from Nau Mai. Explore the wineries of Bannockburn and Cromwell and discover Lord of the Rings filming locations. Wanaka, gateway to the Mount Aspiring National Park, offers a range of walks and day tramps to challenging climbing and mountaineering. The New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum as well as Warbirds Over Wanaka and the Festival of Colour – showcasing the best of New Zealand arts – are experiences not to be missed.
Fiordland
The spectacular area of Fiordland is located south of Queenstown – and never ceases to amaze its visitors. Most famous are Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound with dramatic sheer cliffs, which regardless of weather conditions impress visitors world wide.
Te Anau is the town from which you typically access the magnificence of Fiordland, and is about 2 hours from Queenstown by road. Beyond that about 2 ½ hours will take you to Milford Sound or 1 ½ hours to Doubtful Sound. Alternatively you can reach Milford Sound from Queenstown in about half an hour by air. And of course the many great walks you can do mean Fiordland is a hiker’s paradise.
From short walks and ½ day excursions to multi-day walks such as the world famous Milford, Kepler and Routeburn tracks there are options for visitors of all ages and abilities.
Note that to walk many of these tracks you must book well ahead of time with the Department of Conservation. Nau Mai is the perfect location for day trips to Fiordland or perhaps a luxurious reward after conquering one to the great walks.
More information about Queenstown: