Queenstown, set along the shores of Lake Wakatipu and framed by the dramatic Southern Alps, made the perfect base for exploring this part of the South Island. The town itself buzzes with energy –mountain views in every direction, endless adventure activities, lakeside walks, and a lively food scene – while still being close to several iconic destinations. From here, we took an easy day trip to the charming gold-rush town of Arrowtown, with its preserved historic streets and autumn-colored trees. On our way into Queenstown, we stopped at Wānaka, home of the famous “That Wānaka Tree.”

Queenstown

We stayed in Queenstown at Heartland Hotel with Lake Wakatipu and the Southern Alps providing a stunning backdrop.

Arrowtown (Gladden Fields)

Arrowtown is a quaint, historic gold mining town about 20 minutes northeast of Queenstown. It was very peaceful roaming this adorable town. The LOTR Disaster of Gladden Fields was filmed along the Arrow River Bridges Trail (film location: 44°56’23.6″S 168°50’24.0″E). We had fun galloping like Isildur along this trail, swinging over the river, and pretending like the One Ring betrayed us.

Wanaka

Wānaka and its stunning lakeside setting lie about an hour northeast of Queenstown, and we made a quick stop there on our drive from Twizel. Unfortunately, rain rolled in just as we arrived, leaving Lake Wānaka and the famous “That Wānaka Tree” shrouded in gray rather than glowing in their usual beauty. Even so, it was easy to imagine how breathtaking this spot must be on a clear day.