Queenstown and the surrounding districts are the playground of the South. There is so much to see and do around this district it would take a website all on its own to describe. Anyway, click on the link to see the commercial website on Queenstown.
Driving from Wanaka you can take the road over the Crown Range or drive around the long way which is better if you’re towing or are a very large unit. It’s a great motorbike road and would be great fun riding down on a cycle, but not fun riding up. The views are amazing, however again check the weather reports as it can be very windy and icy.
Just a few minutes out of Wanaka on the crown Road you come to an iconic pub, The Cadrona Hotel.
On our motorcycle tour in Feb 2017
Open most days for meals, coffees, wines and beer, functions and accommodation. As you drive around New Zealand you will see many posters with this building on display.
Driving on towards Queenstown you will start to climb steeply up the Crown Range. As you near the summit don’t stop at the top for the best views, drive further down the hill and you’ll come across a large gravel area on the left. Park there and walk out to the edge for a full on view of Queenstown. You can watch the planes flying in below you as they line up to land. From here the road twists and turns steeply down to the valley floor.
Accommodation can be very difficult to find, last minute in and around Queenstown. Book early to secure better accommodation and be prepared to pay. It’s expensive. There is a camping ground very close to the town centre and also a few about 10-15 klms out at Franklin.
As there is just so much to see and do around the area so plan to stay a few days or longer. Check out the website on Queenstown to see all there is. One of our favourites is the gondola ride and luge ride.
From the Skyline viewing rooms you can have a 180 degree birds eye view of the surround town, hills and lake. There are mountain bike tracks and hiking available as well as bungee jumps and enormous wire swings for thrill seekers.
Plan your time in Queenstown to ensure you can fit as much in as you can as there’s simply just too much to write about. Be sure to check out Skippers Canyon tours, Shotover Jet and Arrow town. Boat rides across the lake to a working sheep station and submarine rides, jet skiing and so much more.
An update on this tourist mecca, in June 2021 we flew into Queenstown to visit with family who moved here a couple of years ago and are currently building their first home here. Wow, what a different place, although international tourists still feature here, it is much, much quieter with 70% of the number of tourists missing. Our borders have just recently opened so we have our Australian friends visiting, but with the panic gone and the atmosphere is totally different. A new normal is being established and shops and businesses are enjoying the amount of business they get at present.
We are not normally “tourist” types, going on tours and adventure rides, but it was such a lovely winter day and with some time to kill we booked and partook of the 90 minute “Million Dollar” boat cruise. The Captain/Owner, Wayne gave us a full history of the Lake and township and showed us many places of interest around the Queenstown, Jacks Point and Frankton areas. Book online and save $10 per ticket.
One place that gets overlooked is Glenorchy which is at the southern end of the lake accessed by driving through the centre of Queenstown, which is a nightmare!! Once you’re through the drive along the side of the lake is amazing. There’s a few campsites and lots of places to stop and take photos. This drive is best done on a fine clear day.
There’s not much in Glenorchy compared to QT, but there are tours, plane rides, walking tracks, a jetty and some basic shops including a pub and cafe. You can drive a little further south but there is only the one road in and out. One really annoying aspect is that this is the closest place to Milford Sound, but you can’t get there by driving!! You have to go all the way back to QT, then all the way round to Te Anau which is a long drive.
Once you can tear yourself away from here you can continue south towards Te Anau and Milford Sound. The road starts off following the coastline of Lake Wakatipu. Te Anau is the gateway to one of New Zealand’s most popular and spectacular places, Milford Sound.
Te Anau
Nestled along side the lake with stunning views of the mountains and bush, lies Te Anau. Plenty on offer here to see and do but most people stay here as the access/departure point to Milford Sound.
There’s plenty of accommodation choices available for all budgets, but it pays to book in advance, especially during the peak tourist seasons of November to March. The town offers, food, tour bookings, shops, drinking holes, fuel etc.
The road into Milford Sound is a really stunning drive, starting off through farmland before entering native bush and mountainous cliffs, lakes and waterfalls. Start out your day as early as you can if you like to explore as there are short and long walks, lakes, waterfalls and amazing rock formations to see. There are a small number of campsites along the journey suitable for most size camper vans and caravans. Milford Sound offers limited accommodation which must be booked in advance. There is a cafe’/restaurant/shop and some restaurants at the lodge, so make sure you stock up on food and drink and insect repellant as this is well known for annoying flying bugs.
Make sure to check the weather too as this region has New Zealand’s highest rain fall, but is worth visiting on any day, wet or fine. The road in is a great motorbike road, sealed all the way apart from through the Homer Tunnel.
Entrance to the Homer Tunnel.
On our Feb 2017 Motorcycle Tour of the South Island
Once through the tunnel the road twists and turns through to Milford Sound. Don’t get distracted by the views as you drive. Stop where it’s safe and take your photos and admire what we believe are some of the best of New Zealand’s beauty.
Here are a few pictures of the sounds on a rare fine day.
We delayed our trip to Milford Sound to have better weather, well, we had a perfect summers day, but this place is just as spectacular in the rain, just not on motorcycles!
On the 5pm BBQ Cruise
Most cruises in the Sounds will take you right up and under this spectacular waterfall.
The road from Te Anau changes considerably. They are great roads with still more to see and do along the way. Driving south towards Invercargill you can go straight down the middle or choose to head out west and follow the coast for awhile. We chose the coast route which is longer but still easily done in a day.
North of Queenstown is Cromwell, located by Lake Dunstan which is a man made lake. The main attraction here, apart from the Lakes is the Lake Dunstan Trail ride.
Looking at the maps of where to start/finish this ride and freedom camp in our motorhome, we chose Clyde which is at the southern end of the trail and lake beside the dam. This is not quite the true end as the trail continues on to Clyde a few kilometres further on.
We started riding from this spot (you can find these on the “campermate app”.
This is a stunning ride, awesome views and a very well made trail. Make sure to check the weather forecast as it can be very windy and it’s not great in bad weather. The part we rode from the freedom spot to Cromwell Town Centre was around 45klm’s.
Here’s a couple of photo’s taken to show you how amazing this ride is.
The trail hugs the shoreline and varies from flat easy riding sections to steep switchback sections. It is not recommended for children under 12.
