South Island

Glenorchy at the top of Lake Wakatipu

Head south-west from Queenstown and follow Lake Wakatipu around Mount Crichton for fantastic views and a smooth drive. Within 45 mins you’ll be at Glenorchy, which promises Middle-Earth magic and Instagram-worthy scenes.

Leave the Lord of the Rings tours to the tourists and instead take a 2 hour horse riding trek through the scenic Dart Valley. And if you’ve got wee ones in tow, try out the Glenorchy Animal Experience where the kids can feed and pet alpacas and other farm animals in a picturesque setting.

Glenorchy and much of the deep South Island look like they’ve been plucked straight from Scandinavia, so have the camera ready for cool rustic scenes and breath-taking natural beauty.