prairie girl musings

Tag: South Island

From Christchurch To Queenstown

Having visited Queenstown a handful of times, I still marvel at the drive down from Christchurch. The Canterbury plains swiftly disappear to reveal rolling hills and turquoise, azure lakes. With so many changes in scenery, the drive never becomes stagnant. Many a tourist flies into Christchurch from the North Island, ready to journey south. And so, why not chronicle my favourite stops along the way to New Zealand’s playground, Queenstown?

Despite countless trips through Tekapo, I had yet to visit Mt. John Observatory. Even during the day, the views are exquisite. As far as coffee stops go, Astro Café is pretty stellar. Grab a coffee and a custard slice, stretch your legs, and take in the vistas.

Both Lake Tekapo and Pukaki are popular photo stops. The water colour of these two lakes is unbelievable, so vibrant even on the cloudiest of days.

Carry on driving, and you’ll reach Cromwell, which produces some of the best stone fruit in the country. Just look out for the massive fruit monument (peaches, pears, apples, oh my!) and you’ve come to the right place. In addition to picking up some fresh fruit, Nick and I can never go past the real fruit ice cream. I’ve always lamented the fact that soft serve doesn’t seem to exist in New Zealand. Real fruit ice cream is almost as good!

By this point, you’re nearly in Queenstown (only 25 minutes away), but I highly recommend making two more stops before venturing to your final destination. First up, Grazë in the Lake Hayes district. The fit-out of this well-designed café and eatery is worth the visit alone. The stunning fixtures and aesthetics had me reaching for my phone. Grab a coffee to takeaway or indulge in the delicious menu of rhubarb breakfast crumble, sweet and savoury crumpets and various foodie favourites. If you’re in need of snacks for the road, stop by their adjacent shop to stock up.

Another favourite spot, nestled outside Queenstown in the Lake Hayes district, is Amisfield Winery. A true gem amongst countless Central Otago wineries, it’s the perfect place for a leisurely lunch. Sit in the sunny courtyard and take in the breathtaking views over Lake Hayes. The gorgeous interior is one to behold and the impeccably executed menu and award-winning wines will leave you satisfied. The service is warm and attentive. Amisfield is continually ranked as one of the best winery restaurants in the country, and it isn’t hard to see why.

As you reach Queenstown, you’ll be rewarded with jaw-dropping views, adrenaline-inducing activities and culinary wonders to satisfy even the most discerning palates. Stay tuned for my Queenstown City Guide, up next!

November 13, 2016
Wanaka Weekends

I was over the moon when my flatmate, Mel asked if I’d like to join her on a roadtrip to Wanaka. Apart from a pitstop a few years back, I had yet to explore this year-round resort town. The drive alone was worth the trip as we were rewarded with stunning, constantly changing scenery. Mel kindly drove the entire way as I gazed out the window and snapped photo after photo. After living in Auckland for three years, I had forgotten just how dramatic and diverse the South Island scenery is.

The following list should sufficiently equip the adventurous traveller ready to take on Wanaka.

Treble Cone: Granted we visited during the summer months, but Wanaka is a hit with skiers and snowboarders. Treble Cone is the closest ski area to Wanaka and the largest in the South Island. I’m already looking forward to a visit next winter.

Mount Iron: You can’t visit Wanaka without a hike up Mount Iron, an impressive, glacier-carved, 240-metre rocky knoll. Run or walk at your leisure!

Federal Diner: One of our favourite spots in town, we both loved the retro vibes and open kitchen concept of this diner.

47 Frocks: I fell head over heels for this must-visit boutique, which stocks many of New Zealand’s most covetable labels.

We daytripped to Queenstown, which is a short 45-minute drive from Wanaka. For a first-timer, I highly recommend partaking in all the adventure tourism on offer: skydiving, bungy jumping, white water rafting, oh my! Oh, and you can’t forget Fergburger. Other great spots for lunch include Vudu Cafe & Larder (food pictured below) and Bespoke Kitchen (as lauded by Denizen).

A few stops along the way:

Lake Tekapo: Characterized by its vibrant turquoise colour, Lake Tekapo is a popular destination in the summer months. Despite how beautiful it appears in photographs, it’s about 100 times more gorgeous in person.

Lake Pukaki: The largest of three alpine lakes along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin, Lake Pukaki is a glacial lake that has become famous for its milky-blue colour and as the foreground to Mount Cook.

January 26, 2016
A Weekend Away in Akaroa

When Nick surprised me with a weekend away in Akaroa, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew very little about the only New Zealand town colonized by the French. Located on Banks Peninsula, Akaroa is approximately an hour and a half from Christchurch depending on traffic and how accustomed you are to New Zealand roads.

My limited knowledge of Akaroa worked in my favour as we spent a sunny Friday afternoon navigating the winding South Island roads. Immediately upon arrival, I spotted a tangled up French flag and knew I was in for a treat.

I was enrolled in French Immersion from kindergarten to grade twelve, which means the majority of my classes were conducted in French. Needless to say, I was delighted to hear French spoken by both the locals and tourists. While I knew Akaroa maintained some of its French character, I didn’t expect much more than French road names and freshly baked croissants.

Upon arrival, we headed straight to our bed and breakfast, Villa Vangioni (also a surprise!) where we were warmly greeted by innkeeper, Kirsty. My experience with B&Bs is basically non-existent and Villa Vangioni, an immaculate, gorgeously decorated boutique property with sweeping views of the sea, provided the perfect introduction. Every detail was seamlessly executed and Kirsty even armed us with dinner recommendations.

Care for a bath? The traditional freestanding bath is absolutely dreamy and I loved perusing the wide range of potions and candles on display.

There’s even a dining room where you’ll be graciously served by the lovely hostess, Kirsty. I wore stripes in hopes that I would look Parisian.

A night spent at Villa Vangioni delights from start to finish. I couldn’t help but smile when I saw these stockings hung at the foot of our bed. We had the entire upstairs to ourselves, and at the top of the staircase was a bench adorned with figure skates and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. Every detail of the property is so carefully considered that I’m already dreaming about a return visit!

I couldn’t help but take a photo of these tiled floors in the bathroom!

Other highlights of Akaroa included dinner at The Little Bistro, this small restaurant has a lengthy wine list and resplendent views of the harbour. The cuisine is French, of course and service is attentive. I also recommend the Akaroa museum to gain some understanding of the town’s history.

A lovely spot for coffee is The Brasserie. The garden restaurant is an cozy spot to settle in with a flat white for some quality people watching.

From virtually any vantage point, within this small seaside town, there are plentiful views of the quiet harbour. Fortunately, we ventured to Akaroa just before prime tourist season, and it seemed as though we had the entire town to ourselves.

For more information or to book your stay at Villa Vangioni, visit the website.

January 2, 2016