- Length
- 7 days
- Season
- Year-round
- Base
- Lakefront / Kelvin Heights
- Car
- Private transfers
- Pace
- Unhurried
- Budget
- High
- Best for
- Luxury & slow travel
A week of Queenstown at its most indulgent — a lakefront or lodge base, private transfers, heli days, fine dining and wine, spa and slow mornings. All the headline scenery, none of the rush.
Quick decisions
Stay here
A lakefront suite or a Kelvin Heights / lodge retreat for privacy and views.
Book ahead
Reserve signature restaurants (Amisfield, Botswana Butchery) and heli experiences well ahead.
Best if
Best if you want the icons wrapped in comfort and space to breathe.
Swap if
Weather closing the tops? Swap a heli day for a private wine and long-lunch day in Gibbston.
Map & route
Private transfers throughout. Day trips fan out to Gibbston and Amisfield (east), Glenorchy and the heli-country (up the lake), and Milford (by air) mid-week.
Day by day
Arrive in style
Ease in.
Morning. Private transfer from the airport; settle into a lakefront suite.
Afternoon. A slow lakeside walk and a spa session to shake off the flights.
Evening. Tasting-menu dinner in town.
Stay. Lakefront suite or luxury lodge.
Swap: Arriving late? Order in and start fresh with a sunrise lake view.
Wine country long lunch
Gibbston at leisure.
Morning. Private wine tour through the Gibbston Valley.
Afternoon. Long lunch at Amisfield or Kinross.
Evening. Quiet night in; a nightcap on the terrace.
Swap: Prefer bubbles by the lake? Swap for a private cruise and cellar-door hop.
Heli day
Alpine grandeur from above.
Morning. Helicopter to a remote alpine landing or a glacier picnic.
Afternoon. Return for a lakeside afternoon and a massage.
Evening. Chef's table or in-suite dining.
Swap: Low cloud? Move the heli to your best-weather day and do the spa now.
Milford by air
The eighth wonder, the easy way.
Morning. Scenic flight to Milford Sound with a cruise on the fiord.
Afternoon. Fly back over the Southern Alps.
Evening. Relaxed dinner in town.
Swap: Weather grounding flights? Swap for a private Dart River wilderness day from Glenorchy.
Glenorchy & Paradise
Middle-earth scenery.
Morning. Drive up the lake to Glenorchy and Paradise; a guided nature or film-locations tour.
Afternoon. Boutique lunch; lakeside time.
Evening. Return for dinner.
Swap: Active mood? Swap the tour for a guided high-country horse ride.
Golf or lake
A signature slow day.
Morning. A round at Jack's Point or Millbrook — two of NZ's finest — or a private lake cruise.
Afternoon. Afternoon tea and a final spa visit.
Evening. Farewell tasting menu.
Swap: Not golfers? Swap for a wellness half-day and a lakeside picnic.
Slow farewell
No rush.
Morning. Late breakfast with the view; last lakeside stroll.
Afternoon. Private transfer to the airport.
Evening. Depart.
Swap: Later flight? Add a final gondola-top lunch before you go.
Where to stay
A lakefront suite for the view, or a lodge in Kelvin Heights / the hills for privacy. See the accommodation page for premium stays by area.
Browse accommodation →Getting around
Private transfers throughout means no driving or parking; heli and scenic flights cover the big days. See the Getting Around guide.
Getting around guide →What to book first
Signature restaurants and heli/scenic-flight days book out weeks ahead — reserve those first, then build the softer days around them.
Browse activities →Cost guide
Indicative: heli experiences NZ$500–1,200+, scenic flight + Milford cruise NZ$500–700, degustation dinners NZ$150–250pp, premium lodging NZ$600–2,000+/night. Prices change.
Variations
Shorter: Compress to 4–5 days: keep the heli day, Milford flight and two long lunches.
Couples: Add a private hot-pool session and a sunset cruise with dinner.
Green season: Autumn brings golden vines and lower rates with the same fine dining.
Winter: Swap a day for private ski guiding with a mountain-lunch.
FAQ
Do I need to hire a car?
No — private transfers, heli and scenic flights cover everything, which is part of the appeal.
How far ahead should I book?
For peak periods, reserve marquee restaurants and heli days several weeks out; luxury lodging even earlier.
Make it yours
Save the stops you like to My Queenstown, open the Trip Planner to reshape the days, or ask Will to customise this itinerary to your dates.