One of the best things about Queenstown and the Southern Lakes is that there is simply so much to do, see and discover. Whether you’re coming for a winter family getaway, a romantic weekend for two, or simply to relax and immerse yourself in nature, our region has it all. Yes, we are openly biased, but we think we have good reason to be!
Here at MajorDomo, we work hard to ensure that your holiday is everything you want it to be. We partner with knowledgeable local guides who are dedicated to showcasing everything we have on offer on our doorstep, and in this blog, we share 5 of our favourite private tours with you. We want you to be able to sit back, relax and enjoy premium Kiwi service.
And the best part? These tours a fully customisable to your personal preferences, group size, dietary requirements, and time frames with comfortable and luxurious vehicles that can go the distance – and the terrain!
A world first, this is a tour like no other, and if you’re a fan of gin, this one is for you!
Departing from your Queenstown accommodation at around 1pm, this private tour starts with a scenic helicopter flight to a remote mountain location for your first gin tasting and be prepared for an exclusive, delicious experience. Your pilot will hatch, present and pour your first gin of the day while you settle back and embrace complete privacy and incredible, panoramic views. This is a truly remarkable experience and a great way to kick off your afternoon.
From here, your helicopter will fly you over to the Cardrona Valley, an exclusive distillery nestled over the Crown Range towards Wanaka. You’ll land right inside the grounds and be taken to a private tasting room for your second gin experience and a full sensory, tactile tour of the facilities.
Next, you’ll visit The Winery in historic Arrowtown, a true jewel of the South Island. If you haven’t had a chance to see this historic mining town before then this will give you a great snapshot. This beautiful setting is where you’ll sit to enjoy tasting paddles of gin and delicious grazing boards and if you want to try something a little different, The Winery also has the largest range of wines in all of Queenstown.
The last stop on your private tour is in quaint Arthur’s Point at Gin Garden by Broken Heart Gin. You’ll be guided through a range of local Broken Heart gins in a private tasting room whilst sharing a traditional Tarte Flambee to finish off a full day of sightseeing, fun and education, as well as delicious food and gin of course!
Wine tours are one of the top activities to do whilst you are in Queenstown and we absolutely understand why. With Central Otago producing world renowned and award winning wines year on year, and over 75 wineries within 25 minutes from central Queenstown, wine lovers are going to want to add a private wine tour to their travel itinerary. We’ve done our own wine matching and paired the perfect wine and art tour together to showcase Queenstown’s talents perfectly.
Picking you up from your Queenstown accommodation, your guide will tailor make an exclusive experience to you and upon collection, will get to know your personal tastes for both wine and art in order to map your day. Your guide is an expert and has personal relationships with the local wineries in the region so you’re guaranteed to get an authentic experience that showcases Central Otago wine at its finest as well as taking in exclusive art galleries along the way. One of our favourite stops has to be the Jenny Mehrten Art Gallery in Arrowtown.
At your half way mark your guide will bring you to a stop for a delicious lunch at one of the local wineries in Bannockburn where you can enjoy the meandering views while you nestle into grazing boards of cheese and honeycomb.
Fear not, if you have your heart set on certain wineries or galleries your tour guide will make sure to accommodate them, as well as plenty of time for sightseeing should you wish. Here at MajorDomo, we love private wine touring for its flexible, personalised experience, as well as the great company and education your guide can provide throughout the day.
We are so lucky here in Queenstown to have multiple beautiful walking options right on our doorstep, including many of New Zealand’s world famous Great Walks. One of the closest, The Routeburn Track, starts just outside of Glenorchy and our private guided tour trips can offer you a day walk like no other.
Picking up from your accommodation, your guide will take you on what has to be one of the most scenic drives you could ever experience down to Glenorchy, whilst giving you the backstory of this small town that is a known World Heritage Area. It’s here that you can stop and grab a mid-morning tea or coffee at the town’s ‘local’ café and take the famous picture with the Glenorchy red hut. You can stay a while and walk the pier and lake side track to take in the mountainous views that cradle Lake Wakatipu whilst admiring the crystal clear – yet cold! – water at the head of the lake.
On arrival to the Routeburn start point your guide will ensure you’re ready and well equipped for your walk, whatever distance you decide to do. There’s the option of the short and beautiful nature walk that laps through incredible beech and fern forest or, for those who want to go a little further, you can venture into the Routeburn Flats Hut. Your guide is a nature expert, and throughout the tour will talk to you about native flora and fauna, as well what New Zealand’s Department of Conservation are doing to protect and encourage New Zealand’s native birdlife. If you opt to go to the Flats Hut, you’ll cross swing bridges over cascading waterfalls and follow clear rivers into deep mountain valleys. Keep your eyes peeled for our favourite birds, the friendly fantail.
Your guide will provide a gourmet picnic lunch for you at a destination that fits in with your itinerary so you can be sure that you’ll have energy to enjoy the day. They can easily factor in a post walk beverage at one of beloved Queenstown bistros on your way back to your accommodation as well, simply ask your guide for recommendations.
This tour is a great way to sample some of the best walking that New Zealand has to offer, as well as taking in the surrounding areas to Queenstown and learning about Fiordland National Park in the process. A must do for nature lovers!
This is a great half day option for the whole family to enjoy. Your guide will pick you up and take you for an unparalleled tour over to Glenorchy, the closest World Heritage Area to Queenstown and be prepared for some stunning scenery on the way. You’ll visit the Dart River Valley, Paradise and The Mt Aspiring National Park to get up close and personal with New Zealand’s native flora, fauna and birdlife.
Enjoy a classic Kiwi morning tea and take in the incredibly scenery that housed the iconic Lord of The Rings movie set, your guide can point out lot of famous spots along the way. Whilst in Glenorchy you’ll stop by the Glenorchy Animal Experience where you’ll be able to get up close and personal with the local farm animals like the alpaca. There’s even an option to feed them their own morning tea too!
The tour is a great option for families who want to venture outside of Queenstown and experience some local Kiwi hospitality without having to travel to far, and the animal experience is always a hit with the kids!
If you’re joining us in Queenstown this winter to ski or snowboard the local mountains, a ski concierge is a must. Fully designed around where you want to go, how long you want to go for and any little sightseeing stops or lunch breaks you want to include, our private ski concierge service allows you total freedom to enjoy the mountains, your way.
With pick-ups from your accommodation, luxurious vehicles that will keep you warm and comfortable, and knowledgeable and fully trained local drivers, your winter holiday deserves this exclusive treatment. Whether you’re going further afield or staying in Queenstown, your guide will be waiting for you whenever you decide to call it a day, so there’s no waiting for buses or hanging out in the café, you can get right on and enjoy your holiday.
Your MajorDomo is on hand to help you organise and book your next holiday. Email us at hello@majordomo.co.nz to talk to one of our friendly team and get your next trip to Queenstown booked in.
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