Everybody knowsQueenstown as an adrenaline adventure site. But since my baby already has his baby adventures, we will wait a bit with those activities. Activities like Bungee jumps, skiing, cycling through the woods, ultimate off-roader experiences we will try some other time. So this time, I will take you on a slightly calmer adventure of wine tastings and enjoying culinary delicacy.
I don’t know how to start and start from changing my job, so I have a few days off before starting another job. Or, maybe I’d better move on to a quick decision on what to do during those few days off.
A job change brings a change of emotions and feelings, from nostalgia to excitement and openness to new adventures. That excitement always inspires me, so I decided to use my days off to vacation with my small family. This trip will be Sophie’s (my 21-month-old daughter) first plane trip, and I believe it will be extremely interesting for her. We decided to go to Queenstown. My partner has never been there, and I love that town, small but beautiful.
I was lucky that the status of COVID-19 New Zealand has improved these days, so we moved from level 3 to level 2. That means we can travel and the restaurants and other facilities are open. We have to respect some measures like distance and wear a mask, but that is fine.
It is difficult to say whether it is expensive in Queenstown due to the influence of COVID. Still, everyone offers discounts, and probably when everything returns to normal, prices will increase again, we will see.
Planning a trip to Queenstown – itinerary
The time has come for me to plan my trip. Somehow it is better and more manageable when you go with a child and have already organized some things/activities. Especially when it comes to visiting popular restaurants or other attractions, you need to know what is possible and whether it is possible to visit places like this with a small child. So I checked to see if access to specific locations is possible with the child.
Also, because of COVID, we could not have only one flight but three flights by plane, making the situation a little more complicated. At the same time, play areas reserved for children at the airport were not open. The only way to entertain little Sophie was to let her run through the shops. Of course, the sellers were not very happy to see her carrying their toys out of the store :), but they were patient and friendly.
What excites me about New Zealand is its commitment to family. Whether it is a cafe, restaurant, museum, hairdresser, wherever you go, people are kind to children and always have some toys for children to play with and have fun.
Packing for the trip
The packaging did not last long. I always use my packing list, which simplifies my packing and shortens the time of the whole process. We only brought the necessary things. The accommodation I booked lent us a crib for the little one for free.
Before we left, I checked the weather forecast, which showed either sunny or slightly cloudy weather. Also, I checked some wineries, what they look like and whether it is convenient to take a child there.
DAY 1
We spent the first day at the airports running after Sophie, and I admit it wasn’t bad. The airport is big and spacious enough that a little princess can run at full speed. It was fun to walk around and go shopping with her. As in the whole of New Zealand, which is very dedicated to family life, at the airport, you have a massive room for children where you can change the baby’s diapers, breastfeed him, etc.
What still excites me is the creativity of New Zealanders. In the main hall where we were waiting for a flight, you can see vast sculptures of Eagles from The Lord of the Rings at the domestic terminal. Terrific attraction and beautiful sight for the eyes. By the way, if someone visits Wellington, I recommend the Weta Center. The largest animation center is where The Hobbit, Avatar, and The Lord of the Rings were filmed.
We didn’t have much time in the morning, so I forgot to have breakfast. I wanted to try sushi while we were in Wellington airport, which is always phenomenal takeaway food. It is not heavy for the stomach. It is delicious and one of my favorite dishes or snacks. Tj Katsu offers a good choice and is fresh for every recommendation.
Shopping atthe airport
Unplanned, while running after Sophie, I noticed some perfumes and realized I needed some because I no longer have Gucci bloom. It’s pretty hard for me to find the right essence for myself, I’ve been looking for the right perfume for years, and I haven’t found what is suitable for me yet. However, at the suggestion of the saleswoman, I tried the name, and I liked it so that this purchase, fortunately for me, took place quickly. That is what I call shopping fast and efficiently.
Hospitality in Queenstown
And so after a few flights, we arrived at accommodation that is great for a small family. The owner was great, and he welcomed us with a big smile and chocolates, which pleased me, Sophie, and Axel (my partner). Accommodation is for every recommendation. The room is with all the necessities and at a reasonable price. The living room is spacious with plenty of space to hold food and amazing views of the lake and mountains.
The first thing we did was leave our things and go for a walk. I’ve been to Queenstown once before, and I can’t wait to walk by the lake. There is also one of my favorite cafes, The Bathhouse. The most beautiful cafe to drink coffee or tea, with the best view of the lake and the mountains, and right next to it is a playground for children, an ideal place!
The walk ended at the fast-food Malaysian Restaurant, Hawker and Roll. I have to admit the food was fantastic. What followed was playing with the little one, throwing pillows, and jumping on the beds with full bellies :).
DAY 2
The morning started with breakfast and coffee, but we weren’t sure where we were going. So we headed to a nearby information center. I wish to show Axel’ Milford Sounds‘, but Sophie is small, and the journey is long, so we can’t go. But we opted for a slightly simpler variant. We went to Arrow Town, which is 15 minutes by bus from the city center where we have accommodation.
The town is tiny. It has a main street reminiscent of the wild west of America. It looks cute with small boutique shops. I had to take something to remind me of this visit, and that is the beautiful necklace, elegant and straightforward. Otherwise, in the same shop, you can find a lot of jewelry made of Maori style.
Arrow Town Hospitality
The Fork and Tap
I was hungry, and Axel was thirsty, so we ended up at a coffee bar. Since we came with a small devil who runs everywhere and has no shame in talking to strangers, I was thrilled that the staff is very kind and that he liked to chat with my little toddler. Thanks to The Fork and Tap team for the warm welcome and excellent service, not to mention the food, which is incredibly delicious.
The Winery
A visit to the wine shop The Winery also left an impression on me. It was an enjoyable space for sitting and chatting with a glass of wine, but it was more interesting to have wine tasting. Tasting is based on the principle of self-service. You get a card, and at each Enomatic where you have the wine, you insert a card and decide on the dose that suits you, ¼ glasses, half a glass, or a full glass of wine. It is interesting to try some wines from wineries we have not been to. We placed little Sophie in an armchair to watch Peppa Pig. I know it’s not the most ideal, but sometimes Peppa helps us enjoy a little.
On the way back from Arrow Town
We wanted to stop by the ‘Amisfield’ winery to see what kind of wines they offer since I tried their Chardonnay which was nice. The cellar door and the restaurant were beautiful to the eye, an elegant-rustic style that I like in combination. A young Frenchman did our wine tasting and explained a lot about the vineyard itself and the wines they produce.
Dinner in Queenstown
We thought about whether to prepare something for dinner or go to a restaurant. We were a little tired and wanted to relax in a nice little restaurant, pleasant for the end of the day. The name of the restaurant is Saigon cuisine.
DAY 3
What I missed was that I woke up every morning to write a Blog. It may be early 5 am, but somehow it’s just a magical time of the day when it’s quiet and when I have a view of the lake and sunrise. It’s inspiring to me, and I wanted to launch my website as soon as possible. I have to admit I don’t care. I never wright before. But I had a desire to share my adventures with you.
After two hours of writing, it was time to go somewhere. I don’t know about you, but I can’t just sit, especially with the little one. It was a beautiful day for a walk, and right next to the lake, we could walk along the path that goes in a semicircle along the shore. On the right side is a beautiful view of the lake and the mountain and on the other side is a park with a small artificial lake, ducks and beautiful flowers. Although the walk was lovely, we had to run after the little one. Growing every day so fast, she becomes faster. The sun warmed us, and nature relaxed us.
The best burger In the world and Altitude Brewingplace
I have to admit that it wasn’t bad, but I still think Serbia has the best burger. If you are curious, go and try. We walked all morning and noon, looked around the shops. I didn’t even dare to buy anything because my backpack was already full, but Axel wanted to buy a Sophie back necklace with the traditional Maori symbol Hei Tiki. A symbol of clear thinking, discerning, loyalty, and knowledge.
After a long walk, we decided to go for a drink somewhere. It caught our eye for a relaxed spot on the way to Queenstown Airport. It’s Altitude Brewery. I wouldn’t say I like the smell or taste of beer, but that’s why I found mulled wine, which satisfies my soul. The place is nicely decorated in a relaxed, casual style—a place where he would gladly drink after a motorcycle ride. The only thing I miss is the coffee. I know that you shouldn’t expect coffee in a brewery, but I’m a Serbian at heart, and for Serbs, you should have coffee or tea everywhere :).
I don’t know what their beer is like, but it’s great to cool off. After beer and mulled wine, we walked with the little one on the docks. It’s incredible how I can feel pleasure after a whole day of walking in the sun, relaxing, and having fun with Sophie. The only thing I planned for the day was dinner at a restaurant on top of the mountain. I had to reserve a seat because the last time I was in Queenstown, I could not find a vacancy. Even now, when I booked from home before we came to Queenstown, I could barely find a place. There were only a few seats available.
Excellent dinner on top of the mountain in Skyline Queenstown restaurant
The restaurant is called Stratosfare Restaurant & Bar, and it’s a franchise. I was at one of their restaurant in Rotorua. The design is stunning, and the view is impressive. The food is also of outstanding quality. It is a buffet which I find very practical and convenient to spend a long time in a restaurant enjoying wine, food, chatting, and the view.
I had contacted the Marketing Manager to record ‘Back Stage’ just for you, to see what it all looks like behind the scenes, in the kitchen, and the whole process of organizing the evening, booking, and front of the house show. And I came across a positive response in the sense that they would gladly allow me to do a video for you but that I can’t because COVID19 status LEVEL 2 did not allow it. Regardless, I got a couple of pictures that you can see below in the gallery.
We decided to go earlier and see the restaurant’s surroundings as we had to go to the top of the mountain. We climbed the gondola, which allowed us to see the whole town and a lot of paragliders and kites. It’s something I enjoy.
After today’s burger, we weren’t so hungry, so we didn’t even stare at dinner. When we got to the top, we had plenty of room to play with Sophie, from running through the gift shop to running outside while watching the flyers. Fantastic, and probably even more exciting when the season is full of tourists.
Atmosphere
At the entrance to the restaurant, I felt a relaxing atmosphere, ideal as a continuation of such a relaxing day. They served dinner differently than usual, and it was a table buffet. You choose what you want to eat, and your waiter brings it to you. The view is impressive. With wine and a fantastic panoramic view, we really enjoyed it. Axel found room in his stomach for a double dessert.
We could not see the sunset from the mountains, but the sky was unreal. It was getting dark, and it was time to go to sleep. Although it was relaxing all day, we got tired, and a cozy bed was in our minds.
DAY 4
On the fourth day I couldn’t get up at 5 to write, but that’s ok too. I’m on vacation, though, and I need to give myself a little rest. And these moments when we all wake up together are phenomenal. They make us so happy when we see a little one laughing while we kiss her, tickle, and play with her.
Then we had breakfast together and, of course, ran after Sophie to change diapers. That’s parents’ life. The day is beautiful, sunny weather, and it’s time to embark on a wine journey. Today we plan to drive to the valley of wine.
Wet Jacket Wines Cellar Door and Gourmet Deli
The first winery that was on our way and that I read about has existed for quite a long time is ‘Wet Jacket‘. ‘The name Wet Jacket was actually chosen for the area due to the sudden nature of the crew’s jackets after spending many days in torrential Fiordland storms’.
Family place
As everywhere in New Zealand, as I mentioned, everyone is ready with a bunch of books and toys for families with children, even in the winery. It’s incredible how much that means to us when we want to enjoy our vacation and have such a cute little demanding kid, hahaha.
The wine tasting was enjoyable in a modernly designed space with the spirit of history. It’s also something I love. I was surprised by some wines but positively. I rarely like Gewurztraminer, but I have to admit that Greg Hay changed my mind. This Gewurztraminer I bought with pleasure.
Chard Farm Winery and Vineyard
After a pleasant wine tasting, we continued our journey to another winery ‘Chard Farm‘. The first thing we saw on the way was a vineyard at the foot of the hill lit by the sun, and the view was amazing! The building itself reminded me of the Italian style in Tuscany that blended nicely with the rest of the property.
The wine tasting
The wine tasting was presented to us by a lovely girl of Asian origin, who was very lovely trying to save the rabbit from the cat in the meantime. I have to admit that she won my sympathy with that gesture. The bunny was adorable and worth the rescue, and that somehow positively complemented our wine tasting.
Chard Farm has a lot of different types of wine, from Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Riesling to Pinot Noir and Gewurztraminer. I didn’t find anything that was ‘WOW’ to me. There were some fine wines, but I believe I am very picky. I wouldn’t say I like to drink much, up to two glasses, but the wine must intrigue me with something because I enjoy drinking wine slowly. It has to awaken the imagination and put me in a situation to wonder what it reminds me of.
Gibbston Valley Winery and Vineyard
We went further on to see what else Otago has to offer. It is interesting to explore landscapes like Otago because they provide wines that are not particularly interesting to me. For example, Pinot Noir is not something I will choose if I have Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, or Syrah on offer. But places like this exist to change my mind, and that’s why wherever I go, I try a variety of wines, both what I like and what I wouldn’t say I like, because some wineries surprise me very positively.
When we arrived at the Gibbston Valley Winery and Vineyard, I desired to try one of their experiences which involves going to what they call a wine cave. You can see how they make wine, where they keep wine, how many barrels they have, etc. However, it was overbooked when we arrived, and I didn’t want to book for later because I didn’t want to have the pressure to come back later. It is unimportant because we will return to this valley one day, so we should leave something to see for the next time.
Wine tasting
They had some outstanding wines. And amazing how I wanted to eat oysters, especially since we started wine tasting with ‘Methode Traditionnelle,’ which goes incredibly well with oysters. Ah, that moment of freshness and cold fresh oysters, as if I were eating the sea. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s a phenomenal feeling.
There were a few wines that I liked, and I wanted to take one to take home. That was Pinot Noir from 2019. It is coming from China Terrace Single Vineyard 320m high terrace with complex schist and clays. 10 months in French oak, 33% of new oak. That was a pleasant experience, but we got hungry after so many wines.
Gibbston Tavern
First, the nearest place we could eat was Gibbston Tavern. There was a cellar door next to the tavern, but we wanted to eat and go to another winery. They had a big dog running around waiting to be pet. Of course, I was petting him whenever I could.
Peregrine Winery and Vineyard
When we arrived at the Peregrin vineyard parking lot, we could see a beautiful lake with a few birds and ducks. It seemed unreal and soothing. We did not expect that they would build cellar doors in a contemporary style. It is a combination of natural and futuristic. Inside the Cellar Door, there is a nicely arranged seating area and the exhibition area itself where the wines are reminiscent of a night bar with lights, and in the background, you can see the barrels. It looks nice.
I have to admit that this style of making wine was not to my taste. We didn’t have to pay for a tasting. We could buy a bottle of wine, or we could leave some cash for charity. I think it’s an excellent idea and I’m glad that some wineries practice it.
The part around the winery and Cellar Door is beautiful for a walk. Many people rent bikes and visit wineries on a bike because most are close to each other. I would do it next time. It’s an exciting combination of a little physical activity and wine tasting.
KINROSS Cellar Door – Bistro – Boutique Hotel
While drinking wine at Peregrin Winery, we realized we were tired, so we decided to end this our wine tour at Kinross. They serve wines from different wineries in Otago, and we thought it was the perfect place to try it. More precisely, they have wines from 5 wineries that we did not visit.
They also had a restaurant, so we could sit outside, where there was plenty of room for Sophie to run. Even Sophie found some friends to play with for at least an hour which allowed us to rest and do nothing at all. Great!
We tried the wines of:
Coal Pitt Central Otago winery
Wild Irishman Wines
Valli Vineyard Limited
You will be able to read more about wines and wineries soon in my next blog about Queenstown Wineries.
It was time to go back to our room and pack for tomorrow. We were going back home. It was fabulous four days in Queenstown, and there is more to see next time.
DAY 5
The morning was gorgeous. A sunny day with the chirping of New Zealand birds and a little cooler air made the day incredibly pleasant for the mind and body.
We’ll have a flight at 3 pm, so we first headed to our favorite cafe to have a coffee, take a walk, and play with Sophie in the park next to the cafeteria. The coffee is excellent and the view even better.
After about an hour, we headed to the airport, thinking we would find some nice place on the way to have an excellent time until our flight. A little walking and relaxing would be good. We drove a little, wanting to go closer to the lake, but we did not find anything interesting, mainly in that part there were just a lot of houses, and it did not seem acceptable to us.
Then we wanted to look at a small shopping center because Axel needed a jacket, but we realized that there was nothing he needed. Some classic-style jackets for every day. Then it occurred to me, since we have a few hours until the flight, we can visit the nearest winery since it is maybe 15 minutes away from the airport.
Stoneridge Estate Winery
It turned out that the winery that was closest and open was the winery that I wanted to see in the first place. It’s the Stoneridge Estate. Lovely Cellar Door with a small church in the yard and a small artificial pond, decorated with plants, flowers, trees, and benches. A magical place! It inspires me for art, fairy tales, reading…
Artistic cellar door
When we went inside, we realized that the owners are artists, so it’s no wonder it looks so fabulous.
In the artistic spirit, this is how wine labels are made, and I must admit that they are fascinating and unique. In addition to the well-done design of the space and labels, there are outstanding wines too. The young Frenchman gave us a tasting, and it was evident that he understood the wines, which gave us an excellent experience. We couldn’t carry many bottles of wine, and our bags were already full, so this time we didn’t take anything, but next time, for sure we will, or we’ll order online.
All the time during the wine tasting, the little one slept in the car. I checked her every ten minutes, and we could enjoy and relax.
On theway to the airport
On the way to the airport, Sophie woke up ready to cuddle and run. She was excited about a large number of people at the airport. She wanted to run, talk to everyone and play with everyone. Sounds impressive but running after her was not easy, hahaha.
We had three flights during the day, and I admit that Sophie did better than me. I didn’t like the turbulence because my stomach was sensitive, and Sophie was just a little scared when landing. Of course, the fear was overcome by Dad’s hug :).
The first flight was late, but I didn’t pay attention to it, so there was no time for that when I wanted to change Sophie before the second flight. As soon as I took off her clothes, they called us from the speaker to get to the boarding gate. Since it was an emergency, I ran to the plane with Sophie, who was half-naked. It was a fun activity.
We arrived home tired but satisfied. It was enjoyable, relaxing, tiring but perfect! Hopefully, information about what to do in Queenstown will be useful for you. If you like the story, please like it. Or, if you have any questions or need some information about this trip, please leave the comment below.
