From turquoise lakes and lush peninsulas to snow-capped mountains and sparkling glaciers, the South Island’s majestic landscapes offer awe and adventure in equal measure.
Culinary delights are easy to come by in the Queenstown area and our first meal, perched on a cliff overlooking the spectacular Shotover River, certainly set the standard for things to come.
Our first full day meant it was time to get stuck into the exciting activities the region had to offer. A cruise on Lake Wakatipu was the perfect way to get our bearings.
On Wednesday we met up with Ben from Pure Glenorchy Tours, who took us deep into Middle Earth giving us the opportunity to explore Isengard, The Misty Mountains, Ithilien and more. We didn’t let a little bit of rain dampen our spirits as we visited the Lothlorien Forest to dress up as our favourite Lord of the Rings characters. We even had a ready madeready-made Gandalf in the group!
The next day was the big one! We rose early for our day visiting one of the true wonders of the natural world, Milford Sound, a fjord that offers a fusion of spectacular natural features with amazing vistas around every corner. Despite heavy rain, Milford Sound turned it on for Trusted Travel as hundreds of waterfalls cascaded through the mist as we toured the area on a scenic lunch cruise.
After a huge day at the Sound, we treated ourselves to a sleep-in before self-guiding our way to Te Anau for the world famous glow worm caves. Intrepid adventurers that we are, we smashed through mobility barriers when we navigated our way deep underground before boarding a boat for a trip on the subterranean river. Seeing glow worms is an awe inspiring experience. It’s like watching the stars in Mother Earth’s own private planetarium.
Throughout our time in Queenstown, some of our Trusted Travellers took up unique opportunities to get involved in the thrills and chills of the world’s adventure sport capital. We zipped across treacherous ravines and raced down the side of mountains.
Needless to say, it was the trip of a lifetime for our travellers and guides alike. Until next time Queenstown! We’ll be back!
