Dunedin is the main city of the Otago Province – which is one of the most scenic areas of New Zealand. Just over a three hour drive from Dunedin you can visit the adventure capital of New Zealand – Queenstown. Surrounded by majestic mountains and nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is New Zealand’s premier lake and alpine resort. Bungy jumping, high speed jet boating, tramping, paragliding, parasailing, sky diving are just some of the activities you will be able to do. Enjoy skiing during winter in Queenstown and Wanaka or summer time relax by the beautiful lakes or do a winery tour.

Wanaka is situated at the southern end of Lake Wanaka, adjacent to the outflow of the lake to the Clutha River. It is the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park. Wanaka is primarily a resort town but has both summer and winter seasons and is based around the many outdoor opportunities. The town is part of the Queenstown-Lakes District and was originally settled during the gold rush excitement of the 19th century.

At 45° south this is the world’s southernmost winemaking region. The region is mountainous, rising to over 2000m with the vines planted amongst spectacular alpine scenery. The vineyards are also the highest in the country, located between 200 and 450 metres above sea level.

Moeraki Boulders
The famous Moeraki boulders lie scattered along a beach about an hour’s drive north of Dunedin. According to Maori legend, the boulders are gourds washed from the great voyaging canoe Araiteuru when it was wrecked upon landfall in New Zealand some 1000 years ago.

Scientists explain the boulders as septarian concretions formed about 65 million years ago. Crystallization of calcium and carbonates around charged particles in muddy undersea sediments gradually formed the boulders in a process taking as long as four million years. The soft mudstone containing the boulders was raised from the seabed around 15 million years ago and sea erosion is exposing the erosion-resistant boulders.

The viewing platform, just a few minutes walk through regenerating native shrubland, offers good views of the boulders and, if you are lucky, New Zealand (hectors) dolphins playing in the waves. The fishing town of Moeraki, only half an hour’s walk along the beach from the boulders, (or a five minute drive) is a lovely place where holiday homes can be rented and makes a great escape for the weekend. The famous Fleurs Restaurant is open for lunch and evening dining with fresh seafood on the menu.