Stay Awhile in Gibbston Wine Country
Gibbston Valley is the ideal home base for a range of excellent adventures!
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Exclusive Back Country Day Trip: go where few have gone before. Our neighbour, Jeff, is the caretaker for one of the massive back country stations in the valley and is responsible for managing the wild game on the station and keeping out poachers. He will load you onto his Polaris and guide you through rugged, remote back country tracks where you will see wild fallow and red deer and some of the most epic scenery in the world. If this is of interest, we will put you in touch with Jeff.
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TSS Earnslaw Steam Ship Cruise
It’s one of the best ways to see Queenstown’s surrounding landscape – a cruise across Lake Whakatipu aboard the iconic century-old coal-fired steamship, the TSS Earnslaw. Your trip will take you across the lake, past the Remarkables mountain range and Cecil Peak, to Walter Peak High Country Farm. You can choose to add a Walter Peak Farm Tour (don’t miss the sheep herding dogs in action!) and a famous gourmet long lunch, or cruise back to Queenstown.
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Wine Tasting/Lunch: there are excellent wineries within walking distance of 1888 Cottage including Brennan, Mount Rosa and Kinross (cellar door for Valli and other excellent local wines). Hop in the car and drive 20 minutes to Bannockburn home of Felton Rd and Mount Difficulty Wineries and a range of other outstanding producers. We highly recommend lunch at Bannockburn Hotel (book at least a week in advance) or Mount Difficulty winery.
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Mountain Biking: jump on the Gibbston Valley Trail which passes through the front of our property and make your way past the Bungee Bridge, along the magnificent Kawarau Gorge over a suspension bridge and through to historic Arrowtown. Alternatively, head to Bannockburn and cycle the incredibly scenic Dunstan Track. Get in touch with Gibbston Valley Winery to rent bikes.
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Skiing and Mountain Carting: Remarkables and Cardrona are equidistant from 1888 Cottage while Coronet is 25 minutes door to door. In the summer months head to Cardrona for Mountain Carting, or to any of the ski hill areas for mountain biking.
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Historic Arrowtown: wander back in time to the gold rush days and experience the authentic feel of this little town a 15-minute drive from 1888 Cottage. Be sure to visit the remains of the old Chinese settlement on the edge of town. You’ll want to book lunch or dinner at Aosta or La Rumbla, two of our favourite restaurants. Rent an E-bike or hike the many trails that originate in Arrowtown.
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Pool Burn Dam: Pool Burn Dam is without a doubt one of the most spectacular examples of the barren, rocky landscapes for which Central Otago is famous and this area was featured in Lord of the Rings. It’s a 90-minute drive from 1888 Cottage so pack a lunch and make a day of it. The road into the dam is more suitable for an SUV as it is unsealed.
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Oxbow Adventure Company: Epic. Every. Day. is their motto. If ultimate off-roading, jet boat sprints, and clay bird shooting get your adrenaline pumping, this outfit is just a few short kilometres from 1888 Cottage.
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AJ Hacket Bungee: if you are still craving adrenaline the original bungee jump is just a few minutes’ drive up the road from us as is their more recent invention the catapult. Live More, Fear Less.
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Mount Cook - Hooker Valley Track: this is a full day trip that takes you through the most spectacular mountain roads in New Zealand. Drive to Mount Cook Village (3 hours) and hike one of NZ’s most iconic tracks that passes through amazing landscapes including an alpine lake with calved ice bergs from the glacier. Have lunch at the Hermitage hotel then head back through the mountains to home base in Gibbston Valley.
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Nevis Road: This is the highest public road in New Zealand and can be accessed via Bannockburn. Spectacular views and incredible stark landscapes make this a photographer’s paradise. The remains of the old gold mining settlement and cemetery can be visited. These can be reached with a standard SUV vehicle but beyond the historic settlement area you will need a 4-wheel drive vehicle. We don’t recommend going any further than the ruins. The road closes during the winter months.