Queenstown & Wānaka
Watch the full episode of Queenstown and Wanaka here.
Rolling into Queenstown the mountains get more and more spectacular. Deetz hadn’t ridden in the area before and was more excited than normal… it was quite overwhelming really. And…he had no idea what we were about to get ourselves into. We ditched the Navara at Hotel St. Moritz and headed to Skyline for an ‘easy’ run down Queenstown Bike Park. Kelsey Timpany is a local freeride mountain biker and joined in to show us a safe way down the mountain. Holly and Jake were on camera and rode with us, it was a hard run for Holly but she rode amazingly well with all the gear doing the save of the trip dismounting off her bike and landing on her feet! Amazing result.
To calm the adrenaline levels we headed to the Gibbston River Trail to scope out some fine wine and easy gravel riding. The wine in the region was delicious and Deetz made me do poetry to describe the Pinot Noir. Safe to say it got weird. Hahaha… The trail itself followed the river and connected up multiple wineries and we finished at the Gibbston Valley Lodge and enjoyed high end fine dining! I also slept like a baby with the luxe accommodation. We needed a good sleep because the next day was sure to be a big one…
Heli Biking!!! Something I’ve always wanted to do. We met up with local rider Brooke who helped us load up for the flight to the top of Crown Peak. Luckily the weather cleared and we got in the Chopper to the ridgeline high in the sky. It’s crazy that we just jumped out of a Helicopter and onto our bikes! The trail was very fast and loose and in a group the rocks were flying. I guess if you go slower it’s safer, but we weren't smart enough to apply that theory. After what felt like hours (because it was), we arrived in Arrowtown. A quick, delicious lunch at a local cafe and a roll around town then we were off on the Queenstown trail back into town. Queenstown is a special spot and I really connect with the adventure vibes that are everywhere. We pulled up at Atlas Beer Cafe for a froth top and a steak to end the day.
The next day, it was off to Wānaka, or at least in that direction, because we couldn’t drive past Cardrona Bike park without checking it out. They have insanely beautiful trails that snaked down the hill are something else were a work of art. The Peak to Pub trail is the only way to get off the mountain (if you have a driver or book a shuttle), it’s a totally different style of trail and Deetz loved it! No more mucking around, it was time to get to Wānaka. We LOVED Wānaka, the more chilled out mountain style and huge lake and epic mountain views make it a special place. All these activities make us thirsty so we checked out B.effect brewery and discovered the most drinkable kombucha I’ve ever tasted. Much better than the vinegar I made during covid lockdowns!
We stayed at Edgewater resort, which was right on the lake just a cruisey 10 minute cycle from town, past the famous Wānaka tree.
Our final day of the adventure was a mixture of chill and not so chill activities. The lavender farm just out of Wānaka was a relaxing, immersive, farm-life, walk-around; spoiled by Deetz and I being big kids! I loved the tea that changed colours and the lavender infused ice cream was delicious. Now the next experience is not for the faint hearted… Wānaka Wildwire is a 500m waterfall climbing route designed for anyone that wants to take on the challenge. Deetz and I were absolutely blown away by the beauty of this climb and it took hours to get to the top of the second pitch. We even swam in the waterfall and I saw a rainbow!!! The three wire bridge was such a rush and considering Deetz is afraid of heights he was very brave. It’s one of those must do activities.
Bike Glendhu is on the side of Lake Wānaka and it’s the new kid on the block for riding in the area. The trails are carved into the bare mountainside and flow for days! Deetz and I loved riding here and the excitement levels were running high. There is a mid trail point or the birds nest at the top depending on how much riding you want to fit in. We got a lift to the top, on a side-by-side that was obviously the premium option. We finished the riding with a Giant Vandy Challenge ‘egg and spoon’ race on bike at the event village… As always I can’t tell you who won because I hate spoilers.
That’s it!!! The final week of adventuring around New Zealand wrapped up in Wānaka! From the top of the North to the best of the South and everything in between. It was a trip of a lifetime. The core crew on the trip made it possible; Kirsty, Jake, Holly, Andy, Deetz and myself managed to do 6 weeks back to back filming and we can’t wait to show the world on SBS and abroad. Trail Towns is about seeking adventure and finding new places… It’s what we do and we love it. Thanks for all of the support and bring on season 3!!!
