If you asked me to spend my weekend 140 metres above a gushing river, strolling through one of New Zealand’s largest wine caves, and undertaking an 18km e-bike ride, the only way you’d get me to say ‘yes’ is if you were my bestie.
But that’s exactly what our early Galentine’s weekend in Queenstown had in store.
My bestie Jaime and I ditched the boyfs and headed to NZ’s tourism capital to get a quick escape right here in Aotearoa - ‘cause let’s be real, who has the time, money or annual leave to be heading overseas rn?
I’m an adrenaline junkie and Jaime was craving a bit of R&R, so with plenty to choose from, we went with a mix of activities to satisfy us both.
We’re talking jet-boating through the Shotover and Kawarau rivers, journeying through the history of Lake Wakatipu on the Time Tripper, sipping our way through a wine tour, and ending it all at a bougie hotel.
So, if you’re ready to treat yourself (and your bestie) to a Galentine’s getaway, here’s how to squeeze in as much as possible in the adventure capital of New Zealand.
What to do during a girls' weekend trip in Queenstown:
FRIDAY
Shotover Canyon Swing
We arrived early, grabbed our rental car (booked with our flights through Booking.com), and headed straight to the famous Shotover Canyon Swing – yes, the one made iconic by the guy who screamed “let me tell you something!” (and they have merch, too).
After being introduced to our guides - the people in charge of our lives for the day - Mike and Arnold, we realised pretty quickly that the nerves sunk in QUICK.
“Let’s go 10 minutes up the road and jump off a cliff - easy as that,” Mike said, making it sound way too simple.
The short ride felt like it could’ve been about an hour with how dead silent everyone sat as we navigated the windy road to the swing.
Of course, being such polite gals, we obvs let everyone else take to the swing first - barely hiding the fact our hearts were pounding out of our chests.
When it was our turn to dangle 109m above the river, we had to decide how we wanted Mike and Arnold to drop us into terror. Options included Spartan-style (being kicked off by an instructor’s foot), hanging upside down, or falling backward off a deck chair, but we chose for the rope to be cut with a knife - for whatever god-forsaken reason we came up with at the time.
They made us WAIT - I slowly watched Arnold cut each and every individual thread and when the final one could no longer hold our weight, it SNAPPED, and we plummeted into the craziest adrenaline rush ever.
Once the free fall turned into a smooth swing, surrounded by stunning Queenstown scenery, I almost didn’t want it to end.
But alas, we were pulled back up, greeted with applause from the other swingers, proud to see us face our fears.
The best part? Keeping the tattered rope as a memento of our bravery and tears shed in the lead-up.
Check into the hotel and dinner
After that adrenaline-fueled adventure, we were in desperate need of a well-earned break. So we were off to check in to the St Moritz - a stunning spot that wasn’t just all about being bougie, but as we soon discovered, sustainability too.
“In an effort to prevent thousands of pairs of disposable hotel slippers being sent to landfill each year”, they offered us reusable cotton bedsocks as a more sustainable (and cosy) alternative.
Something we were looking forward to having seen the reviews on booking.com was the super spacious room with two king single beds - yes, we both star fished while we had the chance - a TV and a decent-sized bathroom with a lovely shower, which I can confirm was just the right pressure (call me the Goldilocks of hotels, if you will).
Oh, and there were plenty of mirrors - four to be exact - which came in super handy at saving the friendship since we didn’t have to fight over who was getting ready first each day.
We had booked a Garden View room which wasn't quite as 'gram-worthy as we'd hoped, with a big wall blocking a lot of the sunlight - luckily, it was still a good place to have a cuppa and there were heaps of other breathtaking spots for a selfie.
To see what the lake view offered, we headed to the restaurant, Lombardi, where we tucked into a mega steak I struggled to finish and seafood pasta that Jaime devoured. We watched the sunset as we dug into our shared crème brûlée and chocolate brownie - the boyfs wished they were this cute.
Because we were so busy packing in activities, the buffet breakfast (included in our booking.com reservation) was an ideal and delicious time saver. Think fresh fruit salads, salmon and capers, plus made-to-order pancakes - a personal fave.
SATURDAY
Time tripper
Up bright and early to catch an animated show that takes you on a journey through the fascinating history of Lake Wakatipu - literally right under the lake itself.
I won’t spoil too much, but let’s just say we uncovered some of the most interesting details about how Queenstown transformed into the bustling tourism hub it is today.
It felt like a school field trip activity and one you’d often skip out on, but genuinely was an easy watch and gives you a deeper appreciation for Q-town.
We learned about the dinosaurs that once roamed the land, how the lake was carved out by a giant glacier and to top it all off, we got to watch the marine life swim by the giant glass window during feeding time.
KJet Jet Boat
After learning about the history of the lake, it was time for us to zoom across it. KJet conveniently took off just above the Time Triper on the wharf.
Our driver had top-tier banter, making the whole ride even more fun. We sat right up front - a big mistake if you don’t want the wind smacking you in the face!
At one point, I nearly lost my headband and sunnies, but I was too busy holding on for dear life to notice!
Flying through both the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers was wild, and the contrast between the two was crazy.
The Kawarau was a beautiful aqua colour and super wide, which made for some epic 360 turns. The Shotover was much narrower and split in loads of different directions - you never knew what path the driver was going to take.
The speed, the spins, and the spray definitely woke us up for our arvo activities.
Appellation Wine Tour
Not even an hour later we were picked up by our driver from Appellation Wine Tours in the centre of town, but quickly realised - thanks to a couple staying at the same hotel as us - that there’s an option to be picked up from your accommodation.
Our driver was an absolute legend, especially considering it was his first day on the job!
We spent three and a half blissful hours touring three premium vineyards in the southernmost wine region in the world.
Our first stop was Nockie’s Pallatte, followed by Gibston Valley, and then Waitiri Creek. Each vineyard was unique, but the standout moment was exploring one of only two wine caves in NZ - and the largest one at that.
As we enjoyed the wine and cheese platters across the three locations, we learned that our group of 10 had come together from all over the world - two couples from Colorado, a couple from Ireland, and a pair from Perth.
The vibe was fantastic, and we all connected over some great wine, later coming together for cocktails in town. All in all, the wine tour was perfect for making new friends and sampling some of the finest bevvies NZ’s Gibston region has to offer.
You might even want to book a longer tour, ‘cause this one did feel like it went by with a snap of the fingers.
SUNDAY:
Ride to Sky’s ‘Ride to Lake’ E-Bike Tour.
This was the one activity both of us were dreading - and when I say that, I mean we actually told our guide, Shay from Ride to Sky, “we’d never willingly go for a bike ride”, but when in Queenstown…
Spoiler alert: It ended up being the one we loved the most - yes, even over the wine! A shocker for two gals in their 20s, I know.
After cruising - bumpily and shakily - down the test hill, our confidence grew, and we were mentally preparing to tackle the 17.9km ahead.
It was a steep challenge, and I felt like a baby deer trying to walk for the first time, but - by some miracle - we made it to the end.
We biked through 18km of stunning Queenstown landscapes - downhill, uphill, and through forestry - just the three of us.
Along the way, we passed through a private sheep farm and headed toward the historical Shotover Bridge, which was the original entrance and exit road to Queenstown built in 1871 until it was washed away by floods in 1878 and rebuilt as a walkway.
We also explored hidden trails along the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers, all while soaking in some stunning views. Familiar ones from the previous day’s JetBoat trip. We were almost feeling like locals by now. They promise “one tour, 100 emotions!” and let me tell you, we definitely felt them all.
We were pleasantly surprised that the eBikes did most of the hard work, allowing us to pace ourselves and enjoy the scenery. But, heads up - there are a few steep sections that’ll have you questioning your fitness, even with the assistance.
It was all worth it for the sense of accomplishment, and the L&P and muesli bar with Shay at the end of the ride - honestly, I wanted to keep going… Jaime, not so much.
And just like that, after a weekend packed with both relaxation and adrenaline, you can bet we slept like babies on the trip back home.
Sophie and Jaime travelled to Queenstown as guests of Booking.com and Destination Queenstown.
