It was my first time trying go-karts and it was truly an amazing experience! My 10-year-old son had an absolute blast too. Even if you bump a little, it doesn’t hurt. Before that, we played mini golf, and it was really fun doing it with the wind blowing hard—it added to the charm!

Pop by to take a quick look during our road trip. Beautiful, powerful cars on display in the area. You would love this place if you are a race car enthusiast. Heard it will probably be one of the f1 race track in the near future from one of the locals.

Love this place, Tony has injected so much motorsport passion into NZ, recommend stopping by! Also, the team at Highlands are always so welcoming.

During our road trip through New Zealand, we stumbled upon the Highlands race track quite by chance. We were hoping that an opportunity to either drive or ride along would be available at just the right time. And I was in luck! Shortly after arriving, I was able to enjoy a very dynamic ride in a Lamborghini Huracán with a professional driver. The track is very interesting, with tight corners, fast sections through hills and valleys, and bridge crossings. I had a lot of fun and highly recommend it.

Did the 7 lap Mustang self drive. Well worth the money. Great instruction and very friendly. I would recommend. Even if you aren't a ford man like myself.

Got a voucher for my 70th. Second lap was flat out. Loved it Also had coffee and eggs bene. Great spot to eat and watch. Can't wait to go back

Absolutely amazing experience with instructor Matt during clay shooting at oxbow. The place is stunning, super indulged experience, safe, lots of rounds and worth every cent. A must try.

I recently came across the Cardenas Bra Fence, and it's definitely a creative and eye-catching installation. It's one of those quirky roadside attractions that makes you stop, smile, and take a photo. The idea of using bras to create a visual message about breast cancer awareness and women's strength is powerful, and the fence definitely stands out. It adds color and character to the landscape and invites community involvement in a lighthearted, yet meaningful way. Overall, it's a fun, iconic stop that’s both playful and symbolic. If you're passing through Cardenas or nearby, it's worth a quick visit — and maybe even contributing a bra for the cause.

We chanced upon it while driving from Queenstown to Wanaka. This is a nice stop over on the way to Wanaka. They are asking for donations for breast cancer. Seeing the fence full of bras of different sizes and designs is quite amusing hahaha. Do stop by for interesting pic if u have time.

Before heading to the Cardrona Hotel, make sure to stop by the Cardrona Bra Fence, affectionately known as “Bradrona.” This unique roadside attraction, located just down the road from the hotel, features a fence adorned with thousands of bras, each carrying personal messages and contributing to breast cancer awareness efforts.

Losing my mum to breast cancer in 2020, this was definitely something that hit home for me. Reading all the notes and bras hanging with pride had me bawling. Such a special moment to reflect and honour all our beautiful soldiers 🩷

A lovely message and worth the spot on the way through to Wanaka or Queenstown.

I did not want to miss this quirky spot while visiting the area! Found this place while driving on our way to Queenstown and sits in the middle of beautiful valley, the fence packed with a ton of bras! We found bras with some writings and funny notes from women with stories from around the world. There is donation box for NZ Breast Cancer foundation where you can contribute too to the fund. Would happily stop here again as the area is incredibly peaceful.

Yes, it is a controversial tourist attraction in Otago, New Zealand. For some, it is an eyesore and embarrassment, but for others it is just another NZ local wisdom of 'love lock bridge'. It is located on a public road reserve just at the entrance of Cardrona distillery. It you are not travelling this area, it is good to know that the location is out of main highways so you need to have a special intention to go there unless you are skiing at Cardrona.

Great explore to what people used to have back then. Impressed by the estates being preserved. Attendants at the shops open were welcoming and helpful. Definitely worth the trip.

Interesting place to stop and stretch your legs. Small gold fields style town buildings with most that you can explore inside. The whole town sits on the banks of Lake Dunstan so can be a very scenic lunch or coffee stop

A selection of old town buildings rebuilt after part of the town was flooded for the building of a dam back in the 70s. These shop fronts portray the late 1800s though so a step back in time. Worth a little wander around. A couple of places to eat and drink too.

This is an amazing spot, so much history here and its worth the walk around to see everything. Today was our very first time seeing the 'Old Cromwell ' we traveled up from Dunedin. Come check it out 😁

It's free, it's got great parking it's well set up . Interesting exhibition. Shops to browse. Recommended.

Amazing place, hands down better than Arrowtown! Try the Angus beef sausage roll at Grain Store cafe too!

Gorgeous little location. Was not expecting this, all working shops with lots of lovely gifts.

19/4/2025 We have just finished a 5 day adventure through Bike it now. All we can say is wow. A massive than you to Kate at Clyde for the exceptional experience she put together for us. From information about the trails and amazing accommodation she organised . The people we met along the way were awesome and so friendly. Food was amazing and weather spot on. Thanks again bike it Clyde and Kate. Phil and Chrissy Hobson Darren and Jo Clark

Absolutely have to do the Lake Dunstan trail when visiting the Otago Region! All the staff were fantastic at Bike It Now from organising our ride, setting up our bikes and were so friendly and knowledgeable! Add it to your to do list when visiting the beautiful towns of Clyde/Cromwell

Im usually not big on tours but fletch and her team have convinced me. It was so much more fun doing it with them, they are all delightful and the locals they work with for accommodation and food are also amazing. We loved it. Will book with them again.

My fiancé and I had an amazing experience with Bike It Now. Their attention to detail was great and we felt reassured the whole time! We did the Otago Rail Trail over 4 days, 3 nights (on e-bikes) and it was such a pleasant experience, we had lots of time to stop along the way. We can't wait to book in for the remaining trails. Thanks bike it now team!

Did the Otago Rail Trail with Bike It Now – absolutely brilliant experience! Everything was so well organised, from luxury accommodation to dinner bookings and luggage transfers. The team were incredibly informative and made the whole journey seamless — all we had to think about was pedalling, enjoying the food, and sampling some great Otago wines. Created amazing memories along the way. 100% recommended! 🚴‍♀️🍷

Our daughter booked this trip on the Otago Rail Trail from Clyde to Middlemarch for us, what a wonderful surprise. We can highly recommend Bike it now, everything was excellently organised down to the smallest detail. Our accommodation, the restaurants, everything was just superb. The scenery along the Otago Rail Trail is breathtakingly beautiful; we will never forget this trip. Our e-bikes, all the equipment and luggage transport were perfectly organised. A big thank you to the team at Bike it Now.

Today we did the ‚One Day Wonder‘ cycle tour and we are absolutely overwhelming. We have to give a very big THANK YOU to the fabulous team of Bike It Now. They are brilliant, help you with everything….., take fear away you may have because you might believe too hard 4 me‘ or whatsoever…. SUPER ! The e-bikes are very good, quite new best standard. The trip we did was breathtaking and worth every dollar, DANKESCHÖN aus Hamburg, Frank and Claudia

If anyone wants a glimpse into how corrupt these folks are, listen to the 3ep series The Underdogs, from The Outside/In podcast, produced by New Hampshire public radio. You'll get an even better picture how they've earned all the negative reviews you'll find. Truly terrible people.

DO NOT BOOK!! Do not book anything through these guys. They cancelled the day of. I am owed over $500. Won't pick up the phone or answer emails. Been over a year.

DO NOT BOOK THIS TOUR!!! So disappointed. This is the 3rd time we have been to Queenstown and we have nothing but good things to say about all the many experiences we have had. Our sled dog tour was cancelled and like so many we have not received our refund either. This has been promised in emails but now we get no response. Terrible service, we had another experience cancelled and they refunded us immediately. I fail to understand when payment is made in advance why refunds take 5 to 10 days and then not at all.

Our winter tour was cancelled by UnderDog Sled Dog tour. They agreed to refund me the money. According to their website cancellation policy, it takes 5-10 working days. However, after many text messages and phone calls, still no refund after a month. They even don’t feel any apology for their action. This shows how careless they are to their customers.

Like others our tour was rescheduled and then cancelled. A month later and still no refund... It's a considerable amount of money. Have tried to contact via email, phone and text to no avail. Please get in touch UnderDog Sled Tours. Update - We're now 2 months and counting waiting for our refund. There have been many excuses and many assurances of payment, but now texts are being ignored completely. DON'T book with these guys, they'll take your money and run.

SCAMMERS AND THEIVES: Do not book anything through these guys, if they happen to cancel your tour for some reason, which is perfectly acceptable. They will not refund your money. I have been promised a refund for 2 months now. I am owed over $500. Won't pick up the phone or answer emails.

** edit - over a YEAR later and still no refund, now ignoring all my communications. Awful awful awful. Like others my tour was cancelled and I have spent 3 months trying to get my money back to no avail. Constant lies / excuses over emails about the bank ‘rejecting the payment’ ‘finance department thought they sent it’. Terrible form.

Like others my refund is well overdue. Booking was cancelled due to Covid and met the criteria for a refund supposedly to occur in 5-10 working days . I was advised it had been “passed on to the accounts department”. Now 25 days overdue. Warning: DON’T pay in advance especially that they are taking bookings for 2023. I’m taking legal action now.

Tour was rescheduled by UnderDog and then cancelled the day of. Despite many emails still no refund. Don't bother booking, they'll just keep your money. Poor form UnderDog.

This place really impressed me! I didn't have high expectations going in but was blown away by the volume of interesting artifacts. Everything from antique spoons to X-Men toys. It also feels like they continue to add, maintain and build upon the collection and venue. Great spot, would highly recommend.

Great place to visit, brings back memories of toys from my childhood and more recent ones my kids have had. Lots of great old cars, trucks and planes. Model trains are great also. Lots of lego put together. Very good to just walk around and non stop looking at all the pieces.

A huge and great museum for automobile enthusiasts! With a myriad of cars, fighter/passenger planes, tractors, trains, tanks, ambulance, fire ambulances and model cars on display, those who are really into them could really spend hours and hours here! ✈️ 🚗 🚒 🚋 🚜 The cars aren’t really arranged in a particular fashion, with bits of an assortment kept in each hangar, with some being really dusty as they are kept on sand, perhaps for a particular reason. The model cars selection wasn’t too huge, though there’s some unique Oxford ones i haven’t seen before - can’t find a souvenir to bring home unfortunately.. Definitely a must visit if you are into automobiles, particularly classic ones!

This is a bit of a hard one because I loved a lot about the place and certainly the idea of it. Undoubtedly the collection is impressive and almost too much to take in. And it's understandable that the upkeep of such a private collection is no doubt costly and time consuming. It's definitely impressive, but also basically more like several sheds full of stored stuff than a 'museum'. Still recommend a visit but don't expect a pristine display, more of someone's clear love for collecting an interesting and large eclectic store of items, mostly in an as-is condition and squeezed into very limited available space. If you like nostalgia, especially toys, you will love exploring this space and spending several hours. Enjoy it for what it is. If you have very high expectations, you might be disappointed.

The Vintage Transportation Museum is a great place to visit. It has a full range of classic cars on display, all very well kept and interesting to see. There’s also a wonderful collection of old-time toys, which adds extra charm and nostalgia. It’s an enjoyable spot for both car lovers and families. Highly recommended!

This is one of the most enjoyable 2 hours I have spent in a museum. So much to see and just when you think you have seen something, look up and there is more. Old cars, planes , toys, there is so much to see.

What an amazing afternoon out. This was so much fun - look at this, look at this; remember this, remember this, remember this. Unbelievable long time collection of not just popular memorabilia, amazing Lego, match box, meccano, Hornby, Barbie and on and on but vintage cars, ambulances, planes, fire trucks, motorbikes, phones, sewing machines and anything and everything. Couldn’t have even imagined, something for everyone

A must visit lake in New Zealand and I personally love this more than tekapo 😆

Picturesque lake and town that has a really nice laid back vibe to it. Very different to its bigger bustling tourist town cousin of Queenstown. The mountains with snow on the peaks with the clear water make for some great photos. The walk around the lakes edge is nice and flat and perfect for a stroll. The town has a good selection of shops, cafes, restaurants and bars. Loved it.

Beautiful lake with chalets and hotels lining is shores on the one end and massive mountain ranges on the other. Roy's peak is accessed from here which is a hike that takes you to that place you see on Instagram with sprawling views of the lake in all its glory. For the less adventurous, there are kayaks available to rent and other adventure activities

The must beautiful lake

A highlight of the town and a nice place for walking around. I appreciated that there were so many nice public toilets, especially in the part that touches the town. It just means that anyone can really spend a long time at the lake and chill there.

Small little town and a big lake. The famous tree is about a 15 minute walk from the town and can be done near the road or the water. The tree is much closer to the edge of the lake than expected, and much smaller than the photos. Nice pit stop in between a long car or bus ride. The weather can change the experience, definitely plan ahead if this is something you want to include in your trip!

A special tree that can give you great inspiration ! The Roys Bay of Lake Wanaka is only a a very small beach but there stands a very special and expensive tree. People call it the "Lone Tree" This willow tree submerged just off the shoreline of Roys bay in Lake Wanaka has become an iconic feature of the town . This photo album is only for this one tree ! Hope you like it .

Great service from Shebikeshebikes meant we had a great day on the trail. We were a really mixed group in terms of experience and ability, but electric bikes and the crew's recommendation for what trail to ride meant we all had a fabulous time. Thanks for the care you took making sure we had what we needed. Ngā mihi!

Maree and I have just done the Dunstan and Roxburgh Gorge trails with Shebikeshebikes, having done the rail trail some years ago. Service was again excellent - shuttle drivers Pail and Tony were great - on time, adaptable and very helpful. Cara in the Clyde office contacted us to say we could get picked up earlier which was appreciated. Mechanic Matthew (I think) at Clyde made a couple of overnight tweaks to the bikes to make day 2 even better. The bikes (Superior E bikes) were brilliant, plenty of power and comfort, and they worked well in the rain on Day 2 Overall 5 star service from a 5 star team

This was my first taste of Otago trails. Staying at Ranfurly, I chose to ride what was recommended to be the best section of the Otago Rail Trail, ie Omakau to Ranfurly. Shebikeshebikes were able to shuttle me and my ebike to Omakau from where I was able to cycle the trail back to the motor camp at Ranfurly. Shebikeshebikes provided the perfect service; a very enjoyable drive with a lovely driver and at a remarkably reasonable cost. P.S. Two days later I used Shebikeshebikes to shuttle me and my bike from Clyde to Cromwell so I could ride the amazing Lake Dunstan Trail back to Alexandra Holiday Park. Again the shuttle service was superb.

We had an absolutely unforgettable day on the Lake Dunstan Trail with She Bikes He Bikes. The ride itself was spectacular. Amazing variety of scenery with a balance of challenging riding, incredible views, and fun made it feel like a real adventure rather than just another bike ride. The logistics were seamless bike fit, helmet, full briefing, support along the trail everything was taken care of so we could just enjoy the ride. If you are in Central Otago and looking for a day tour that delivers both thrills and scenery, this is it. She Bikes He Bikes made it all happen in such a professional way.

Amazing experience with shebikeshebikes on the Otago Rail Trail. Service was great before the trip, prompt and clear communication, and on the trip. Bikes worked well, shuttle bus and luggage transport was great. Suggested accommodation on the trail was also wonderful. Thanks for a great experience!

Very satisfied repeat customers having biked both Clutha Gold and Otago Central Rail Trail with Shebikeshebikes. Great service, very comfortable bikes, and some wonderful accomodation options we never would have found by ourselves..

Hired an E bike for my lovely wife to do a portion of the rail trail. Really easy to deal with, plenty of information. They even have an after hours return option. Nice bike that was well maintained. No chance of keeping up with her on my 'normal' bike. Perfect way to see the rail trail.

After using Hayes fence tensioner for years I had to visit here. What a brilliant stop. Most impressed there was enough foresight to keep and maintain thus grate piece of NZ history

Hannah's Kitchen delivers truly exquisite delicious almost Michelin star quality cabinet food and a chalk board menu too. Beautiful outdoor and indoor seating in an historical environment of old stone buildings and engineering works. Definitely a"not-to-be missed" opportunity to indulge in some of the best small savories and sweets you can find in NZ. Well worth stopping in for just a coffee or more, even if not visiting the fabulous engineering workshop and displays.

Considering the isolated location; this Cafe is simply the BEST...!! The staff, coffee & baked items sublime. Well done ladies, call in for the Cafe alone!! 💜💜

Well worth the visit if you have interest in the history, and the food n drink at the cafe was excellent as well

Ducked in here for a bit of lunch whilst peddling. Very tasty pie and nice gardens. Was too stingy to pay $15 to see the Hayes Engineering workshops which I found afterwards was my mistake as it's highly rated!

What an interesting place to visit! My children had a blast (although it may have been easier if we'd put our 2 year old in the pram!) lovely friendly people who stayed open after closing to let us have a good look around! Thank you! Best cheese scone ever too plus delicious juices and a lovely gift shop!

Really lovely cafe with friendly owners and staff. We had lunch and coffee, which was lovely and homemade. I got beef nachos, carrot cake and an oat latte (they have oat and soy milk!) The site itself was also interesting. Self-guided tour of old engineering works and the old home of Earnest and Hannah Hayes who settled on the site in the late 1800s. Worth a visit! Great stop on the Otago Rail Trail

Beautiful pit stop from mtcook to queenstown. You get to see valleys and infinite horizon, making this one of the underrated hidden gems to do a quick stop for photos

A must see ! Very picturesque. Make sure you've got boots in autumn , so you can check out the viewpoint just off the road. It's full of slush. Such a beautiful view and lots of opportunities to pull over safely and take photos.

Nice place to stop the car and stretch the legs. Walk around the stop and see other cars zooming pass at the top. Some wildflowers sprouting in the harsh soil conditions add a bit of colour pop!

These valleys are beautiful in different seasons. It is deserted and reminds me of driving in the Desert Road in North Island but with amazing mountain views..

We were on a road trip from Christchurch to Queenstown and stopped along the way for some amazing views. We were blown away by the beautiful scenic views of the snow capped mountains. Well worth stopping or taking a drive to visit. So beautiful and scenic. Loved it.

Decent panoramic views of the Lindis pass. We passed by on the way to Queenstown, from Aoraki, in autumn. The views are not exactly spectacular, but worth the short walk and stopover.

Remember to stop by at Lindis Pass lookout as it has one of the most amazing landscape views along highway 8. There is a small lookout just next to the highway, so it's just simply to take this as a short stop before continue your trip. The view is amazing and magnificent.

Our breakfast/brunch spot after coming down from Mt Cook, which turned out to be a very good meal! 🏔️ firstly, the view out of the cafe was amazing, and it even came with a fireplace which attracted many diners to take photos with! There’s also several sheep out at the back of the cafe, though they aren’t fully engaged with us 🐑 ☕ coffee was alright, ordered the large one and shared it with my wife 🥞 the pancakes were amazing, opted for the yoghurt option with additional bacon and absolutely loved it - definitely helped that there’s a good amount of maple syrup, which made it sinful yet delicious. The fruits and yoghurt helped a little with the diet for sure though 🤤 Avocado toast was good as well, mushrooms was well flavoured and the portion was good enough to fill us up for hours. Definitely a good spot to stop by for a meal or just check out their shop!

A pit stop for us between Tekapo and Wanaka in the small town of Omarama but what a find. This place is excellent for a travel break if driving or if you are on a coach trip as many did. We ordered choc fudge cake and drinks …all were great. The selection of food available was very good and the brekkies served looked huge. Highly recommend plus if it’s a cold day they will probably have the open fire on the go!!

Super cute place that we stepped in while taking a break during our roadtrip. We were super surprised by the cute decor and the friendly atmosphere. We didn‘t try any of the food but there were some nice options available. The drinks (Mocca and Americano) were great. We also enjoyed strolling through the shops afterwards. The bathrooms were super clean and cozy as well. Would definitely come back!

What a great place to stop. Lots of home-made food on offer. We stopped for a morning coffee but had to have the sausage roll, best I have ever had. We took some carrot cake for the road. Got to speak to the owner, lovely person. Coffee and hot chocolate were sensational.

I love it here!!! Favourite road trip stop of the weekend. Loved sitting by the fire place with our coffees. Takeaway or sit in options for sandwiches, great for people driving through for a quick stop. Also there are pies, yay. Plus there’s a store with clothing from the wool. Wish could have stayed for longer. But I enjoyed my quick visit and would suggest for anyone to stop here😊

We stopped for coffee and the loo on the way to Queenstown. It has a lovely fireplace so on a dull rainy day it's a perfect stop. It's a bit big a "tour group" stoping place though, so not a cosy quiet atmosphere. Cofee was average but service was excellent.

This cafe was a lovely stop on our way up to Lake Pukaki with our 13 month old daughter. I especially love the fresh flowers they put up around the cafe when opening in the morning, it really adds a nice touch and shows they like to make it a nice experience for customers. Service was friendly, coffee and food came out quickly and we both enjoyed our meals. They have high chairs available for babies, great grab and go food options if you’re in a pinch and clean toilets. It’s attached to a lovely gift shop with leather goods, soaps, etc. If we have time we’ll likely come back for lunch on our way back from our day trip.

A lovely spot to spend a relaxing time in the hot tub whilst looking out over a little pond and enjoying the wildlife. Shame there aren't showers in the pods next to the hot tub (we were in 2) they may be in others though. We went straight after walking round the clay cliffs so a shower before we got in would have been great but I wasn't about to have one in the main building and run to the hot tub!

We came here as a stop by for our honeymoon, we had just come from a wet, cold, freezing Milford sounds which we had just spent $250 on a cruise. These hot tubs were God sent. This absolutely transformed our trip around, we would trade that $250 on the Milford cruise EVERYDAY. I cannot rate this place higher enough, the lovely lady we met while we were there on the 02/10 was amazing, engaging and supportive. The staff were exceptional. This will be a staple recommendation for when people ask us what to do on their South Island trips

Amazing hot tub & sauna! Private and peaceful, right next to a lovely pond with gorgeous view of the mountains. Perfect place to relax after a cold rainy day in Mt Cook. Very clean and well-maintained facilities. Highly recommended!

Nice wood heated hot tub experience. Pool very hot - added some cold water to adjust better for us- you can adjust the temp up or down. Pools are private and clothing optional. Pretty views over pond/ducks and to hills. You are given water to drink. You can buy drinks from them (full bar). No outside food or drink allowed. Private cold shower available at the tub or warm showers at main building for after. Towels are provided. The cold shower felt good though after getting so warm in tub. Really enjoyed our private hot tub experience.

AMAZING! Highly recommend a stop here if you're in the area. The tub was on the side of a lake with the snowy mountains in the distance, talk about views! Loved that the water is so fresh. Very cool the tubs are heated by fire too. The facilities were immaculate, very clean! Loved being able to jump out of the tub and have a fresh, cold shower, then hop back in the tub. Privacy was amazing, we had our own changing rooms. The staff were super friendly too, thanks!

My son and I popped in for a gorgeous 90min session two weeks ago. It had been a dream of mine to visit for at least a decade. I'm so glad we did! Such a beautiful experience - a nice hot tub with perfect post card views.. Thanks for having us. We'll be back next year 💛

Beautiful way to spend the morning, we booked the private sauna & Tub combo. Both hot and ready to go when we arrived. Cool shower outside the Sauna was great. A warm welcoming and clear instructions on arrival as well as towels to borrow which would be great for those passing through unprepared! A photo of the sauna as we struggled to find any online to show what kind of heater is used. Will definitely be back!

Since so many good reviews we make a special trip here to try. We have ordered the fresh salmon, some sushi's to try it. Salmon meat tasted good the the cut is thicker comparing to other restaurants. We tried the chicken sushi, personally find it is not that great. The indoor sitting area is not too big so could sit outside especially in warm day.

An absolute must visit! I am glad I came here. There is a sashimi and smoked salmon section with other goods like tea pots, souvenirs and then there is a cafe which overlooks the salmon farm. They have sashimi that tastes buttery and rich and smoked salmon with various flavours (really liked it). Inside the cafe they also serve sushi. If you go outside on the deck there are pellets that you can feed the young salmon. Overall, very pleasant experience. Staff were friendly and helpful. Thank you to the young lady in the fish shop and deli, you were helpful and also thank you to the tall young guy in the cafe.

Popped here for dinner whilst staying in twizel! There is a mix of preprepared food and menu items - seating is all self service! The food was very tasty we got a few things to share! The salmon was all very tasty! Only issue we had was my dad wanted a well done steak which they only cook their steak to be medium rare.

Had dinner at High Country Salmon near Twizel — great experience overall! The salmon sashimi was fresh, tender, and full of flavour. The chowder was a little on the salty side, but the ingredients tasted very fresh. The fries were perfectly cooked — crispy on the outside and fluffy inside. A nice spot to enjoy good salmon dishes with a lovely atmosphere by the water.

Unfortunately, this restaurant did not meet my expectations. While the salmon was fresh, the sushi itself was cold and tasted as though it had been pre-prepared. I ordered the cooked salmon sushi and the pork belly, but neither dish was enjoyable. The view is decent, but overall, the experience did not justify the visit. I do not plan on returning.

It is different that you order and pay for your food. You then find your own seats and they deliver you with the food. We ordered platter for two. Nice presentation but if you are there for the salmon, order salmon sushi or sashimi only which we should have done. We stayed at Mount Cook Hermitage and this Salmon restaurant would be the closest at 60 km away. Also it is 3km from Twizel, a small village from Mount Cook that you can get reasonable priced food.

Came after the hype and the place was busy with people when we got there. We had to line up for quite long for food orders. When it was our turn the server told us that their kitchen was closed as they had too many orders to make and couldn’t make new orders anymore. We were very disappointed of course as we came all the way to try their salmon and all we could get was anything ready at the counter. We got some sashimi and sushi for sharing. Honestly they tasted average though salmon was fresh. They had a pond behind the restaurant where you could feed the fishes in it. We quickly finished our lunch as the place was busy and people were waiting for seats. We then went over to the shop next to the restaurant to have a look at what they sell.

Honestly, should be a 4.5 star Sashimi is fresh and neatly packed with chopsticks and soy sauce and wasabi. Smoked salmon tastes good when eaten with sandwich. The view is great, but can be hot in the afternoon. Small shop but serves it's purpose well as a pit stop. Many tourists, toilet is clean.

Like many other tourists, we visited this place. Sashimi was nice and fresh. It seems prices are always increasing. 100gm for $15. 500gm large was $53. I also tried the hot smoked salmon to try. Prices are better than High Country Salmon if you want to only try sashimi only.

When you come to Mount Cook, you must try the salmon sashimi here. This shop is more suitable for takeaway or a simple meal. There’s only one table inside, but there are several outdoor tables where you can enjoy delicious food by the riverside while admiring the scenery and the distant Mount Cook.

The salmon was super delicious and incredibly crunchy, with a perfectly balanced taste. We came back twice! The sashimi is genuinely unbeatable. It was quite windy to sit outside, and finding an empty spot inside this small shop was a challenge. With better weather, the experience would be completely perfect.

Salmon that melts in your mouth like butter… and the most stunning views of Mount Cook! You’ll definitely want to make a stop here. Located next to the i-site. Plenty of parking for all vehicle types, and clean public toilets. This is a great place for a leisurely picnic, coffee or a quick snack on the banks of Lake Pukaki. There are picnic tables along the water front, and a picture perfect spot for noteworthy Instagram posts. The Salmon Shop has the cleanest sashimi I’ve ever tasted. So deliciously melt-in-your-mouth. It was the best I’ve ever had. They have small containers with about 10 to 12 pieces for $15, served with wasabi and soy. Their smoked salmon dip is $15 each or 20% off if you buy two (which we did). This was a beautiful treat we enjoyed later at sunset paired with a lovely crisp glass of Pinot Gris. They also sold fresh caviar and wasabi, different cuts of salmon, crackers and some great condiments that pair beautifully. You could also purchase cold drinks, filter coffee, tea, and a yummy hot “lemon honey and ginger” drink (which was so good we came back for seconds). This was great for soothing my partner’s sore throat he’d been struggling with. A small section of the shop had upmarket tourist souvenirs which were far better than many of the junky things you might find at the usual tourist shop. Whether you’re a salmon lover or not I definitely recommend a stop here. The view alone is worth Gold, and I’m sure you’ll be a sashimi convert once you’ve tried this most delicious treat!

Fresh salmon and with the best view to eat at. I would recommend if you are in the area. People had also brought their own noodles to eat with salmon. Which I thought was a great idea

Fresh salmon sashimi that are cut too small. Very nice view around the place (scenery is not part of the shop, is free). Quite expensive, $15 for 100g (1 small box). Place is often crowded but they serve very fast.

Lake Pukaki is perfectly positioned at the foot of Southern Alps. The scenery around will blow your mind away. We might have seen such pictures as the backdrop of calendars during my childhood. But never imagined such a beautiful place. The area is famous for Salmon & salmon farms too. This aquamarine colour due to the glacial flour will leave you mesmerized.

Pale water holds the mountain's gaze, A sheet of ice, in sunlit haze. The Southern Alps, in jagged crown, Reflect their snow on water down. The air is thin, the light is gold, A silence ancient, grand, and old. Upon the shore, the tussocks sigh, Beneath a vast and endless sky. Lake Pukaki, a turquoise gleam, The color of a waking dream. It drinks the melt from Tasman's feet, A glacial, breathtaking retreat.

Lake located on the road to Mt Aorangi, lake has some spectacular views and lookouts galore. Can see clear around the valley on a nice day.

It’s so beautiful here! You also can see Mount Cook in the distance.

Our coach passed beautiful Lake Pukaki on the way to Mount Cook, which became visible from quite a distance. The entire lake is an almost perfect and consistent aquamarine, from the glacial runoff silt.

Definitely worth a couple of visits! You can get even closer to the mountains when you drive towards Mount Cook. The lake is an endless body of turquoise blue. There is plenty of parking available. Toilet facilities are not the best though.

Beautiful place to have look on Mount Cook. It gives beautiful look with several other mountains. It's very big and spread in large area till Mount cook.. Drive along with this lake gives you a very sceneric beauty. Even if you wanna dark star view. Than it's a best place to see. By going more along with lake (not on main road) side road. You can get good spot which will give a broad view of sky and definitely you will get too many stars and planets (satellites too if you lucky enough).

Booked thr GYG. Thanks helicopter line for the awesome experience on the Heli Hike on 24th Sept 11am (really thankful for the good weather too). We had 2 guides with us and they were both very informative and caring. Appreciate the smooth heli ride too.

Better than we could have ever imagined. Trip of a lifetime. Views were breathtaking & the experience outstanding. All staff have been fabulous even when we were first cancelled. Ground guys couldn’t do enough & went the extra mile to ensure our memorial was special - thx for the glasses. Josh our pilot was uber cool, we were in safe hands. Highly recommend, we can’t thank you all enough.

Kia ora, Thanks for your arrangement that I DO enjoyed the activity. I never see such magnificent views , that is more than awesome. Emma from Alpine Guides is really a thoughtful and professional instructor,Scott and Andy are also with kindness to inspire me up, that did release me from nervous mode. I hope we can meet up again. Sincerely, Helen

Honestly, the experience itself was decent, but the reason I’m rating three stars is I can’t help but feel like this was a bit of a tourist trap… and I left feeling slightly cheated. For about $1000 per person you get taken on a very short helicopter ride to do a 100m “hike” on Tasman Glacier. The hike isn’t really a hike, more a very short walk to two “caves” in the glacier. One of the caves was completely man made with pickaxes - which isn’t what this company advertises. The ice caves themselves look NOTHING like they do in the photos on the website - in reality they are very small and barely enough for one person. They’re not even really “caves” at all, more like just small holes in the ice that the guides carve out seats in If this experience were half the price it was I would still say it was overpriced. You are not going to get the grand meters tall ice walls they show you in the brochure Our guides on the other hand were great, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic - which is the reason I did not give two stars. If you’re debating doing this trip because of the high price, I’d say skip it and save your money - there’s so much other great stuff to spend your money on in the South Island Also, guys, for $1000 it would be nice if you supplied boots in all sizes - I had to wear boots that were nearly two sizes too big. What are we doing here?

Simply amazing glacial walk experience with the best guide one would ever wish for - Narly. He seems to be a bit of a local legend having been up Mt Cook 45 times and even Everest! Extremely insightful experience which shows the real dynamic nature of glaciers.

Our guide, Carey, was amazing and watches over our safety really closely. He’s very engaging and made all of our comfortable from the beginning. High recommend this tour to view the tasman glacier as you’ll be in good hands.

Went helihiking with Brian. Great hike, easy and interesting. Brian really knows his stuff. Made the walk back to Glenntanner an incredible experience.

The museum is dedicated to Sir Edmund Hillary while he was in Aoraki training in preparation for his ascent on Everest. It also has the 1st glacier landing plane located there. Awesome 👌

This is attached to the hermitage hotel it has a large shop selling hiking gear but quite expensive it has very few general items. The cafe on the first floor is welcome after the hiking but can get very crowded when the tours return. There is a small museum

My wife is really interested in Sir Edmund Hillary and we were really interested in visiting the museum. Don't bother. Most of the museum talks above the alpine centre and area itself. Yes, I find that somewhat interesting, but paying $25 per adult I thought I'd get more. Get a free month on Netflix and watch some documentaries instead.

Save yourself $25 and just don't bother with this. Vaguely interesting yes but at the end of the day it is poorly presented and isn't much more than a small collection of books and photos. So much more could be done to present the story of this man in an amazing way. Until then save yourself the money

We were only visitors for a short stay. Haven't made good use of this centre. You can get information here and can also buy supplies for the climbing the snow mountains. There' s also a museum and movie to watch. It's a pity that we didn't have time to enjoy all these. Hope I can stay a few days here next time when I came.

A great perspective o the history of the nz Alps and sir Edmund Hilary.

Tourist trap. You spend there 20 minutes for $25. Mount Cook National Park visitor centre nearby is much better and free.

Unforgettable Adventure on Ice! The Glacier Explorer tour was an incredible experience! Cruising among icebergs on the Tasman Lake, right next to the glacier face, was surreal. The guides were knowledgeable and friendly, making it fun and educational. A once-in-a-lifetime chance to get up close to a glacier – absolutely worth it!

Well organised and significant care factor throughout, we initially had to cancel due to poor weather and were put in a wait list, they had a cancellation on a following day and we were called straight away. Ben was an excellent guide and shared lots of interesting facts and made the tour. Icebergs and scenery were amazing, highly recommend to anyone visiting for a unique experience.

First time on a glacier, first time in front of an iceberg, first time tasting ice that’s tens of thousands of years old. Our guide, Tara, made the whole experience even more enjoyable: she was punctual, precise, kind, and attentive to every passenger on the boat. For my wife and me, it was a truly one-of-a-kind experience — one we’ll probably never get to repeat (at least not until our next trip to New Zealand).

Worth a visit Need to hike before reaching the boarding point and hike back after that Need to leave the bags then wear safety vest. Safety briefing on the boat. Informative and educational tour about the glaciers. Get to go up close and also taste the glaciers Our guide was awesome, he would rotate the boat to ensure everyone had good views, also helped us to take photos Windy and cooling when boat is speeding.

Ben our guide was top notch. Super knowledgeable and funny. Didn’t want the experience to end. 5 stars! - from your Scotland crew 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Great experience it's a must do if your in the area, bit of a hike from the car park to the boats.

This excursion is a MUST if you're visiting queenstown. It was our favourite activity (and we did lots of them). We drove to the Hermitage hotel (3 hours from Queenstown) and back in one day. You can also stay there. Anton, our guide, eat knowledgeable and friendly and made the experience excellent. Thank you for a beautiful day

Been planning this visit for 2 years now. Finally got the chance to go but unfortunately the Hooker Valley Track has been closed from the first bridge onwards. It is set to open Autumn 2026. So hopefully we make it for that next year. Otherwise, everything was so stunning. Seeing Mt.Cook right in front of me made me feel some sort of emotion- i cannot describe . I will definitely be going again in the winter.

If you are in New Zealand and you didn’t visit Mount Aoraki then it is a bog miss, not fulfilled of your trip. It is a mind blowing view from any place, the road trip is awesome and refreshing journey. The picture you will be taken will not present how beautiful the serenity is. Just be there, spend some time, be quiet, make your own way, stop somewhere and breathe.

Wonderful, soring mountains, glacier and native bush walks. Can be busy, but tracks are well built for the numbers. Take your time to soak or all in. DOC information centre worth a visit for informative display.

The Aoraki/Mt Cook NP Visitors Center is one of the best I have ever explored. I have a particular interest in exploration, trekking, and history of those activities. If you do too, it is well worth an hour or so of your time. Mt Cook has been a proving ground for great mountaineers and the center documents many of those who passed through. The presentations on rescues was fascinating too. It was also the first I've seen that gives props to the first women explorers. First females, essentially climbing in dresses, had great stories.

This tourist center is worth a visit for everyone. It showcases the history, development and construction process of Mt. Cook, as well as the protection of the mountain's environment and wildlife.

I recently lost my prescription glasses at Kea Point, Mt Cook, and assumed they were gone for good. Out of chance, I contacted the Department of Conservation with a short note describing them. Within minutes, Sandra from the Mt Cook team replied, confirmed they had been found, and offered to post them back to me. The efficiency and care were impressive, and it was a reminder of the professionalism behind New Zealand’s conservation services. Thank you to Sandra and the Mt Cook wildlife conservation team for the prompt support and assistance.

While we were watching the movie (which is very interesting!), we essentially got kicked out of the building at 11:30AM by the tenant, because it’s here lunch hour!!!! So my understanding is that no matter how many people are in there (we must have been about 20 or more, the parking is full), she emptied the building so she can have here lunch. I’m fine with people taking a break, don’t get me wrong, but isn’t there a better way to treat visitors who drove hours to get there? This is an internationally famous area, with loads of visitors year round! While the video explains how proud the Kiwis are about Aoraki Mount Cook, a Kiwi kicked if out of the visitor center! Now, this being said, if you can get in when it’s open, it’s beautiful in there, great book shop and exhibitions. But here we are in the car, watching groups after groups get turned around at the door!!

We were so lucky to have a snow fall in October so we could enjoy having fun in the patches around. Visited the café and the visitors centre

“Mount Cook is beautiful in every way. The drive there is so good with amazing views all around. Snowy mountains, fresh air, and peaceful nature make it feel like heaven. A perfect place to relax and enjoy.”

The trip and hiking to Aoraki / Mt. Cook has been really interesting. The natural beauty and views of the natural environment there has been vibrant and amazing, the glacier there had dated to be thousands plus years old. Temperature drops significantly as you further hike up the altitudes. One of the most visitors and tourist attractive geographical feature in South Island, New Zealand.😍😊

Very nice view. 1st we went at evening and because it bevome sark early, then we come back next day. My kids very happy to play with snow

Loved going up there it's a good change of scenery away from city life

A beautiful outdoor hiking experience. The mountain views,river valleys and trails are absolutely worth the trip.

Lovely place. I went here with a tour. Hoping that I’ll visit the place again and do some camping!

Absolutely stunning view of Tekapo and the MacKenzie Country. Be aware though that the road may be closed at anytime due to bad weather particularly windy weather so watch out for that. Would definitely recommend to anyone who likes looking out over the world.

The place was very interesting! We leaned about the telescopes and the astrophotography viewings. The area was really beautiful! The cafe's food was also great!

This is a ABSOLUTE MUST see if you visit Lake Tekapo. Make time to come up here on a sunny day and see for MILES around. The view from the top is INSANE. See the pics that I posted. We visited, luckily on a CRYSTAL CLEAR sunny day and it was AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL..... There is also a cafe at the top where you can have coffee and some snacks/food to enjoy while you are up there

A good place to have coffee from Astro Cafe. The entrance to the complex cost 8 NZD. The view from the top is beyond stunning. You can watch how visitors of all origins posing for pictures in different styles; this alone is also interesting in addition to the view.

Beautifull sights over Lake Tekapo from Here. Just do not take the car to get here, you’ll be charged 8 dollars. Walk the track starting from close to the tekapo springs, it’ll be way more fun with even better views (away from the insta crowd) if you’ll do the full round when going back along the lake. Rec with nice weather!

I'm sure the view is spectacular but the $14 road users fee to get there and see essentially no more than what I've seen on the way here (Mnt Cook and surrounds) for free I couldn't justify it. Would have bought breakfast and coffee whilst up there otherwise. 4 stars due to road fee.

The 2hour hike path was worth it! Not too difficult and got to see the great view on the way up! We drove up again, very nice views with a lovely cafe up there!

This world-famous landmark has received countless praises — especially during lupin season, on every star-filled night, and in that iconic view where the cross in the window aligns perfectly with the deep blue of Lake Tekapo. And truly, it deserves every bit of that admiration. But what surprised me most is how stunning it becomes in harsh weather. I once visited during heavy snowfall, and the scene felt completely different: vast, silent, almost otherworldly. The sense of emptiness and solitude — like a landscape where “no birds fly over the endless mountains, and no footprints can be found on the snowy paths” — stands in sharp contrast to the usual crowds and bright, calm days. People often say you need good weather to enjoy a place, but for the Church of the Good Shepherd, every kind of weather is a unique stroke of luck. I’ve visited many times, and I know I’ll return many more times in this lifetime.

Small rustic church facing the magnificent lake tekapo. Would have loved to attend the Sunday sermons here if given the time and opportunity. Come early or later into the day where there are less crowds fo better photos.

Original we stopped by about 2pm but there were heaps of people, parking is crazy and it wasn’t easy to take pictures so we went back at 8:30pm for sunset and it was so much better. The church is closed and quiet and you can spend as long as you want taking pictures. Please be mindful this is a functioning church and you need to respect that!

Beautiful Church that was built by Anglicans but is used by different sects for worship. Plenty of parking but the church closes at 5pm for tourists. It is important for tourists to remember that it is a sacred place, I think the church should do more to ensure that people outside do not talk too loud. Otherwise, a beautiful location and cosy architecture.

Lovely little church on the edge of Lake Tekapo. Famous for just being a stone church is a beautiful location. We entered during a service so no internal photos but outside it is very picturesque. If you want a photo with no one around then I suggest an early morning visit as popular with the tourist coaches.

2nd time visiting this scenic place, after my 1st visit 8 years ago. Stands out for its solitude beside beautiful Lake Tekapo and the gorgeous mountains in the background. Much more crowded this time compared to many years ago. Still, a not to be missed place.

Even though we visited in early November — and came for sunrise, sunset, and even during the night for some stargazing — there were still quite a lot of people around, which is understandable though. At a certain hour the area around the church gets closed off, so afterward you can only walk around the fence, but it’s nothing too inconvenient. There’s a beautiful photo spot by the water just behind the church.

Statue of a Collie dog with the inscription that without the help of these animals they could not have farmed this land. Beautiful location on the shore of this beautiful lake. You should take a trip up the hill which has beautiful views over the lake and mountains

Just a simple sheepdog statue on a rock on the sides of Lake Tekapo. Not sure if this was intentional, you have the Good shepherd Church nearby and you have the Sheepdog that shepherds the sheep - celebrating 2 different shepherds ..

Lovely statue memorial to the Sheepdog (Border Collie) and wonderful views of the lake.

Humble little tribute right next to the Church of the Good Shepherd. Worth a quick stop, especially if you appreciate the history of the region.

Beautiful and meaningful statue, the sheepdog memorial located just a short walk away (100m) from The Church of the Good Shepherd. Least visitor as compared to the church itself , if you are around the corner I recommend you to drop by.

You can never go wrong with a statue dedicated to dogs.

Since it is next to the church, just visit it. Nothing interesting about this statue.