I ventured in a Mussel Cruise Tuesday just gone absolutely loved it and definitely have plans to do it again with my mother I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to enjoy the beautiful Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds even a complimentary glass of wine and fresh steamed mussels yummy scenic and relaxing with a knowledgeable crew thanks Bruce and John will join you boys again soon oh and cannot forget the fabulous Jacqui @ Marlborough Tour Company either 😁 10/10

Interesting commentary. Beautiful freshly caught mussels served generously with a delicious white wine.

Fantastic afternoon cruising the Marlborough Sounds with a glass of wine and as many freshly steamed mussels as we could eat!

We had a most amazing experience on this cruise. The friendly crew made it unforgettable. Penny the skilled skipper, Nicolle for preparing those yummy mussels and looking after the drinks ( and even swimming with me!) and to Chris for being so informative and friendly. Thank you again xx

2nd time for me doing the Mussel Cruise, but the first time for my wife and even the first time in the South Island for her. Penny and Nicole were fabulous. Love the all girl crew and Nicole even got my wife to try a Mussel!! Great local knowledge from Penny. We would definitely be keen on the all day mail cruise when we come back.

Best cruise experience ever! Loved mussels for long time but never have tried them so fresh and natural. Highly recommended as ‘must do’ to experience the Marlborough sounds at their finest

Had the most amazing picture perfect day on Pelorus Sound. Penny and the crew were special hosts and offered both helpful and interesting commentary and, the most amazing mussels paired with the best Sauvignon Blanc! Highly recommended!

Absolutely beautiful winery . W took some work mates there to introduce them to wine tastings that staff we friendly and knowledgeable. You can tell thay really enjoy their job and a passionate about what thay do . Would 100% recommend this as a must do . Even left with a couple of bottles to share with the wife when I return home

Quite a lot of fuss with long waiting times. Reservations are essential. The wine and Perlorus sparkling wine (which, logically, cannot be called champagne) are very tasty. We particularly loved the classic Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. A fantastic wine. However, there are wineries in the surrounding area that have a cosier atmosphere, offer equally good wine and are not so pretentious.

Wine is of course impeccable, but I would give the restaurant a miss. Service was excellent though food did not fully hit the spot. Come for the wine, lunch elsewhere

Outstanding wine, we did 2 of the tastings and both were excellent, the 2025 Sav is the best I've ever had. I was also given a free glass of bubbles for my birthday, will be back again! Beautiful cellar door.

Visited cloudy bay for the first time on sunday. Beautiful exterior, easy to find and park, wood fire was lovely inside, we loved the indulge wine tasting really enjoyed it. Their sav. Blanc and pinot noirs are stand outs. We were looked after by a friendly and knowledgable young woman. Recommend a visit.

I visited Cloudy Bay for a wine tasting and signed up for a $30 tasting of five different wines. The staff brought me a single wine glass, and instead of changing glasses between tastings, they poured all five wines—rosé, white, and red—into the same glass one after another. Naturally, the flavors got mixed. I had high expectations, so I was quite disappointed.

We are tourist from The Netherlands and we found this Vineyard by surprise. We attended at the sunset movie screening and it was amazing. The wine was so good, there was live music, the food was excellent, staff was super friendly. We will be returning here for a wine tasting on the way back during our holiday. On extra: did the winetasting as well. Got the 5 course one wich was 30ndz. The guy giving the winetasting was super friendly and took his time to awnser our questions even though it was very busy. He also knew a lot about the wines. The only downside was that there was a comment section during the reservation that you could fill in if you were celebrating something, wich we were so we filled it in. They didn’t do anything with it. If you’re not going to do something with it, dont have a section like that.

Had always wanted to come here as me and my fiance drink a lot of their sav back home in the uk. We unfortunately didn't have time for a tasting but still popped in at opening on apr 11th to buy a bottle. The staff member was very friendly and accommodating that we were in a rush. He still ran us through all the options that are only available to purchase at the vineyard and even let us try a different wine first as we couldn't make our minds up. Wish we could've stayed longer as our time there was short but sweet.

Had wine tasting with Deb. Amazing lady very knowladgeable. Good wines with good prices. Tasting was free when I bought a bottle! The best winery in the region for tasting. Highly recommended 🍷

Thank you Deb for a most-pleasant winery experience today (Tuesday 2 April 2024). We were pleasantly surprised to hear that Villa Maria tastings were complimentary, and we loved the six exquisite examples you shared with us. We loved Villa Maria wines before we came, and now just love them more. We’ll always remember our visit when we’re enjoying your produce. 100% recommended.

Class, Quality, Wisdom, Hospitality, Value. The visit to this winery was one of the highlights of our trip to the south island because it excelled in all of the above dimensions. I am extremely grateful for taking the time to visit another winery, after the disappointment of Cloudy Bay winery. The first striking thing was that they are offering a larger selection of wines for tasting and the tasting is for free! They are that confident of their wines and for good reason! The woman taking care of us had only began working in the wine industry for 6 months but seemed to have the knowledge decades - that just tells you how much effort they put in educating their staff and how much love their staff has for what they do. The knowledge she transferred to us should be named, wisdom! Most importantly, their wines were MINDBLOWING! I’m not exaggerating. So much that we ended up buying two bottles of Pinor Gris, to take back to the USA! Another crazy thing? Their wine prices are so much lower than Cloudy Bay, while being so much better! No wonder they have been voted in the best 3 wineries in the world! I could not recommend this place enough. You will be treated as a first class guest without the commitment to pay anything, tasting some of the best wines of your life!

My boyfriend and I visited the tasting room on a lovely summer afternoon. Adam decried each wine to us in detail, provided lots of fun and historical background, and gave us some local recommendations as well. The wine in incredible, especially the Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. Certainly worth a visit!

Great wine tasting experience~ great to know Villa Maria wine variety ! And thanks Leonie for her professional tasting guide to us

The best wine tasting experience we had in Marlborough. Delicious wines, free tasting, beautiful location, and above all, amazing and friendly sommeliers who not only told us everything about the wines, and explained how they get their taste, but also gave us tips on what to do in Queenstown and other parts of New Zealand. The tasting was unrushed, chilled and very pleasant throughout, we could have easily spent our day there just enjoying dolce far niente. Best winery in Marlborough, if not in New Zealand.

We came wondering whether there would be a bike for a short adult person of 147 cm, and there was! We were received well, given a map and pertinent infornation, and had a wonderful ride. The bike trails were safely distanced from automobile traffic. Thank you!

The Best Way to Explore Marlborough! Bike 2 Wine made our vineyard-hopping adventure smooth and stress-free. Ike was friendly and super helpful, and the bikes were in tip-top condition — clearly well looked after. Knowing they’d come pick us up or swap out a bike if we ran into trouble gave us great peace of mind. The price was very reasonable, and honestly, with how flat the region is and how close the wineries are, you really don’t need to bother with an e-bike. It’s the perfect way to take in the scenery, enjoy the wine, and move at your own pace.

We didn’t end up hiring bikes because it was raining, but Ike was extremely helpful and accommodating when we cancelled last minute due to the changing weather. He gave us a map and recommendations, even when he didn’t need to. Really appreciated his generosity!

Fantastic hosts! We were given a great introduction to the area including highlights and must visits, and the bikes were perfect. Recommend a tandem for good fun!

Wonderful day to hire a bike from Bike2wine. It was open in winter and Teresa was very helpful with the map and recommendations of where to go. We were not there for wine tasting, just having a great day cycling in the vineyards and had a great lunch at Allan Scott. Beware that path is in the main road though if you are with kids.

Great family-run business and took care of us. Even when we had an issue with our bikes, they came right away to help. Such a great way to experience all the vineyards and get some exercise. And they cater for kids with the sidecar options. Highly recommended!

Good quality equipment and selection. We took a tandem which was fun, allowed to give it a test spin before we committed! Great info on planning our day. Also good value for money.

Personal, Relaxed, and Delicious! Forrest Wines gave us one of the most enjoyable tasting experiences in Marlborough. The team offered personal service with great knowledge and tasting notes, all delivered in a relaxed and unrushed way that made us feel truly welcome. Ordering wine to be sent home was super easy — and reasonably priced too, which was a nice bonus. It’s the kind of place where you can take your time, ask questions, and really enjoy the wines without any pressure. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates a thoughtful and friendly tasting experience.

We are so thankful we stopped here. The staff were incredible. So warm, welcoming, chill and funny. The wines were delicious. They have live music on Sundays and he was great - acoustic covers. There is also a brewery on the property and there are yard games at both. A few food trucks there as well. You won’t be disappointed if you head to Forrest Winery!

The perfect place to spend a sunny day in a lovely, tranquil surrounding. There is no need to make a booking - you can simply visit during the opening hours and enjoy a glass of wine or some snack. By ordering a tasting tray of 7 wines, you receive an excellent introduction to the styles offered by Forrest. Thanks to that we could choose the one we liked best and buy a bottle for later. The place itself is very inviting, well-maintained, run by friendly and informative staff.

Perfect way to spend a sunny day. The staff were lovely, the atmosphere was so relaxing and inviting. We ordered a tasting flight and the doctors platter and were very pleasantly satisfied. 7 generous tastings, the platter was delicious and the perfect portion for 2. We had a beautiful afternoon here and would absolutely recommend coming by.

We had the best start to our Marborough self guided wine tour here at Forrest. A lovely English lady gave us our wines and had the chats with us over a beautiful fire on a sunny winters day. It was our friends 30th so she even got a special birthday wine treat! We could’ve easily spent the day here but sadly had to continue on our bikes! The social media staff were also super responsive when liaising over wine deliveries too. Add this place to your list!!

A lovely lovely wine tasting experience! Beautiful weather definitely made this better, but we sat outside on bean bags, tried the 7 different wines on the tasting board and feasted on a cheese board. Whilst the tasting itself was nothing special (we didn’t get information on each wine and lots of history about the winery), the whole experience was very pleasant. It was our last stop of the day, and to sit lying in the sun drinking a variety of wines was bliss!

We visited the winery for a tasting and had great hospitality. The selection of wine was adjusted to accommodate our tastes

👍 Like my review! Please note that if you are here for a tasting, it will NOT be waived upon a purchase of any wine bottles. This left a bad taste after we purchased a number of bottles from Framingham Wines making us realize if there's even a point to return. However, the wines were overall great, the entrance garden is beautiful, and the area downstairs to see the passion of the owners was astoundingly cool. Those working in the tasting room told us we can play the drums if we wanted to. We would recommend it as an experience for once in your life but don't plan to return anytime soon nor purchase future bottles.

Quirky, Cool, and Full of Heart! Framingham Wines was such a fun and memorable stop. The service was friendly and welcoming, and we absolutely loved exploring the cellar and the band room — their support of the arts adds a unique and inspiring touch to the whole experience. The setting is quirky and cool, with gardens that are full of character and charm. Don’t miss the chance to grab one of their cool pink shirts — it’s a great way to support a good cause while taking home a piece of the vibe. A place with personality, great wine, and a whole lot of soul. Highly recommended!

We visited Framingham Winery for the afternoon with plans to move onto the next place but we had such a lovely time we ended up staying the whole day! Really wonderful service, the staff there are so lovely and take such good care. They have a great knowledge of their produce and production, shared in a very friendly and accessible way. Their Riesling tasting was fantastic as was their self service snack selection. 5 stars all round, highly recommended!

If you only have one day in Marlborough you HAVE to visit Framingham. It makes the best reisling in the region and you must have the reisling tasting. The vineyard is spectacular, the court yard setting offers the best spot in the region to sit relax and enjoy the wine. Will always reccomend to anyone visiting.

Incredible service, atmosphere, and of course, wine. When you live in wine country, the standards are high, and this place delivers. Thank you Tanya for being so knowledgeable and welcoming! I’ll be happy to return soon ☺️

We visited a few different wineries and this was our absolute favourite. It is a smaller winery, more boutique than say Cloudy Bay. The gardens are exceptionally well maintained and there is cellar door seating inside and out if it is a nice day. The staff member who served us was so lovely and very helpful. We tried a selection of whites and found all to be delicious. A personal favourite from Framingham was the Pinot Gris, though the Riesling is more popular I believe. If you are trying a few wineries out in the Marlborough, Framingham is an absolute must do.

Probably my favourite winery in all of Marlborough. The second time I've visited now and these wines are exceptional. The garden setting is unbeatable. Caroline was brilliant and very kind. She really helps make this place tick. If you like Riesling, this is the must-go and all their other wines are also very good. Do not miss this winery!!!!

What a wonderful way to experience this stunning area. I loved seeing how locals enjoy meeting the boat as it pulls up to their jetty’s to deliver their supplies. The crew were very informative of the local mussel industry etc as well as wild life in the area. The opportunity to stop off at Te Rawa Restaurant and enjoy a delicious lunch was a bonus as was sampling some of Marlborough’s finest wines while on board the mail boat. You can comfortably walk around the boat, go upstairs or out the front or back to get great views and photo opportunities. What a great day out on the water.

We had an absolutely wonderful day out on the Pelorus Mail run trip last Friday. Thanks to Ross and Lynette for their very informative commentary, fun stories and constant attention to ensure everyone was happy all of the time. Such an awesome trip, being a 'local' rather than a tourist. Cheers Penny and Roger

Beautiful day cruising around the sounds, boat clean and roomy, nice cheap local wines/beer on board, lovely friendly farm experience host... Spectacular dolphin encounter, seals at mussel farm. Very enjoyable day out with great skipper Ross and crew!

Outer Sounds Mail Boat run on a beautiful day - couldn't have been better. Journey was very information with Ross, the skipper, giving a running commentary as we visited each island. The speaker system on top deck could have been clearer especially when engines were running fast. Otherwise the trip was faultless, the boat spotlessly clean & service 1st class. Take your swimmers if on a warm day - beautiful swimming spot at lunch break. Also a jacket & 'tie-down' sunhat.

We had a fantastic few hours cruising around the Pelorus Sounds. Stopping in at various boat ramps & being greeted by the locals & their animals. The scenery was amazing despite the cloudy weather and it didn't affect our enjoyment of the day at all. The staff on the boat were fantastic & provided a commentary of where we were, where we were going & history on places & events around the Sounds. Highly recommended. Thanks guys!

Did the mail boat cruise today and enjoyed it very much. Great, informative commentaries. Highly recommended.

Fantastic day out! Took my 90yr old mum and we had the best time. We loved seeing the dogs coming down to meet the mailboat to get their biscuits. Beautiful scenery and excellent friendly staff from start to finish. Thanks for a lovely day. 😃

Jade was an incredible guide and this was the highlight of our Marlborough trip. We had some rain the night before so the water level was elevated and the current was faster and the bumps slightly bigger. Having no experience we were worried these factors would mean we were 100% going overboard but Jade’s clear instructions, calm energy and expert manoeuvres ensured we were screaming in fun, not in terror. If you’re hesitating because you don’t know how to swim, scared of the water or think you don’t have the right experience…if we can do it, you probably can too!! It’s SO worth it!

We had a great paddle down the beautiful Pelorus river. You alternate between smooth stretches where you can just sit back and enjoy the view, and more active stretches where you go over small rapids (you are definitely going to get splashed so dress appropriately). Our guide Jade was awesome, giving us directives on how to navigate the rapids, sharing interesting information about the history and the nature in the area, taking pictures of us while we were busy navigating the rapids and making sure everyone made it through safely (helping us dominate the flow). It is more of a kayaking experience than a tour of the Hobbit filming location. We did stop at the filming location where our guide pointed out where different shots were filmed from. But as fans of the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit, this was definitely the best way to visit the river used for the barrel escape of the dwarves in the Hobbit.

There were a few details about my experience that were not as advertised. Firstly, sunscreen and bug spray were NOT provided, which is in direct opposition to what the website said -and how I planned my day. The biting flies were intense - WEAR PANTS AND A LONG SLEEVE SHIRT. I thought that we were going on a 4 hour excursion (as the site implies) but we were back before 5pm, spending less than 2 hours on the water. I specifically booked this tour because it was 4 hours long, and even if you count safety briefing and travel time it was still less than three, less than two on the water. The big highlight of this paddle is that you are crossing through some of the scenery that was filmed in the Hobbit, which was pointed out to us. However, the laminated photos that we were provided for context for these shots were in such low image quality that it was actually very hard to see what we were being shown. It looked like someone had texted an old JPEG and then photocopied it seven times, it was mostly just pixels. I was surprised, considering that that is the highlight of this tour, that the quality of the images was so low. I do want to shout out to my host, as she was incredibly knowledgeable and accommodating, and a wellspring of knowledge about the local area and wildlife. She did make us all feel quite safe and relaxed. I would say, however, that she was the only saving grace of the whole tour. I wouldn't recommend this tour otherwise.

Can’t tell you how much fun we had with Jade at this adventure. She was very helpful and entertaining. The best parts of the tour can only experienced by doing it. Jade is strongly recommended and this adventure is a must do tour if loved the hobbit movies. No experience in water rafting is required. Make sure you wear water socks and beach shorts/beach wear. Bug repellent is a must!!! To have fun in this adventure all you will need is Jade and a good day! Thanks Jade!!!!

Amazing experience and Jade was the best guide, really encouraging and knowledgeable. Definitely recommend them!

Great day out for a novice like myself. Jade is a fab instructor - just lets you get on with it and learn by doing.

Holy Holy had the best adventure tour with Shane and Khan out on thier 22meter tuna fishing boat. They went out and beyond to thier ability to make it a trip of a life time. Covered all the species, fishing, deer hunting pig hunting and cray fish for breakfast. These two are the true southern experience with the sourthern rawness that make you know your experiencing the real thing. The beauty is they can organise accomadation at the blue mountain lodge and throw in mountain biking too. Thanks Shane and Khan for making this an experience never to be forgotten.

A very good tasting of a good selection of their wines. We also ate a very nice platter of meat and cheeses with wonderful pesto and chutneys. Not too busy and we really enjoyed the variety sit. Not too much wine information but the team were super friendly and helpful even recommending other local wineries to visit. Great story attached to the name even with the wines having morse code on the bottles. 😁🇳🇿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

We had a wonderful tasting with a great view!The lady was so lovely, she made us feel really comfortable! The Sauvignon Blanc was our favorite and the cheese plate was absolutely delicious.

Must visit for wine lovers. family project. BLOCK wines are another level. Must try. Without a doubt, the best tasting around. Gracias Amy

So much fun! Knowledgeable staff that take great care of you. Delicious wines and very relaxed tasting pace. We found a new sauv to love. They have fun with the spy motif, ask about it.

Very friendly lady that welcomed us and gave us a great taste of all of their lovely wines! It was a great experience. You could even sit outside and have a taste of the grapes.

What a lovely place! The wine was delicious and the staff were very friendly. The sauv is great but make sure to try the pinot noir too. Highly recommended!

We visited Spy Valley Winery while on one of our Norwegian Jewel excursions. I would highly recommend visiting this winery; the wines are excellent and the grounds are beautiful! Without question this was the best winery we visited in Australia and New Zealand. I liked that they focus on a few wines (about 9 or so...), which I believe allows them to produce a higher quality product. I wish that I had taken advantage of their free shipping offer for purchasing a case of wine, but we ran short on time. The good news is that Spy Valley Winery ships (many time at no cost) via a distributor to many countries, including the US where we live. BTW, Margaret did a great job as our tour guide. Definitely plan on returning!

Stunning place with beautiful bird song. They hosted a rat traps building event for our homeschooling children which was extremely well run.

Good place to stop & stretch your legs between Blenheim & Nelson. A few options for bush walks, listening & looking for the bird life.

Beautiful spot to take a swim, relax, watch birds. Across the street is a nice little campground with a food truck that serves coffee and pastries. Kahawari campsite has super clean facilities and even a pizza oven by the main campground facilities. Take the Tawa trail to see two nice and hidden waterfalls. Return trip from and to campsite is 2hrs. Also good for trail runners.

Great overnight stay. As we have remembered it from previous stays. Showers are awesome. Great indigenous display area. Worth spending time there. Good coffee. Too early to sample food but will be back

Beautiful sight, nice opportunity to have a refreshing swim❣️❣️

We recently hiked the Trig K lookout route after a rainfall. The return trip took us about 4 hours. The trail was not well-defined in some areas, making for a challenging but rewarding hike. The panoramic views from the summit were absolutely breathtaking. While we did spot two waterfalls on the way, they weren't particularly noteworthy compared to the stunning scenery we've seen in places like Wanaka.

Good spot to swim and relax. Worth checking out water is extremely clear.

This is a really good place to spend a few hours in. The central point to the whole parlk is to recreate a page of Nelson's past as the early settlers would have known it. However there are lots of vintage vehicles to see, a cafe, a maritime museum, and windmill and more. This place is definitely worth a visit.

Absolutely loved it lots still under construction but great experience

Founder is a peaceful place in the winter. Going in for a wander and a contemplate is lovely, especially if you time it with the open hours of the cafe. They make a good coffee! I was there when they were setting up for the Illumination show. Went back at night , sorry no photos... it was so pretty and cute. Would definitely go back next year!

Wonderful place to explore. Can spend a few hours there. Unless there's an event on its usual free entry for locals or people going to the cafe. Lots of things to check out - heritage buildings and vehicles. If you've got kids its nice to sit outdoor at the cafe and enjoy lunch next to the playground to keep an eye on them. Buy tickets for the short train ride. It goes back and forth each way on two tracks and they have to change the end the locomotive is on each direction so it take a bit of time, maybe was an hour.

Very quiet and not much of anything to do - besides of course looking at the displays and the buildings. Cool things to see if you like history but wasn’t very interactive and a lot was closed. Definitely not worth the price. It has potential to be fun if there were real people in the shops all dressed up, things to buy (like in the general store having old candy, drinks, toys, whatever). The cafe was pumping and the playground is good for older kids. The rail cart/train costs extra which was disappointing as it’s the only interactive thing and you already pay to get into the park. The grounds (gardens and even the displays) were also not very tidy.

This is a great cheap day out. About $11 per adult. I particularly enjoyed the beer & hop museum, some fascinating history in this area! Well worth a visit if you have time to spare. The on-site cafe is fantastic too.

The Founders Heritage Park is a gem in Nelson's crown. My expectations were low considering entry was only eleven or so dollars. However it soon became clear how historically significant and visually pleasing the buildings were. Hundreds of items in the stores made me feel like I was in Back To The Future III. The amount of ships in bottles was astounding. I wish I only knew to bring some gold coins to operate the model trains in the train carriage.

Stunning views all around and some pretty nice information up there too. Benches here and there but always occupied by freshly tired hikers haha. Tad bit steep but not hard walk. Doable for most people.

The walk to the monument is quick and easy. The views of Nelson city and the surrounding hills and valleys are very cool.

Great activity for a couple of hours. Walk up to the geographically marked centre of New Zealand. Entry is from Nelson Botanical Reserve. Very steep hill climb. You will be rewarded with spectacular views around Nelson out to the port and all across the city. Monument and maps at the top. Pink flowers on the trail look to be banana passion flower, which according to research, are considered invasive species in NZ. If you have dodgy knees, take your time and be sure to take your walking stick and put your knee braces on .!

Set amongst mature trees in the center of Nelson. This is a little gem if you like a walk and great view. The easiest and warmest track is from the western (city) side with a gradual zig zag to the top. Unfortunately google directs many to the eastern side which is steep, damp and cool. Dogs are allowed on the tracks and adjacent parks which is an added bonus.

A very significant place in Nelson and a good place to walk around and see the sunset. It's very easy to walk around and enjoy nature seeing a landmark. Ideally combined with the Japanese garden visit it is a good walk. On the way you could see some farms and a very good view of Nelson bay.

Access from Hardy St Botanical reserve where parking is available. Bit of a climb but very well laid out path to reach the top of the hill where Centre of New Zealand mark is. About 30-40 slow to moderate time in minutes walking slightly steep at places flat climb without steps. Panoramic views of Nelson 360 degrees. Very rewarding views. There are more walking trails at the domain too.

Climb to monument is good exercise with a rewarding bird's view of the surrounding area. I started from Branford Park so my walk was about 20 minutes. Good path with some rocky places as well as brief steep sections.

Small but perfectly maintained little garden near the centre of Nelson. Ideal for a leisurely stroll. The garden also includes a Chinese themed section ; the Huangshi Garden.

Lovely garden only few minutes walk from town center, has many entrances. Cool and serene.

Beautiful. A little swampy. No guard rails or fence around the water. But really lovely, with a good variety of flora and fauna. I love it here. There's also a cat that I see nearly every time I'm there. Ducklings.

Very nice garden, well maintained, ducks and nature beauty is a perfect place for a short walk or a meditation escape.

lovely well laid out grounds, a variety of local as well as exotic plants. A great place to stop for a mindful wander or reflective walk. Other than a few side areas with steps or inclines, most areas was easily accessible. There are a couple of bridges that have some nice views.

Nice walk round admiring all the flowers plants etc

The queens Botanical Gardens are wonderful. As soon as you walk in off the street, the temperature drops 10c, which was perfect on the January summer's day I visited. With a great variety of beautiful old trees and flowers, this place is special. There's a number of large ponds, these Gardens are so peaceful, you could easily forget where you are. The tiles or pebbles in the Chinese garden are very interesting. This place is free and a must visit if you're in Nelson.

Victoria has greeted us with a warm welcome, explaining about the history of the Super Art Gallery, she showed us the user friendly website and happily she answered all our questions. The Gallery was bright, vibrant with creativity.

Really enjoyed the visit to this gallery. Nice big space promoting local artists and exhibitions. Beautiful outdoor cafe area also.

There was a wide variety of exhibits in a modern environment. The staff were very friendly and the cafe served good food and coffee. An added bonus is that the gallery is next door to the Queen's Gardens which has plenty of shelter when the sun is out.

Small and cozy gallery with small exhibitions, that you can visit on rainy days or if you like arts and don’t want to spend hours. Going through takes about 40-60 minutes and entering the gallery is free! You can also buy some of the art or any souvenirs in the shop. Thank you! 😊

Great place to visit , sit back and relax looking at the art or even the Suter shop that has many gifts. The Suter cafe has awesome food to boot and lovely coffee. Helena Fox and Mike Peckham's recent art display in the Mckee Gallery.

I went to the cafe inside the gallery and ordered a coffee. Older lady staff asked me to move the tabl because my table was reserved. But she had just put the reserved sign on my table. Then she allowed other guests to sit there without a reservation. Then I had only been there less than an hour, she asked me to move again to the outside cafe, just a bench in the gallery, even though there were still seats available inside. It was an annoying experience.

I loved my walk around in here it was beautiful and so peaceful and there was a lovely friendly staff member who greeted me with Kia ora when I walked in and made me feel so very welcome 😊 It is worth a look and it is free admission as well 👍

Nelson Cathedral Church is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places to visit in Nelson. Located at the top of the hill in the city centre, it offers a lovely view and a calm atmosphere. The architecture is stunning, with its classic stone design and tall spire, making it a true landmark of the city. Inside, the church feels very serene, filled with natural light and a sense of history. The garden area and surroundings are well maintained and perfect for a quiet walk or to sit and reflect. Whether you are religious or just appreciate beautiful buildings, the Nelson Cathedral Church is definitely worth a visit.

Stunning cathedral with beautiful gardens and surrounds. Great video history on screen in the cathedral. Loved the organ pipes, be awesome to hear them!!! Lovely stained glass windows 🪟

Lovely cathedral and place. Please bear in mind it was near destroyed in infamous 2012 earthquake and is slowly being rebuilt

We dropped by on the way to Christchurch. One of the female staff kindly explained how the cathedral was built using concrete partially and changing the height of side walls based on experiences of earthquake. Great! (Apr. 2025)

Well worth a visit the gardens were lovely the church itself beautiful. Some great views and photo opportunities as you climb the stairs. Free to visit can choose to make a donation to support building repairs.

Signature sightseeing building in Nelson, a must-visit place. I enjoyed reading the short introductions inside the church. Although the weather wasn't good for photos during our visit, we still spent time here.

A lovely place to visit. Very Welcoming! The organist was stunning accompanied by a talented Choir! There was an amazing morning tea served with Great tea and percolated coffee.

We spent well over $3,000 with them in March on a coop and accessories, and then after just over three months our chicken swing broke (less than $50). We thought replacing a small item worth so little would be quick and painless - until it was suggested the swing had been misused - albeit from one email and a single photo!. I'm not sure how a chicken swing was misused by chickens... swinging on it... I know I certainly never gave it a try - but this is just such poor customer service and such a ridiculous assumption to make from the outset. They could have done SO SO much better than this shoddy treatment. I would've absolutely backed anyone to buy from them, the coop was fantastic - but now I'm worried that anything goes wrong I'll be in for a battle with them. Since querying how they worked out it was misused from one email and a photo they've completely ignored me and are unresponsive. Awful - solid avoid. Update: Given the laughable response from this shoddy operator - they can't even calculate dates correctly. Purchase was in early March, pallet not received until mid March. Emailed them end of July. You do the maths, because they clearly can't. The outside "force" they are discussing - is a chicken swinging on it clearly. The swing is poorly designed and clearly when they swing in directions other than perfectly forward and back this strains the plastic arm. It very obviously is poorly constructed and not fit for purpose and of acceptable quality; also a requirement of the Consumer Guarantees Act :) The swing remained in the coop for its entire short life; and was only ever used by a chicken OF COURSE. It's a chicken swing for goodness sakes! Again - horrible to know we have risked our money with an operator that makes a fuss over a $30 item after spending thousands? Uploaded photo of order from March to show they are trying to present a very different picture to the reality.

Appletons are very good to deal with. I bought the Eglu Go Up for my three Orpington pullets and it will be very good once they learn to use the ladder. I have locked them in the coop to train them but have made tape hinges so the back can be left ajar and kept cooler. Assembly is finicky; I had a professional builder at 5 hours' labour and he was bamboozled at times. It looks attractive and is easy to clean.

I have now made two big-ticket purchases from the Appletons website and have been extremely satisfied on each occasion. These days, making big purchases online sight-unseen is a huge gamble. I've previously dropped thousands of dollars on products expecting premium quality, only for absolute junk to show up at my door. The products from Appletons are always of an extremely high quality and very much worth their price! Because I'm ordering from another city, I usually have questions prior to purchase, and the owner is always very helpful and so patient! She knows her products well and always offers good advice. I highly recommend this store and can vouch for the quality of the products, the speed of delivery, and the top-notch customer service. I'll be back for sure!

Great website, products and quick packaging and shipping! Never had an issue with them, people are always great to deal with. It’s the only company I order my chicken feeders, waterers and heat plates from, would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to purchase chicken things! Thanks Appletons! :)

I've been purchasing from Appletons for a few years now and have never been let down or sold products I would later regret. Fiona is very very helpful and my orders always arrive on time or early. The Omlet Cubes, Omlet Go, Go-Up and fencing are amazing, so easy to clean and I know my hens are snug and safe from predators.

This is the place for your animal food especially chickens. We bought a new chicken run and 4 chickens now they are getting big enough for fresh eggs. Out of the way but worth the visit. This is the new addition to the family Thanks

Found the staff member that owns the place to be condescending, arrogant, inflexible and rude. I am giving 2 stars as the other staff members are very helpful. I am unsure why someone who clearly doesn't understand what customer rapport or service is ends up working in retail. It's not a huge surprise as I have heard that she is unhelpful and doesn't like to be wrong. Not impressed. Great customer service means everything! If you don't have customers you don't have a business! Room for improvement!

Wine tasting at the front of house, rock up and enjoy. Really tasty selections. Outdoor seating was fantastic in the summer. Wished there were more food/snacks choices available though.

A delightful place to enjoy wine tasting even in the rain. Their olives and warm, fresh bread were spot on. Their staff was ever so helpful and friendly.

Stunning vineyard. Amazing Pinot noir. Decently priced- tastings $15/4. Bottles ~$55 (to drink on site. Takeaway ~30% cheaper). Can order charcuterie boards, which was highly recommend to us, yet we recently ate. Staff very friendly and attentive. Went on a weekday. Lots of parking and available seating.

I had a remarkable welcome (availability and knowledge) from Reuben, who introduced me to the range of wines from this estate. I was very impressed by the quality of this Estate, particularly the finesse and balance of the wines. After the tasting, I enjoyed a picnic in the beautiful and relaxing garden, with cheese, an excellent homemade tapenade and a succulent baguette, with a glass of Riesling which made my day! I highly recommend this estate.

Neudorf make seriously good wines. While Chardonnay is their specialty, they make very good riesling, pinot gris, albarino, rose and pinot noir. You can taste a range of wines in the tasting area, but I also recommend taking time to sit in their courtyard area overlooking the vines, enjoying one of their picnic hamper lunches with a glass or bottle of their wines.

Visited Neudorf on Sunday just been and was very impressed. We enjoyed a delicious wine tasting (Ps. they donate tasting proceeds towards rescue helicopter!), the grounds are beautiful with nice seating options outside in the sunshine, the woman serving us was lovely, the jazz music playing was smooth, and the picnic shop corner is such a great idea! After wine tasting, enjoyed a glass of their dry Riesling and chose some beautiful local picnic items (Brie cheese, freshly baked and warmed ficelle mini baguette, local jar of beetroot plum relish, and some olive oil infused oat crackers, plus Kumar a crisps). Everything was very fairly priced and it was a beautiful way of spending the afternoon on our way back to Nelson. We’re thankful that Owen River Lodge’s host Felix recommended Neudorf to us.

We fell in love with this winery in 2017, and nearly 7 years later it’s still delivering great Chardonnays. It’s a bit of a drive to get here - allow a good half hour if you’re staying in Nelson - but the last part of the drive in the Moutere region is lovely, and passes a lot of farm stalls. They don’t charge for tasting, and only offer 4 or 5 wines, but seem pretty flexible if you have a keen interest in specific wines (as we do with their chardonnays). The basic Chardonnay is pretty good value for $28, but it’s the better wines that will have you splashing out. And the setting here is superb, a lovely garden overlooking the vineyards, and simply wonderful hosts.

Def worth checking out, had been recommended by another gallery owner to come up and visit this place. beautiful sculptures and woodwork. Lovely location will def be back again for a coffee next time

Stunning spot that has been beautifully landscaped. Very talented artists, husband and wife both with their talent on display. Lovely collection of vintage style homewares including wooen platters, tin vessels, unusual original pieces. We had lovely coffees in the garden and I bough a natural fragrance that is lovely. Well worth a visit while touring through the area.

Amazing, high-quality creations in wood and metal. Top shelf. Good coffee too.

Wonderful setting and atmosphere. Great workmanship - converting oak barrels to household items.

Amazing artwork, delicious coffee and wonderful service - a MUST stop for anyone who loves to marvel at the masterpieces Michael has to show. Can’t wait to head back up and have another look!

Lots of lovely sculptures. Very cleverly done from wine barrels. Every single piece of the barrel get used for something. A mix of metal and wooden pieces of art. Tea and coffee available.

Beautiful hand-crafted wooden kitchen, dining wares. Beautiful photos and pencil drawings. And French wares. Beautiful setting. Some modern and some "old master" styles of sculptures. Hot drinks and biscuits available for inside/outside enjoyment. Jackie, co-owner i met, and photographer, very pleasant. Not meet Mike the sculptor and maker of wooden wares. Enjoyed French Cafe music playing while i was there. And coffee sitting on the grass with my dog. Beauty and quietness (occasional traffic) very healing. Is also B and B. Highly recommended.

This place is great - a little gem. Only slight issue is lack of cellular network.

This is a must do activity. The property is well laid out and plenty of challenges around the area!! There is also a nice cafe and bar. Highly recommended 🤗💥

Great place to stay beautiful 9 hole golf course, licensed bar, variety of paintball options if your game enough 😁 and amazing friendly hosts. Really enjoyed my stay I’ll be back

Best place for paintball in the top of the south. Played here lots. Staff and supportive, kind and very knowledgeable. The cafe is a great place to relax after shooting all your mates and the food is phenomenal all made their by Heather. The club says are fun filled all levels of talent and a great way to learn and get into the sport. The super Sundays are also a great way to get some bang for your buck with the public and club players all playing together. I'd highly recommend Armageddon Paintball to everyone wanting something fun to do

What a great field. Town of Purgatory has to be top 3 field I have played in New Zealand. This a must for all players and club to visit yet.

Brought big family including 86 y/o grandfather-in-law and played with another family who came on the same day. Was a really fun day. The arena is really well done and gave everyone something to do. Norman was a great host and made everyone feel welcome. Would definitely come again.

Awesome paintball field and pro shop. Best facilities in NZ by far. Commercial games, walk ons and events. Great food and licensed for beers. Pro shop stocks Dye, First strike, Planet Eclipse and more!

Great opportunity, had a lot of fun back in 2013 when I studied there. Tbh it is a very hard sport but dope.

One of the best places to visit in New Zealand and specially in Nelson region. Nice place to learn skiing 🎿 or to practice it. Amazing views around and very good staff and services.

Nice and close to the top of the south areas of population. Eg Nelson and Blenheim . No sking snow yet in 2019 but posted photos of entrance road and sign. Watch out for ice and gravel now being put of road to give grip for vehicles.

Amazing place to have fun need some improvement in the road I know it hasn't been changed in 15 years

We were lucky to get some snow on the day we got the shuttle bus to the top (late start for the season). Super fun!

Great asset for top of the South. Lots of snow this year.

Friendliest little ski area in NZ -where Olympic racers train!!

Very quiet and hot shower washing machine dryer kitchen was very clean. You need to book a spot.

Centre looks helpful, if you could actually get in. Half the centre with all the leaflets and maps was closed off whilst seemingly four members of staff all had their coffee break at the same time. We stood around for 20 minutes waiting for them to come open up so we could ask about walks until we got bored of waiting and left to go find our own. Seems really poor organisation to have all staff going on breaks at the same time so nobody is around to help.

Beautiful lake with panoramic views of the mountains surrounding. The day we went power boat racing was in progress which was interesting to watch, look out for the large eels under the jetty.

It may be quite small but the visitor centre is well worth a pop in. There are some interesting displays including a video of a flight over the surrounding mountains and lakes. There are also detailed hiking maps for the local area, available to buy. On sale also are cooking gas canisters, sand fly spray and 'just add water and heat' dried packet meals.

Great little visitor centre. The staff are super helpful. There is a cool little display that shows the local wildlife and a shirt blurb about each with realistic photos to make identification easy if you manage to spot them. The lakes themselves are stunning. The clarity of the water and surrounding scenery are something to call home and tell your mom about haha. Lots of bird life and most of them will be hapily chirping away as you walk through the gorgeous local Forrest's. I highly recommend doing the waterfall walk. It's short and sweet. The path is well maintained with some short river crossings. The waterfall itself is highly worth the walk. If you are willing to then a swim in the lakes with give you a great experience as it is very refreshing and the views will help you forget how cold the water is.

Hello,  we are visitors from Australia and today visited St Arnaud in the Nelson Lakes national Park. Whilst we enjoyed the park and the pristine conditions and the constant signage that the park is focused on the welfare of animals and keeping the area's natural environment free of pests,  we did notice that one of the ducks at the foreshore area had a severe foot injury.(see attached photos) The foot seemed gangrenous and half hanging off. The duck was hobbling around and clearly in discomfort and most likely in pain, constantly pulling at the decomposing piece of foot. We approached the person manning the office at the St Arnaud visitor centre who seemed to disregard our concerns and said "the duck pretends to be in discomfort to get more food from tourists" and that they don't intervene. To be honest we don't buy that story.  We feel there was no interest to assist the poor animal. A vet could remove the gangrenous foot and make life more liveable for the poor duck rather than have it live in pain unnecessarily! I noticed that there were plenty of duck photo souvenirs for sale in the visitor centre so clearly this is a draw card for tourists who enjoy the waterfront. People such as us who enjoy the natural environment believe that all animals deserve humane treatment not just the select few. We feel that if your are sincere about the natural environment, your will do something to assist this animal urgently. it was certainly a negative aspect to our day at St Arnaud that we will not forget.

This place is very beautiful. Clean clear water. Eels galore. There are also many walks to do here. From very easy walks to the more advanced walks. Must see place. Highly recommend to visit

Another great stop on the New Zealand journey. The lake is amazing with a wonderful hot spring at one end. Take the classic wooden boat and tour the lake.

Great big lake, nice and clean and great views from up Mt Robert. Lots of snow in winter time and lots of massive eels around the warf just Infront of the carpark. Big carpark and usually on a snowy or sunny day it's full of people.

Beautiful view and clear waters. There are many people by the lake but you don’t feel the crowd because of the vast space. I visited in Jan and there were no sandflies which is pretty awesome. Many tracks around the lake to explore, and Kayaking would be great here as the waters are not choppy.

Beautiful view and a peaceful location with a nice mountain range where the snow can get even lower than pictured. A nice local township with forest walking tracks.

We camped at the DOC campground next to the Lake Rotoiti Wharf recently. Incredible views, so serene with a number of walks nearby for better views of the lake. There are several campground locations here, with really good amenities at all, this one had flushing toilets, a shower block (cold showers), playground, rubbish disposal area and kitchen block. We considered it glamping with how great the amenities were. Highly recommend staying here, its popular so book in advance if you can, about an hour or so from Nelson.

This is one of the most beautiful places that I have ever visited around New Zealand. The scenery is simply stunning and must be seen by all in the upper South Island. The little township has a fuel station and convenience store along with great accommodation options tucked in the bush or on the main road.

An amazingly beautiful lake with many scenic hiking trails! We enjoyed visiting this lake and enjoying its natural beauty and beaches. It is an amazing place to get photos, as the lake is highly reflective with surrounding mountains. The dock at the lake is also famous for its many eels , that crowd around its piers and are easy to photograph through the clear water. We stayed a week in this area exploring the lake and the trails around it, and we wish that we had stayed longer!

Excellent from start to finish really enjoyed our day here we will be back next year,horses were amazing ,scenery stunning and owners and girls excellent would highly recommend Baton horse trek , We were made to feel truly welcome.Thank you

Love the place, recomended highly, love the Honeywell Hut

Wonderful serene setting, it won't disappoint.

It is very tidy and clean.

Beautiful spot…. Lots of very peckish sandflies and very friendly eels

Absolutely beautiful spot. Very similar vibe to nearby Lake Rotoiti. However unlike Lake Rotoiti, it's a sandy lake rather than rocky. That might make Rotoroa it slightly nicer to swim in for some (both are pretty cold even in the summer though!). The sandiness and waterfront vegetation at Rotoroa meant that when we visited (summer, on a sunny day) there were a ton of sandflies/midges, which were pretty unpleasant to deal with. A couple of nice walks available but the path to one of them was not easily accessible due to surface flooding from recent rains.

Very nice picturesque lake. Canoed the length of this lake acquiring a very sore backside and stayed in the D'Urville Hut at the top end. What was very concerning at the time however was the population of wasps in the bush. The bush was absolutely rancid with them and in the heat they could be quite bad tempered. The native bird life and insect life must be extremely stressed. Very bad scenario happening here with the wasps at plague proportions. Seriously needs dealt with.

I couldn’t appreciate the lake due to the amount of sandflies I encountered the moment I stepped out of my car. Wanted to walk one of the tracks but changed my mind after having multiple sandfly bites within 5 minutes of reaching the lake.

Very beautiful spot with no one around..a little bit off the beating track but we'll worth the trip...a true gem

Feb 2020. A just adequate campsite with short walk needed to reach the toilets. Extreme nuisance from sandflys (blackfly), and many wasps in the upper canopy. However bush walks were thankfully free of sandflies (but not wasps). Lake is lovely for kayaking (and free of sandflies). Water Taxi available (for a fee) for transport to and from opposite end of lake. Spot the huge eels (protected species) from the jetty at dusk.

Magical morning! Go early in the morning to catch the best sunrise- I prefer the winter cause you can catch the snow and fog to add some mystery

What a fun, adventurous experience for the family! Our guide Casey was super chill, calm and very knowledgeable, and Samson took some great pics of our time on this beautiful river. Our first time white water rafting and we had a blast! Thanks guys!

I was expecting a "boring" paddle on the river, but the instructor Sonny and Kate prepared an unforgettable and very unconventional ride for us. It was in a friendly spirit. We even swam - 1 intentional and 1 unintentional dive :D. You definitely have to try it!

This was so much fun. Thanks to the UD team Quinn, Jono, and Sampson, so many laughs. 5 stars to our guides who made this trip exceptional, great knowledge of the river and some fun facts along the way. This is a great river if you’re a bit fearful and unsure of the waters but also a great rush of adrenaline for the go getters. Highly recommend this location and team for an unforgettable experience. Also situated at the Riverside Holiday park, best paid camping spot we’ve found in the last 6 weeks traveling NZ. Be sure to zoom the areal Photo…

We had Casey with us as a guide down the Waimakariri river. Super onto it, great with kids, and fantastic yarns. Absolute gem of a person. She will eat your cookies if left unattended... 10/10

Mid summer trip on the Burra for people in the 7th decade! I mention this to encourage others. It was great afternoon, from the welcome to the coffee and cake at the end. As others have done, we can’t say enough about the guides and support/photographers. Swimming/floating down the river was sublime and jumping off the rock into it was terrifying. Would suggest less steep exit point but that did not detract from the whole thing. Cannot recommend this enough!!!

Fabulous afternoon on the Buller with the most friendly and experienced of guys

We didn’t do the family trip, but the full one. We had a nice young “apprentice” guide and an experienced one as a supervisor. 5 guests on the boat. We had to reschedule on short notice and that was very easy. You have to do some paddling yourself (as usual). The gear was in good condition. The shoes however open themselves a bit with a chance to loose them. I enjoyed having free photos (a link to a file repository was sent on the next day). Everyone was nice, fun and professional. The scenery was very beautiful. The rafting itself was great, there were several good rapids.if you want to get completely soaked go to the front. I loved it. On 2 occasions we had the opportunity to jump from the cliffs. In one case it was right into the white water after a major rapid. The other was calm, but the cliff is higher. Super fun! There was coffee and cake afterwards.

What with earthquakes,flaming gas, and isolation very interesting history. More old wooden buildings than most towns in NZ. History of people and the equipment and technology of the past. The museum is in an old building by NZ standards. Old phones etc. Lovely grounds. Stop for lunch. Toilets close. Easy parking.

Well worth a visit if staying or stopping in Murchison. There's plenty of local history particularly the 1929 earthquake and many old photos. There's also a barn with agricultural and forestry equipment.

Charming museum with well researched photos, implements and gadgets from days gone by. Excellent narrative and photos before and after the big earthquake. Definitely a must see while in Murchison.

Limited collection of local treasures but amiable curator.

A delightful museum detailing the history of another great NZ town and it's people. Not to be missed. The displays are beautifully crafted from items donated by local families. Run by dedicated volunteers who are also very knowledgeable on the local history.

Nice little museum with decent collection of artifacts and history on the area.

AWESOME MUSEUM LOVELY LADIES so well kept and loved thank u worth the visit love the collection of fossils and moa bones wonderful!

Do it! Unique experience that includes history, geography, animals, people, flora & fauna. Steve is a wealth of knowledge and a all up great guy. We took our 2 teenage grandkids & they gave a 5/5 star. The hike in was beautiful, with bush, moss gardens & rivers. The flames are fantastic, along with the pancakes & hot drinks, plus treats. Highly recommend. Thanks to Steve & the farmers for letting us visit this special place.

We had a fantastic time – thank you, Steve. The landscape was stunning and the whole trip was organised perfectly. A warm recommendation from us!

This was a really cool experience. You get to walk through beautiful forest before reaching the flames. Steve has great knowledge about the area and nature. Having pancakes and hot chocolate by the flames was awesome!

Totally worth it. Including the car ride to and from the bush walk. The pancakes were very filling too, so we did not need lunch... :)

Amazing experience, highly recommended for reasonably fit adventurers 🤣Steve brilliant guide , informative and great cook . So pleased we stayed and did it . Phil and Gai

Great hike to the natural flames with pancakes and, marshmallow’s served up at the site.

A fantastic trip, the guide (Steve) was very knowledgable about the nature and wild life. The hike is just beautiful! And the tea and pancakes was the cherry on top!

We had an enjoyable time at this venue so I'm curious why there are some negative reviews. The team really need to cut back the vegetation on the loop walk so visitors could enjoy the view properly. The bridge is exhilarating, although I wish people were less comfortable crossing at the same time! The toilets could do with a deep clean but were acceptable in the meantime. Staff were friendly. Definitely worth the minimal entrance fee.

Went here a while back and didn’t expect you had to pay. The next time I came back and bit the bullet and was pleasantly surprised. Such beautiful views and heaps to do once you get over the other side. You might have to be patient as the swing bridge isn’t that wide, and also be careful of where you put your hand as I got a small cut on mine. It is so very worth it though. Lovely loop tracks and multiple natural attractions to look at.

Overall value for money 2.5/5 No family pass No combos so yiu do mkre activities and save. Bridge 3.9/5 $12.50 - Went in the morning. Manager/owner was very welcoming and friendly. Paid our entry and went on in. My first thought of the bridge was disappointing after being on the ones further down the country, yes this one is longer but I feel it could be better. When searching and looking at things to do I didnt take a close look at what the bridge was made of or looked like in detail. Comet line 4/5 fun - 1/5 not Including access to bridge and walks. $40 + $25 for photos and videos. Tandem Comet line and it was fun. Interesting to be one behind the other and not next to each there. Definitely could be longer and definitely could be faster. $25 extra for a flash drive with the photos and videos seemed expensive though especially if you paid for the other thing. Gold panning 3.5/5 Sand flies 1/5 Unfortunately we did not get told about the sand flies when we arrived. We were covered head to toe in them when we went to the area to do this activity. Went and brought some bug spray from the front desk ($25) and this only kept them away for a few minutes. The activity itself was really fun but as I only got to do it for a very small amount of time it has become the worst thing I have done in years. As we left we mentioned about how bad the experience was and that the bug spray did an aweful job and we really didnt do much panning because of the sand flies and his comment was "yeah they are quite bad this time of year" and didnt really care at all. We were just another person who had already paid. If you do go, there is some enjoyment in some of the activities but 100% do not go anywhere near the gold panning, and take good bug repellent.

Unexpected cost of 25 nzd to walk across. But the other side has over an hour of beautiful hiking to a beach and waterfall along with epic jungle views. It's worth the cost, especially because few people leave the main trail.

Awesome place woth amazing view. Very friendly staff who even waited for us to arrive as we were running a little late. Highly recommended

What an adventurous place to visit!! The experience of the bridge walk is tremendous. A bit scary but feels fun once you done it. The walk around the island is amazing as you pass many amazing spots as the river beach and the big tree. You can watch a lot of birds around there. The bridge walk and the island walk is not expensive. You can do extra activities like zip liner with an extra payment. There is a small cafe and toilets inside and a plenty of parking available there.

It was fun to go across the bridge, but there were a lot of little bugs on the other side that were biting our legs so beware. Not much to do on the other side other than a walk with some old historic mining equipment. you could also pay extra to go on the speedboat or the zip line.