Adventure central at a slow pace

• Published date: 01 June 2021
• Publication title: Ensign, The

WHEN you think about Queenstown, you might think about skiing, snowboarding, hiking.

Maybe your mind immediately jumps, excuse the pun, to bungy-jumping off a bridge or throwing yourself out of a plane.

But what about those of us who simply want a bit of rest and relaxation in New Zealand’s adventure playground?

I approached my weekend in Queenstown with a mixture of excitement and relief. After a busy stretch at work, a trip to the resort town was exactly what I needed.

Even though I lived in Queenstown for a while, and have been back several times since, the view of the Remarkables as you drive around the curve of Lake Wakatipu along Frankton Rd never fails to take my breath away.

Town was quieter than usual, as at the time New Zealand’s borders were firmly shut to the hordes of international travellers who visit Queenstown each year.

I have to admit, it wasn’t altogether unpleasant, although it was clear many businesses were hurting.

A key indicator of the slowdown in visitors was that parking, usually at a premium, was easy to come by.

First on the agenda was checking in to my home away from home for the weekend.

The Dairy is a quirky boutique hotel in central Queenstown.

The location is ideal — a quick walk down the Brecon St stairs will have you right in the middle of town, while a two-minute walk in the other direction has you at the base of the Skyline gondola.

The interior is lush. Built around Queenstown’s original dairy, which dated back to the 1920s, its rooms feature striking botanical-themed wallpapers from House of Hackney, large, comfortable beds and cosy furnishings.

My favourite part of The Dairy was the little touches, from the bags of lollies for guests needing a sugar hit to the side lounge, complete with chessboard, for those wanting a bit of quiet time.

Run by Naumi Hotels, it is a sister hotel to The Central, another boutique hotel on the other side of the town centre.

After checking out the digs, it was time for dinner. Tanoshi is a hole-in-the-wall Japanese restaurant and sake bar, nestled in Cow Lane.

The food is best enjoyed tapas style, so you get to sample all of their tasty offerings.

The seared salmon with buttered sour soy, and tender chicken with mung beans and sesame, were standouts. The wine list showcases a great selection of local drops, or if sake is more your style, Tanoshi has an impressive variety available.

After a walk around the lakefront in the late evening sun, it was time to get some shut-eye.

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