Queenstown is our southern-most stop, coldest and stunning. Let’s face it. We’re spoiled rotten by traveling with Tauck tours.
- Charter flight from Christchurch to Queenstown. (Celebrity treatment ala no security checkpoints, bring as big a bottle of whatever you want as carry on. Of course, I’m easily impressed.)
- Luxury accommodations at the QT Hotel overlooking Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by the Southern Alps that include The Remarkables mountain range, named for their serrated and cross-cut peaks. (Think Lord of the Rings.)
Jet boat ride on the Dart River, including wild spins and woohoo-worthy maneuvers. “Wear everything you’ve got” and then they provided giant waterproof ponchos and life jackets. The handles you hang onto as if your life depends on it (and it does) are heated! And then a helicopter ride back to Queenstown.
More helicopter thrills to a mountain top for the start of the Gin Tasting tour, then transport to the Cardona Distillery for advanced education in traditional Scottish distillery equipment and process.
Fun Fact: Their vodka, The Reid, was voted “Best Overall” in The Rolling Stone 2025 Spirit Awards. (That’s a worldwide honor.) Yes, I tasted, and it was yummy. Too cumbersome and expensive to buy and pack, however.
Surprised to Learn: Their whisky, gin, vodka and liqueurs are all made from the same “base” of barley, water and yeast, aka wort. (Titos, for instance is made from corn.) Aromatics are what give the product its unique flavor. For instance their gin (Source Gin) is exposed to a blend of juniper, carraway, elderflower, lemon and orange. So those on tour who think gin tastes like pine cones are thinking again.
Marlborough is next!
Sounding like a great trip. Love the strip video 🙂
Fun going first class. You’ll want to fly private from now on!
Thanks for the pictures. You all look great!
Ron and I travel vicariously through you folks.