Kia ora, 

Summer in Queenstown means warmer weather and longer days, perfect for exploring everything Queenstown has to offer, there's a great energy around the town making it an exciting time of year to welcome our international visitors.

It was great to reconnect and meet many of you at our DQ Australia Roadshow last month. The Australia trade market is important to us and it was great to see connections and business being exchanged between our operators and buyers. 

We are excited to welcome Yangzi Zhang and Cara Anderson to Destination Queenstown, Yangzi joins our Travel Trade Team as Account Manager for the Asia Market and Cara as our Trade Marketing Executive.  If you have any questions you can contact us at any time or learn more about us on our website, Facebook group, or YouTube channel.

Ngā mihi nui (Thank you),
Linda, Yangzi and Rose 

Queenstown Update

The Queenstown Town Centre Arterial Road is currently under construction as part of a long term plan to improve the town centre experience for locals and visitors. Please inform clients travelling to Queenstown to allow extra time for journeys through the CBD.

Queenstown's latest dining precinct development Aryburn, is due to open on 9 December, with five of its expected 10 total venues.  Ayrburn is a new kind of destination just outside of Queenstown – a food and wine playground, 160 years in the making in Arrowtown, New Zealand.  The highly anticipated destination is poised to redefine the Queenstown hospitality industry. With an unparalleled commitment to excellence and innovation, Ayrburn setting a new benchmark for premium wine and memorable dining experiences globally, an array of venues, breathtaking backdrops and immersive experiences.

See our product highlight's below for more information.

We recommend you check out the What's New section of our website for our latest product updates. This includes New Products, Major Developments, and our Accommodation Pipeline alongside our Airline Connectivity and Maps & Guides.

The latest forward outlook indicates the current levels of forward-looking accommodation occupancy in Queenstown to help you choose a time when Queenstown will deliver the optimal visitor experience for your clients.

If you missed our Quarterly On-Demand Training you can find these and other resources on our website. Keep an eye on your inbox at the start of next month for the next online training.

Regenerative News

Check out the new Love Queenstown website to find out how visitors can get behind local climate, conservation, and biodiversity projects to support a regenerative, carbon-zero future. Perfect for clients who want to give back whilst visiting Queenstown. 

The Hilton Queenstown took home the Destination Queenstown sponsored award; Excellence in Sustainable and Regenerative Business Practice. The Hilton Queenstown's contribution to regenerative tourism has been vast, succeeding in projects across food waste, carbon footprint and amenity wastage, as well as influencing sustainable actions throughout 28 Hilton hotels within Australasia. 

Wilding & Co's Waste to Wilderness project is piloting the processes required to remove tourism food waste from landfill. By combining the food with locally distilled wilding, it makes a hot compost for distribution to local community garden and reforestation projects. The initiative started back in 2020, three years on there are now 13 hotels and 20 Cafes involved in the project. 

Travel and Aviation

• An Emirates A380 for the first time ever has taken off using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). They have hailed the demonstration flight from Dubai as being a significant milestone in the race to clean up the aviation market. 
• China Eastern Airlines will add a new destination, Hangzhou, to its New Zealand service as of 5 November. With twice weekly direct flights on Thursday and Sundays to Auckland. 
• Delta Airlines launched a new daily service on 30 October between Los Angeles and Auckland for the summer season. 
• Chinese carrier Hainan Airlines is broadening its Southwest Pacific presence by introducing a second nonstop route to Auckland.
• By the end of December, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines will all be operating to Auckland Airport from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which AKL points to as evidence of robust demand to North America.
• Hawaiian Airlines has reduced its year-round New Zealand route to seasonal service, between November to April. 
• Qantas has resumed flights between Sydney (SYD) and New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) after a hiatus of more than three years, using Auckland (AKL) as a new stopover point instead of Los Angeles (LAX).
• Singapore Airlines has put its A380 back into service between Auckland and Singapore. The A380 will operate a daily service between the two locations for the summer until 31 March 2024.

Accommodation

MajorDomo presents luxury villas across the Queenstown accommodating 6 - 14 guests for your client's ultimate summer vacation. Featuring new premium properties in Quail Rise, Jack's Point, Lake Hayes and Queenstown lakefront, there are multiple options to level up guest stays with luxurious add ons and premium concierge services.

ROKI Collection Queenstown is an ultra-luxury, boutique hotel coming to the lakefront of downtown Queenstown. ROKI will offer outstanding views of the natural surroundings, including the majestic Remarkables mountains and Lake Whakatipu. The hotel will comprise of 15 units, opening mid 2025.

Luxury accommodation operator Rosewood enters New Zealand by taking over the management and rebranding Robertson Lodges' three premium properties. Matakauri Lodge in Queenstown being one of them.  

Did you know you can exclusively book The Headwaters Eco Lodge in Glenorchy? Exclusive use of the 14 premium chalets and a three bedroom house includes cooked breakfast, yoga class, conference room, dining room, Scheelite outdoor shelter with fireplace, lodge lounge and sunroom - all in an inspirational natural setting.

The Historic Monte Christo winery is the birthplace of Central Otago Wine. Book one of three decorated cottages and enjoy the immersion into living history following the restoration of NZ’s first winery in the South Island (1864). The attention to detail by master craftsmen, matches premium wines and the range of experiences on offer, including private tastings in an underground cellar on-site.

The Harvest Hotel in Cromwell now offers guests a welcoming contemporary reception area following a major renovation.  This hotel is located directly across from Cromwell’s CBD. Groups will enjoy dining in the permanent buffet restaurant, free on-site parking, all being in great proximity to Central Otago’s very best wineries and cellar doors, Lake Dunstan and NZ’s newest Great Cycle Trail.

Activities

Fall in love with conservation on the RealNZ Walter Peak Conservation Eco Tour. Cruise there on the vintage TSS Earnslaw, explore the grounds with a horticulturalist, plant a native tree, and indulge in a freshly baked tea. It's the perfect adventure for those who want to give back.

Air Milford have partnered with Southern Discoveries to offer a unique experience on the 9.30am Fly Cruise Fly. Introducing the small, personalised sightseeing cruise on the Lady Stirling or Lady Bowen, exclusively for Air Milford guests and a limited number of FIT guests. Guests will still get the same inclusion of morning tea onboard the cruise. 

Southern Discoveries has introduced its 'Coach & Discover More' experience which departs from Queenstown as well as Te Anau. A tour from Queenstown where guests explore the Milford road plus the world-renowned Milford Sound 'Discover More' Cruise. This experience also includes New Zealand’s only floating underwater observatory for guests.

Nestled on a farm just five minutes from Queenstown airport, Country Lane Retail Village has been brought to life by repurposing heritage buildings using recycled materials. Hosting a vibrant community of local businesses, its lush gardens, boutique shops, farm animals and food trucks are a hub for artists, craftspeople and events. 

Altitude Tours has introduce their latest product the Heli Wine Sampler Tour. A new option giving those joining the award-winning Wine Sampler tour the option to upgrade, starting with a scenic helicopter flight over the Nevis Bluffs with views across the entire Gibbston wine region, before landing on a mountaintop for a glass of New Zealand sparkling wine.

Altitude tours has relaunched their product, 'The Best of Queenstown'. Let them show your clients around Queenstown like a local. Visit iconic scenic viewpoints, walk the quaint streets of Arrowtown, watch the fearless Bungy jump, taste Pinot in Gibbston, and take a cruise on the lake - all in an easy half day adventure. 

Introducing the Central Otago Food & Wine Tour. Join Altitude Tours on a full day food and wine tour and explore, taste and savour at four separate wine tasting experiences around Central Otago, with a delicious lunch and platters enjoyed at locally renowned locations.

Heliworks have introduced a new product, the Milford Sound Explorer. If you are short on time but want to see all the beauty of Milford Sound and the Earnslaw Burn, then this is the trip for you. With this flight, you will enjoy Milford Sound without the crowds before landing in our exclusive landing spot, The Earnslaw Burn.

Alpine Wine Tours have redesigned the Queenstown Progressive Dinner where guests are taken on a culinary journey accross three locations in and around Queenstown. Starting with a gin tasting at the Gin Garden by Broken Heart Spirits, a main course and wine tasting at Ayrburn, and dessert and wine at The Grille by Eichardt's Hotel to finish. 

Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters new luxurious twin engine H145 can accomodate up to 9 passengers. It features a spacious cabin, with leather interior and viewing windows specifically designed for sightseeing flights. 

ThrillZones product Putt'n'Glow - The Adventure glow in the dark Mini Golf course, has gone through a refurb and upgrade. Offering holes and challenges around the course and unlimited fun for unlimited time, as they offer New Zealand's only Mini Golf course where you can play as many rounds as you like. 

Food and Drink

Ayrburn's The Woolshed, one of their many venues due to the open on 9 December. Described as generous and uncomplicated with something for everyone. Classic elegance seamlessly mingles with the warm, welcoming ambiance of a casual bistro. Depending on the season, The Woolshed offers alfresco or fireside dining. 

At Aryburn's Manure Room you have the opportunity to embark on a tasting adventure. Explore the nuanced flavours, aromas, and complexities of our handpicked selection of wines. Their team of wine experts will guide your clients through a curated tasting experience, ensuring they uncover the hidden gems in every pour.

Ayrburn's The Burr Bar is the perfect haven for an intimate drink. The Burr Bar is a one room refuge and sensory soother, an intimate, calm and luxurious space. The perfect spot for your clients to enjoy their pre or post dinner drink when visiting Ayrburn. 

Indulge in the authentic flavours of Japanese cuisine at CAVE-Japanese Sake & Tapas, nestled in the heart of picturesque Arrowtown. The warm and welcoming "cave" atmosphere, combined with the culinary mastery of owner Chef Kei, creates a perfect new dining experience for your visiting clients to enjoy. 

This Summer’s new go-to for Tex-Mex and high vibes launched 1 December on Brecon Street.
Miss Rita’s Cantina is your passport to flavour packed tacos, sizzling fajitas and fried chicken worth writing home about! Open daily from 12pm till late. 

Carrick Winery in Cromwell has introduced their new F&W cabana experience. Two private cabanas overlook the gorgeous Bannockburn Inlet and surrounding vineyards. Catering for 2-8 guests per cabana, visitors will enjoy the NZ Food and Wine, sampling a selection of Carrick’s award-winning wines and enjoying locally grown produce. 

Awards And Accolades

• The Rees Hotel, Queenstown is pleased to announce it has been recognized as New Zealand's Leading Hotel 2023.
• Hulbert House, Queenstown has also been recognized in the World Travel Awards as New Zealand's Leading Lodge 2023.  The second time the hotel has been recognized with this award. 
• Arrowtown has been named 'Most Beautiful Small Town' and 'Best Street' for the Keep New Zealand Beautiful annual awards. 
• Queenstown and Milford Sound tourism operator Southern Discoveries has won the Excellence in Tourism & Hospitality category at the Dunedin's Grand Business South Awards. 
• Altitude Tours took home two awards at this years New Zealand Tourism Awards 2023, NZME Visitor Experience Award and Eudora+Emerging Tourism Leader Award by co-founder & GM Heidi Farren. 
• The Queenstown Business Awards were held recently, the winners were as follows;

Best Emerging business, sponsored by Findex: Mountainwatch Travel.

Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion, sponsored by QLDC and Welcoming Communities: RealNZ.

Excellence in Sustainable and Regenerative Business Practice, sponsored by Destination Queenstown: Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa.

Excellence in Innovation, sponsored by Beca: Outback New Zealand.

Excellence in People & Capability, sponsored by Southern Institute of Technology / Te Pūkenga: Active Adventures.

Excellence in Customer Experience, sponsored by QT Queenstown: Altitude Tours.

People’s Choice, sponsored by Mountain Scene: Country Lane Queenstown.

Air New Zealand mentorship prize: Canyon Brewing.

2023 Supreme Winner: Active Adventures.

Key Dates & Events

• 6 December: The WILD
• 9 December: Coronet Peak Summer Opening Day 
• 23 - 26 December: Christmas weekend
• 27 December: Lake Hayes Triathlon
• 29 - 31 December: : Rhythm & Alps
• 31 December: New Years Eve
• 5 January: Bay Dreams
• 13 January: Lake Hayes A&P Show
• 19 -28 January: Queenstown Bike Festival
• 3 February: Gibbston Valley Summer Concert
• 29 February - 3 March: New Zealand Open
• 2 March: Motatapu 

Discover more events in Queenstown with a complete guide to some great experiences.

Your DQ Travel Trade Team