A place where the mountains greet you each morning, and the lake mirrors skies that seem to stretch forever. Where every turn reveals harmony — between people and nature, between stillness and adventure. Here, community and landscape are intertwined.
The snow clad peaks of the Barrier Mountain Range to the north are dominated by a towering massif – Mount Earnslaw / Pikirakatahi (2830m) standing centre stage – while forested beech slopes, braided rivers and crystal clear mountain streams flowing from numerous valleys into Lake Wakatipu portray a 100% pure vista that is revealed first to travellers as they round Bennetts Bluff on the Glenorchy Queenstown road thus causing them to catch their breath at their first sight of the Head of the Lake.
Since the earliest times, this area has captured the imaginations and hearts of both settlers and travellers alike.
Today, the magic of Glenorchy continues to lure – always the natural beauty here accentuates the need for people to linger, contemplate, or to be inspired by both its subtleness and boldness.
Glenorchy offers much for those on a short time constraint – but don’t worry – you will return. Once is never enough. For the passive visitor, a luncheon and coffee, beer or wine in one of the restaurants or cafes whilst viewing the mountains from afar may suffice. For those with the time and energy, more opportunities await you;
For the serious wilderness seeker, and adventurous at heart, the mountain country awaits with challenges and rewards for your time and energies:
DAY WALKS
MULTI DAY TRAMPING
MOUNTAIN CLIMBING
ROCK CLIMBING
HUNTING
WILDERNESS ANGLING
MULTI DAY HORSE TREKKING
MULTI DAY CYCLE TOURS
The moods of the changing seasons, clear starlit night skies dwarfed by the Milky Way, morning and evening pastel hues, and a multitude of activities and opportunities settled at day’s end with good food, cold beer or fine wine. A selection of accommodation to meet the needs of the most discerning of visitors will show you why so many believe that Glenorchy is not only the best place in New Zealand: many visitors say that it is the best in the world – but hey – we already knew that!
