Escape to the Lakes

The heady days of summer may be over but with everything the Queenstown Lakes region has on offer for visitors it’s easy to embrace the cooler temperatures and slower pace

The first snows of 2026 have already dusted the peaks of the spectacular Southern Alps around Queenstown Lakes — too early to settle for the ski season, but enough to signal a definite shift in seasons. The light sharpens, the first proper cold arrives, and suddenly the region’s pleasures feel less like a checklist and more like a rhythm: a long lunch, a bike between vines, a sauna and soak, a relaxed dinner in town, some stargazing as the nights draw in. The summer snacks, the ice cream and cold beer, are replaced by hearty meals, warm fires, red wine, cosy restaurants and bars, and bundled-up evening walks between venues.

There are more than 150 restaurants across the Queenstown Lakes district, and downtown Queenstown itself has the highest concentration, a lively mix of everything from food trucks and very famous burger joints to high-end restaurants where head chefs will hope to have attracted the attention of the Michelin inspectors. Hidden down laneways and courtyards, up off-street staircases, on second-floor terraces, or spilling out onto the pedestrianised streets and lakeside parades, there’s a venue for every mood.

Relatively new to the scene, Toast & Oak, on Shotover St, is already one of the most popular spots for foodies in town. Treat yourself to the five- or seven-course Chef’s Journey with wine pairing, and prepare to be indulged course by course, glass by glass. Sunfire, on Steamer Wharf, is another surefire winner, with South African and Spanish-inspired cuisine, cooked over charcoal in a Josper oven. The menu features locally sourced ingredients such as Lumina lamb, 55-day aged beef, and Bostock’s organic free-range chicken.

Nearby, the new Wharf Bar offers relaxed dining, with some of the best views of anywhere in town over Lake Whakatipu and the snowy Remarkables.

The Grille by Eichardt’s, within the historic Eichardt’s Hotel on Marine Parade, offers comfortable yet stylish New York-inspired bistro dining, with a menu drawing on the best produce from Central Otago and Southland. For even more autumn and winter warmth and comfort, go Italian, with dimly lit Queenstown institution The Cow, on Cow Lane, where locals have been enjoying simple pizza, spaghetti, soup and garlic bread for more than 40 years. Lower Brecon St’s Bella Cucina is another good neighbourhood Italian, in town for almost 20 years, offering fresh, delicious and affordable fare. Odd Saint, Finz, Flame, Soda, Blue Kanu, Boardwalk and Latin American newcomer Caribe On Fire are all worth checking out, all within a few minutes’ walk of the lakefront.

Out towards Arrowtown, looking over the beautiful Lake Hayes, Amisfield restaurant remains one of the region’s most celebrated dining experiences, while Arrowtown itself has plenty to offer autumn and winter diners, too. Aosta blends the cooking traditions of Northern Italy with Central Otago produce and subtle French influences. Under the guidance of chef Ben Bayly and head chef Josh Phillips, the Buckingham Street restaurant won Regional Restaurant of the Year at the 2025 Cuisine Good Food Awards.

Next door, Little Aosta offers fresh pasta, fish and meat dishes, and delicious pizzas with that unmistakable smoky, earthy flavour of a wood-fired oven. The Dishery, still on Buckingham St but down towards the historic Chinese village, is a great spot for brunch — try the Dishery Turkish Eggs, with BBQ ciabatta, gooey eggs, black garlic labneh and Aleppo pepper butter, or the Prawn Cocktail & Crispy Crayfish Roll.

The Millhouse at Millbrook Resort, a short drive or long afternoon stroll from the village centre, offers true garden-to-table dining with produce from its on-site kitchen garden, surrounded by the golf courses that host the NZ Open each year.

If you’ve ventured as far as Arrowtown, there’s no reason not to go a little further and sample some of the many vintages of Gibbston Valley, celebrated for its world-class pinot noir. There are more than a dozen distinct wineries and vineyards, the majority offering cellar door experiences. Gibbston Valley Winery is the region’s first and largest, with its wine cave tasting of older vintages, wine & cheese pairing, and tour through its historic home block.

By contrast, Coxs’ Vineyard on Gibbston Back Road feels more intimate, a second-generation family-run vineyard established by Doug Cox in 1999, with cellar door by appointment only. There are several companies offering wine tours: NZ Wine Tours, Appellation, Altitude and Latitude 45 cover everything from small-group days to more luxurious private tasting experiences.

Rental ebikes are another great way to get around, especially on those crisp bright sunny autumn days. Kinross, Peregrine, the beautiful Chard Farm and other vineyards in the Valley of the Vines, are all worth a visit.

Over the hill in Wānaka, the foodies’ paradise continues. Treehouse, in Anderson Heights, is a cosy new restaurant and bar, led by head chef Ricardo Le Roux, open Wednesday to Sunday, 5pm til close, with a focused menu led by its Lumina Lamb Rack.

Bambina by Giovi is another authentic Italian, the newest restaurant in town, offering handmade pasta, traditional recipes and warm dining, while Muttonbird remains a fresh and funky place focused on Kiwi produce, from Royalburn Lambs Tongue to Matangi Beef Carpaccio. Big Fig and Federal Diner are also great places to grab a bite.

Between all the delicious meals, there’s plenty of other ways to enjoy this region at a slower pace for those not drawn by the adrenaline. Scenic flights by Over The Top, Southern Lakes Helicopters and others, offer a quick way to take in the snowline and surrounding ranges, while lakeside saunas, spas and hot pools are popping up everywhere in recent months, as wellness becomes a priority. All in all, there’s something to cater to.

For more information on Queenstown and Wānaka’s dining scene and to plan your trip, visit queenstownnz.nz and wanaka.co.nz