Places to take your mum in Queenstown

My mum is in Queenstown visiting us and my new baby (baby alert!) and so I had to think hard and fast about where to take her for her three weeks here. She is obviously babysitting lots (she found that out when she landed) but she is a great lover of fine wines and food (apple doesn’t fall far etc) and also loves seeing the sights by car. Thinking cap on. If your mum (or dad or both) are visiting here are some ideas about day trips, sights and lovely places to take them.

I won’t tell you her age. She’ll kill me.

Places to take your mum in Queenstown

Akarua Wines and Kitchen by Artisan is open on Lake Hayes Road and is establishing itself as a firm favourite with just about everyone. Lovely breakfast, lunch dishes, platters, wine tasting and bubbles. Go on treat your mum to a glass. Sit out in the garden if its a lovely day or sink into a leather chair inside the old cottage. A beautiful sight to see.

Places to take your mum in Queenstown

High Tea at The Wakatipu Grill is a spectacular destination to sip bubbles and eat fine cakes and tiny sandwiches like the Queen. Get the Water Taxi over there (for an added bit of luxury) and wow your ma with fine tea and china. Tea should always be drank out of china.

Places to take your mum in Queenstown Places to take your mum in Queenstown

Get the wind in her hair for a day and hire a gorgeous car with Ignition Self Drive. I had the opportunity to take an Aston Martin out for a spin and you can read all about it here. She can channel her inner Audrey Hepburn and knock the cobwebs out of her ears with a fast car and some pedal to the metal. Or something. She’ll absolutely love you for it. (Does that mean I have to do it all over again?)

Hot Air Balloon with Sunrise Hot Air Balloons is an unbelievably beautiful experience. Floating high above Queenstown and Arrowtown you feel somehow oldly worldly if you catch my drift. It’s such a wonderful way to see the town up high, quiet and peaceful and often catching people in their pyjamas (they usually wave). Your mum will squeal in delight (if she’s afraid of heights maybe not) and also the croissants and bubbles at the end seals everything with a big red bow. You’re up so early you can crawl back into bed afterwards and revel in your delight.

If you’re mum is looking for a bit more oomph to her day out Ziptrek Ecotours is the perfect way to round it all off. Zooming through the trees (not too scary), discovering all there is to know about wildlife, the history of Queenstown and the ecology of the trees all the while feeling like a kid in a candy shop (without the dentist bill). Zip lining or flying foxes are all about feeling young again and I’m sure your mum wouldn’t mind a bit of that. I know mine wouldn’t.

Places to take your mum in Queenstown Places to take your mum in Queenstown Places to take your mum in Queenstown

Remarkables Market. Now who’s mum doesn’t love a good market? It has EVERYTHING you could want in a Saturday and so many things she can buy to take home to the family. You can read about it here and then drool at all the food, drinks, candles, clothes, plants….I could go on. Just go.

Places to take your mum in Queenstown

Glenorchy. So worth the drive (about an hour) along the windy roads with plenty of photograph stops on the way. A huge coffee and cake at Glenorchy Trading Post and a little bit of something nice to take away from Mrs Woolly’s. If you fancy a night there you can either choose from the beautiful Glenorchy Lake House , the gorgeous Tukuwaha accommodation or carry on down the road to beautiful Kinloch.
You’ll be on the Christmas card list forever. Believe me.

Take her somewhere nice. It’s not hard here! She’ll love you forever.