Queenstown Life in 2017

Moving through into another year, there’s so many blogs around. It’s becoming harder and harder to make your mark, be bright and shiny in an already fluorescent world. Queenstown Life for me is about the small the mighty and the best about New Zealand that many bloggers move over and miss on their travels. I want those places, those businesses. They are the heart and soul of this country and I want you to know about them.

To the furthest flung places in the North Island to the littlest B&B in Curio Bay South Island. To the best candlestick maker in Auckland and the best clothes shop in Timaru.

Looking back at my blog covering 2016 and I spat out my tea at the amount of businesses we worked with to promote. I can’t name them all (I’d be here until 2018) but here are a few. Some of them you’d think “aha I wouldn’t have ever put them on a blog”, which will hopefully make you consider getting your business on here and into our family. Marketing, advertisement, promotion, writing, editorial; it all comes under blogging and there are so many creative ways to do it now. Rather than placing an advert in a magazine or newspaper, blogging tells so many more stories about people behind brands. Stories are what people relate to, can understand and then are more likely to want to invest something into a product.

Here’s to working together in 2017!

Also my readers, wow where would it be without you gorgeous lot? I love all your comments, feedback and of course pictures you send me. If you have anywhere/ thing/ place you’d like me to concentrate on and visit then let me know!

Mou Waho
A place that truly blew my mind and I will be returning again this Summer. Chris at Ecotours Wanaka is the man on the mission. Read about it here.

Queenstown Life in 2017

Stir Tea
The beautiful umbrellas on all these tea packages often make people say “I know Stir Tea!”. Gorgeous scents and a tea for every tastebud. Nothing better than sipping a good cuppa and having a read. Here!

Queenstown Life in 2017

Sunrise Hot Air Balloon
What an amazing birthday surprise! I’d been wanting to go up in one of these huge baskets forever and a day as they fly over my house most mornings. Drifting softly over the land and landing down on the earth to a delicious morning tea. Champagne anyone? Read about them here.

Queenstown Life in 2017

West Coast tour
A pure aching to get away on my own and have no-one to talk to other than my car (and talk I did) I headed up to the top of the West Coast with Tourism West Coast and Jucy rentals. And blew my mind it did. Vast beaches and windswept roads a plenty. Have a read over some tea here and all the places to photograph here

Queenstown Life in 2017

Sydney
Beaches, hot sunshine, more traffic lights than, well, around here, food and drink a plenty and so much culture! We shopped our socks off and you can read about all the things to do here.

Queenstown Life in 2017

Onsen
Imagine water gently bubbling around your ears and the distant sound of thrill seekers on a jet boat below. An hour or two to settle into a world of relaxation and views to die for. Onsen hot pools. Enough said.

Queenstown Life in 2017

Plump and Co
Knitting on steroids. Now I’ve got your attention. Knitting is making a huge comeback and this one especially as it takes absolutely no time at all to make something. I was all in and ready to learn from the amazing Jacinta. Read here.

Queenstown Life in 2017

Antipodes
Antipodes is the epitome of deliciousness in creams and potions to make someone who needed a good lathering! I was so proud to welcome them onto my blog in 2016 and here’s to many more collaborations!

Queenstown Life in 2017

Dontbeadoormat
The clever people at dontbeadoormat took something of a normal regular taking point at cocktail parties (just me?) and made it into a fluorescent sparkly conversation starter (see what I did there). Beautiful mats with gorgeous little words and sayings on them to welcome all the guests into your home. Even the ones you don’t want to come in (all my animals) Check them out here.

Queenstown Life in 2017

Tekapo Springs and Spa
Just a couple of hours drive out of Queenstown and on the road to Christchurch is amazing Tekapo. A place to ski and soak in the Winter and meander and soak in the Summer! One of the loveliest places I’ve been to in a long while to just do nothing but watch the lupins dance in the wind. Read about it Here 

Queenstown Life in 2017

Retreat Wanaka
I love tripping the light fantastic and heading over the hill to Wanaka especially when there’s yoga, good food and company. I spent the day with Lake Wanaka Tourism at the beautiful ‘Retreat yourself’, get into your downward dog and have a read here 

Queenstown Life in 2017

Barkers of Geraldine
Delicious new syrups for the Summer are now stocked in my cupboard, some wonderful new recipes that even I could make! I was so proud to finally get this iconic NZ brand on my blog and you can read all about their new range here 

Queenstown Life in 2017

Melbourne
Food. I have a endless love for food and so overtime I head to Melbourne I find another raft of new eateries to stuff my face in. The standard of food there is unrivalled and so here’s my favourite places to get your eat on here 

Queenstown Life in 2017

Ignition
I am now a certified James Bond and fast car addict after a smooth Aston martin ride all the way to beautiful Glenorchy. I squealed a little (a lot) and didn’t want to get back into my spider cobwebbed rust bucket car afterwards. Dream a little dream here 

Queenstown Life in 2017

Doubtful Sound
Heading to one of the quietest places this side of the equator with your bestie you could be forgiven for never coming home. Doubtful Sound was always on my list of New Zealand must do’s and now I have. Make it one of yours and read about it here 

Queenstown Life in 2017

Remarkables Market
The best market in the world! Well, I think so anyways and into their seventh year of bringing you the best in local goodness. I’m so proud to work with them again for the second year running, campaigns, pictures and writing. See all the goodness here.

Queenstown Life in 2017