There’s no escaping that life has been different the past 18 months. Like we-live-in-a-dystopian-movie different. But if you’ve been keeping up, you know that’s about to change. Like soon, we’ll actually be boarding planes at international terminals and using a currency that is not AUD! Woohoo!
We know that opening the world back up to pre-pandemic levels will be slow, and safe countries will be our go-to spots first. As we’ve already had a Trans-Tasman bubble, our safe and friendly New Zealand neighbours, will no doubt be one of the first to welcome Aussie travellers back.
With the end in sight, we – like your clients – want to catch up on exploration, adventure, and being outside freely. In our opinion, there’s one place in New Zealand that ticks all the boxes of all the catch-ups we want to do: Queenstown.
Here’s why.
Catch-up on Being Outdoors
The sweet, sweet freedom to hike wherever, whenever will never again be underappreciated. For reals! We’re itching to go far and wide when we make it back to Queenstown. With 21 trails to choose from, there are opportunities to hike summits, tramp valleys, and meander paths. All just for the love of being outdoors, not because it’s the only way to get out of the house. The Invincible Gold Mine Track and Queenstown Hill Time Walk are high on our ‘catch up on being outdoors’ list.
It’s not all about being on two feet, though. Two wheels also work as Queenstown is well known for its bike trails, from the flat-and-easy family trails to the turbo-charged mountain bike rides.
Catch-up on Celebrations
Oh yes, please. We’re over Zoom birthday parties and FaceTime anniversaries. We can’t wait to grab the fam, the crew, or our plus one and participate in something Queenstown does like no other: celebrate, baby!
With such a wide range of accommodation offerings – hotels, motels, apartments, campgrounds and more – the size of your celebration is pretty limitless! Plus, with a diverse range of eateries, food is easy to factor in (every celebration needs a feast, right?).
Celebrate with a family high tea, maybe? Or a girls’ bottomless brunch? Or perhaps a romantic picnic breakfast after a sunrise hot air balloon ride? The choice is yours!
Catch-up on Reconnecting to Yourself
Are you ready to draw a line on the fear factor of the past 18 months? Well, when the borders open, we’re committing to going back to being fearless!
And that means we’ll be saying heck yes to bungy jumping over a stunning canyon, yes please to zip-lining through the trees, and shouting “faster” at our jet boat driver as they tackle a spin.
To us, nowhere says “fear less” like Queenstown!
Catch-up on Joy
You may have been homeschooling over the various lockdowns, but teaching your kids maths isn’t likely to have brought you joy. Now, finding post-pandemic joy is a must. A must! And Queenstown has the perfect activities.
How joyful does indoor skydiving at iFly Or shouting “weeeeeeee” as you zipline through the treetops? Or even the joy of cramming your face with decadent doughnuts at Balls and Bangles?
We thought so. Weeeeeeee.
Catch-up on Exploring
Nothing has blocked our travel mojo more than being limited to a tiny radius. Good job Queenstown not only covers 8,705 square kilometres, but it’s also acts as the gateway to other wow-worthy places, like Milford Sound.
Getting back into Dora the Explorer mode means we get to wander the cutesy gold mining towns around Queenstown, like Arrowtown and Glenorchy. Or set our sights on discovering the hidden natural gems that dot the region, like Lake Moke, the Lake Alta track and Lord of the Ring film set locations. Yay!
Catch-up on Silence
Catching up on silence is a post-pandemic essential. Not the moment’s silence you got when the kids stopped fighting for five seconds. Or that moment’s peace grabbed on a walk around your ‘hood’. We’re talking about experiencing silence and awe out in nature. Far, far out in nature.
Whether it’s enjoying peace at the summit of the Ben Lomond track or the wonder you feel as you hike the first section one of New Zealand’s great walks to the Routeburn Flats. Or perhaps it’s the pleasure derived from witnessing sunrise across Lake Wakatipu. Finding inner peace is easy in Queenstown.
Catch-up on Self-Care
Most of us have never lived through a period where self-care has been so important. Well, guess where you can get top-notch self-care experiences? Queenstown! Of course, you know about Queenstown’s hot pools, but did you know there are other ways to calm and soothe, too?
Like Smashit, with their two rage rooms to obliterate your COVID angst away. Or selecting a relaxing treatment from one of the 17 spa and massage facilities in town. Or booking an all-in wellness stay at one of the dedicated retreat centres like Millbrook and Aro Ha.
Catch-up on Queenstown Trade News
Does a post-pandemic Queenstown reset sound in order? Great! Reclaim your clients (and your) travel mojo by trip planning on the Queenstown trade page. Stay up-to-date with the trade newsletter and Queenstown travel sellers Facebook group. Oh, and our awesome Queenstown and Wanaka webinar is available for replay! Let’s go.
