Queenstown Getaway With My Boyfriend
My boyfriend Chris and I went on our first trip away together on a romantic getaway to Queenstown!
I’ve heard about Queenstown plenty of times growing up in New Zealand and have seen breathtaking photos of the town all over Instagram so I’ve always wanted to visit. It’s funny how often we’ll travel abroad without first discovering the beauty of our home country and that’s been a goal of mine to do more of.
I was so excited when Chris and I decided to head down for our first getaway together to Queenstown. We planned a romantic 4 day, 3 night long weekend away.
THE NUGGET POINT HOTEL
On our first night we stayed at The Nugget Point Hotel. If you want something that encompasses all things, romance, relaxation and beauty - this is it!
THE LOCATION
Located in Arthurs Pass, Nugget Point Hotel and Spa is an intimate boutique hotel in a secluded location and perched high above the picturesque Shotover River, with sweeping views of the surrounding mountain ranges. It’s only 15 minutes from the airport and us the closest hotel to the stunning Coronet Peak Ski Area.
Take a tour using Google Maps below!
THE ROOM
I first heard about Nugget Point Hotel by a friend who had visited and was upgraded to their Executive River View Suite Room which has a spa bath on the balcony. When I heard this I saved it to my travel wish list right away!
The great thing about this room having a spa bath on the balcony is that you get the same views as the Onsen Hot Pools which is literally next door and one of the most Instagramable tourist destination in Queenstown.
While Onsen Hot Pools are $150 for a 1 hour spa for 2 people, with The Executive River View Suite at The Nugget Point you can enjoying a spa bath any time of the day that pleases you for your choice of duration plus the added benefit of accomodation in the luxurious suite.
We took full advantage of the outdoor spa bath spending a couple of hours relaxing in the serenity of it all. I made Chris and I a grazing platter which we enjoyed with a glass of red wine.
The Executive River Suite itself is incredibly spacious and features a kitchen, bedroom, living room, bathroom and opens out onto your own private balcony with spectacular views of Shotover River. The kitchen equipped with a hob, microwave, tea and coffee making facilities, dish washer and bar sized fridge. The bathroom has his and heres Italian marble vanities, spa bath and two person lovers shower. The lounge is equipped with flat screen TV and a gas fireplace to get cosy next to as well!
This suite starts at $350 per night on off-season but can peak up to $650 per night when popular as there is only one of this room available so you’ll need to book well in advance to get the best deal and secure this.
BREAKFAST
We had complimentary breakfast included in our stay which I’d definitely recommend adding on if it isn’t already included. The dining room looks out over Lower Shotover through floor to ceiling windows which is just so picturesque. We visited in Autumn so the colours were muted tones of brown, green and yellow.
The breakfast served is a spread of continental staples such as cereal, fruit, yoghurt and toast as well as your choice of a main from their menu. Chris chose the big breakfast which had all the goodies while I had a smaller breakfast choosing a few sides to make up my meal. We both ordered a barista coffee and while they had filter coffee complimentary, these were additional.
ARROWTOWN & GIBBSTON VALLEY
Arrowtown is a must-do when visiting Queenstown. You’ll notice the town’s charming character and spectacular scenery with each season very distinct . As a former gold mining town, the town has maintained its rich heritage and historic buildings.
We walked around leisurely taking in the unique ambience of the town heading toward the historic main street which offers world class food and beverage, shopping and attractions.
The iconic Remarkable Sweet Shop was one of the first shops we walked into. This shops is a kids (including big kids like us) dream! The shop has the largest selection of New Zealand lollies including all the favourites from my childhood. They also make their own fudge which they’re famous for. You can sample all their fudges complimentary which I’d highly recommend you do. Our two favourite flavours were Creme Brûlée Fudge and Malteser Fudge.
We visited the Arrowtown Post Office which is the second-oldest post office operating on it’s original site. Inside there’s a range of things including NZ gift ideas, New Zealand landscape and photography books as well as collectable stamps. We took the opportunity to take a photo with the stamp outside where Chris stuck is head through!
We stopped in at Terra Mia Italian Cafe, Restaurant and Pizzeria for lunch where Chris and I shared which was one of the best bolognese dishes I’ve had! The sauce was full of flavour, the pasta was al dente and it was seasoned to perfection.
GIBBSTON VALLEY WINERY
On our way back to Queenstown from Arrowtown we stopped in at Gibbston Valley Winery. While we were hoping to get a chance to go into the iconic cave and enjoy a winery tour, we had arrived too late so we just visited the cellar door and tasting room to enjoy a wine tasting instead.
We’ve still got this on our list to revisit - not only the cave, winery and restaurant but later this year they’re launching the Gibbston Valley Lodge & Spa which looks absolutely dreamy!
QT HOTEL
For our second and third night in Queenstown, we stayed in the city at the QT Hotel. This is an ultrachic hotel known for it’s modern and quirky interior which is perfect for experiencing the fun side of Queenstown.
THE LOCATION
The QT Hotel is located just outside the centre of Queenstown city, but still within a 10 minute walk making it a peaceful escape. Perched up above the city, the views of the crystal clear Lake Wakatipu and breathtaking peaks of the Southern Alps set the scene.
THE ROOM
We stayed in the QT King Room for our two night stay. These rooms are modern, designer sleek and have so many luxurious touches. Although on the smaller side, the rooms are well designed offering a luxurious king bed, spacious lounge area with a smart TV, a selection of the finest snacks and amenities and a designer bathroom with a standalone bath, seperate shower and fluffy black robes to keep snug in.
The bathroom was my absolute favourite! The baths are large and deep enough to truly immerse yourself in relaxation. I also loved the ring light in the bathroom which is any girls dream while getting ready - especially when travelling. The lighting is just so flattering and the perfect boost to your confidence. I took a lot of selfies in that mirror!
FOOD & DRINK
QT has a unique dining experience called Bazaar Queenstown which is a marketplace experience where you can pick what you please from a variety of different foods including charcuterie boards adorned with Centra Otago’s finest cheese, fresh seafood, a hot-off-the-grill station, authentic Italian wood-fired pizza, dessert bar and more!
As we were in the city, we visited local restaurants and trekked out during the day so when it came to food and drink we didn’t have the opportunity to truly engulf in what was on offer.
We did however have a drink down at Red - a sassy little bar located on site one evening before heading into town. The floor to ceiling windows offer a spectacular view of Lake Wakatipu and the Southern Alps but as we headed in a bit later, we missed out on the view. I can only imagine how stunning it would’ve been at sunset!
We also got espresso coffee and room service the next morning where I ordered an egg white omelette - yum! The serving sizes are pretty small but it was delicious nonetheless.
QUEENSTOWN CITY
SKYLINE QUEENSTOWN - LUGE & GONDALA EXPERIENCE
Chris and I were all rugged up in our matching sherpa denim jackets and headed into the city to experience Skyline Queenstown!
First, we went up the iconic Skyline Gondola taking in the stunning views as we went 450m above Queenstown to the top of Bob’s peak. The top of Bob’s peak hosts a few shops, a cafe and a restaurant. We warmed up with a hot chocolate in the cafe.
We then went on the Queenstown Luge. Chris had done this before in Rotorua but this was my first time. We took the chair lift up to the top and were treated to panoramic views of of Queenstown including Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables. Fun fact - I’m scared of heights but something about being with Chris has me so fearless because I’m so caught up in the enjoyment of it all. Look at how much joy I have on my face!
The Luge is designed for people of all ages and abilities so you can choose to go gentle and leisurely or steep and adventurous. Throughout the 800 metres courses there’s banked corners, tunnels and dippers! It’s one of those things you gain confidence on the more and more you do it. Once I conquered the course once, I went back up chairlift and did it again, and again, and again!
FERGBURGER
When you come to Queenstown, there’s one particular spot that people rave about - the iconic and world-famous Fergburger - a hamburger restaurant located in Queenstown that specialises in gourmet hamburgers. In fact, Ed Sheeran said it was “the best burger in the world”.
We wanted to try it out for ourselves but despite being in Queenstown for a few days, every time we checked there was a constant queue of people 50+ people spilling out of the restaurant at and down the street at all hours!
As we were driving to the airport on our final morning just after 9am, we drove past and there were a handful of people in queue so we stopped and grabbed ourselves a fresh and hot off the grill Fergburger for breakfast. Chris and I shared The Fergburger with double beef and cheese. The burger was everything you could imagine - fresh salad ingredients with succulent patties, soft toasted bun and the perfect amount of sauce. Plus - they’re massive!
WATCH THE VLOG
I had the best time on my Queenstown Getaway with my boyfriend and can’t wait to go back to explore more! Check out the vlog version below where you can see more including room tours, scenery and more of the activities we did. Also, don’t forget to subscribe!