Southern Lakes Region
Queenstown
Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s top visitor destinations and if you come to the region you’ll understand why. The picturesque town is nestled on the shores of crystal clear Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by magnificent mountain ranges.
The lake and mountain landscape make it suited to all kinds of adventure, and in November the longer spring days provide lots of daylight hours to explore. Adrenalin activities such as bungy jumping, sky diving, canyon swinging, jet boating, horse trekking and river rafting are there to temps the adventurous, but if hardcore adventure isn’t your thing, there are plenty of mellow options available.
Arrowtown
You’ll be enchanted by Historic Arrowtown, a New Zealand treasure, with its beautiful buildings and famed nature trails. It is a scenic 25 minute drive from Queenstown, and a popular winter base for international ski teams. Arrowtown is charming and quirky – a delightful gold rush village nestled below the beautiful peaks that surround the sparkling Arrow River.
The heart of its history is Buckingham Street, a procession of small town heritage buildings that stretch into a tree lined avenue of tiny miners’ cottages. It is a wonderful place to browse and relax, enjoying the dining, the shopping, and soaking up Arrowtown’s lively heritage.
Wānaka
Lake Wānaka lies at the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park, a pristine environment of striking mountains and deep alpine lakes and an area of spectacular natural beauty.
On the edge of a pristine alpine lake, surrounded by the spectacular scenery of Mount Aspiring National Park, Lake Wānaka is the ideal destination for both outdoor adventures and soothing relaxation. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy a multitude of activities from trekking in the National Park to mountain biking, rock climbing to kayaking.
Cromwell
Nestled in the heart of Central Otago, Cromwell is surrounded by rugged mountains, two magnificent rivers, and the crystal clear waters of Lake Dunstan, you will be awe-inspired by the natural beauty of this idyllic town.
With Cromwell’s central location (1hr from Glendhu Bay, 40mins from Arrowtown), you will have the chance to explore the wider Central Otago region with ease with Cromwell as your base.
Welcome Rab! & Tips for Staying Cool
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We hope your summer is off to an amazing start, with longer days bringing more time for adventure!
As the holiday season approaches, we wanted to share some tips and tricks to help make your Motatapu experience even better. Check out our recommendations below, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions—we’re here to help! |
Volunteer with us!
If you can’t join us on the start line this year, but would still love a fun day out in the hills enjoying some of New Zealand’s most breathtaking scenery and helping our competitors have an awesome day, how about joining our volunteer team?
Partners
