Walking

There are some great walks from our property, including the Matilda Battery Walk that takes in old gold mining relics, the Aurora Track (loop) that traverses beautiful mountain trails with spectacular views and old mine shafts, and the Kanuka Loop walk (3+ hrs, more difficult) that takes in the hills to our west and south including fantastic views of Lake Dunstan and the Pisa Ranges. Don’t worry, we can provide maps and in-person advice to help you find the best walk suited to interests, time and fitness.

Sturdy Footwear that you don't mind getting dusty, day pack, sun hat, sunscreen, comfortable walking clothes, wind or rain jacket, waterbottle, a camera  and a sense of adventure

Golfing

Front 9 Golf will tailor a package to suit your golfing interests and ambitions. Our nearest courses are Cromwell (links) and Tarras (9 hole), Wanaka is not far as are Dunstan, Alexandra and Roxburgh, and in Queenstown, the revered Millbrook (x2), Arrowtown, Queenstown (Kelvin Heights) and Jacks Point.

  • Smartish clothes for the golf course. Gentlemen and ladies a shirt with a collar, shorts, trousers or skirt. Even under the Otago sun it can get chilly so  pack a warm top
  • Some golf courses allow active wear. Non spike golf shoes on most of the Central Otago courses. Clean shoes for the clubhouse
  • Avoid jeans, cargopants, boardies and logo T Shirts, jandals and sandals
  • Golf clubs, trundlers and carts can be hired directly on the day if you do not have your own. Let us know in advance if you have special requirements (left-handed etc)

Biking

For the keen mountain biker, there are some fun trails near the property including the Aurora Track, which is tough and a bit technical but enjoyable if you have the fitness and ability (or just an ebike and ability!)

The Lake Dunstan Cycle Trail is 20 mins away in Cromwell. We don’t have an official activity/tour, but as cyclists ourselves who are very familiar in this area we’ll let you know what we think the best options are for your requirements.

Stargazing / Astronomy

Enjoy our clear skies with little light pollution with our tripod-mounted celestial binoculars and 8″ Dobsonian telescope [coming soon], guided by our trained astroguide (Barry) or just enjoying the Milky Way, stars and planets on your own from a beanbag and a blanket. Use our star gazing suitability predictor to avoid disappointment. Note that weather happens, and the cloud cover predictor is based on historical data. Autumn, winter and spring are the best stargazing seasons. If the weather doesn’t allow for outdoor activity, we will arrange an alternate indoor activity or reschedule for the following night.

Our unique customer Stargazing Calendar identifies the best nights based on the moon’s illumination (bright moons are not so great if you want a dark sky), the weather prediction (eased on historical patterns or weather forecasts), and what constellations or planets are visible before midnight. Closer to the time, it also includes predictions for Aurora Australis (southern lights).

Barry is a trained Astroguide through AAA and a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand.

Wine Tasting

We are surrounded by some of the best pinot noir vineyards and we will gladly point you in the right direction of where to go and which cellar doors will be open. We are working with a couple of neighbouring vineyards who are establishing their own bespoke tasting rooms where they would love to talk to you about their vineyards, share their stories and of course drink their fabulous wines.