8 Days in New Zealand

Pick up a premium AWD vehicle at Queenstown Airport — essential for high mountain passes like Crown Range Road later in the trip. Clear customs and head into town. AWD is strongly recommended; standard 2WD is risky on the Crown Range in poor weather.

Check in at your Queenstown hotel on the lakefront. Drop luggage early if rooms aren't fully ready — most hotels hold bags. Budget: Nomads Queenstown. Premium: Novotel Queenstown Lakeside. Luxury: Eichardt's Private Hotel.

Queenstown's world-famous giant burgers on Shotover Street. Lines can be long but move remarkably fast. The Prime NZ Beef burger is the crowd favourite.

Cable car ride to Bob's Peak, then 5 gravity luge rides each down the purpose-built downhill track. Race your partner head-to-head on the advanced track. Keep your helmet on between runs for instant re-runs.

Stroll along the pebble beaches of Lake Wakatipu as the sun sets behind the Remarkables. The lake glows purple during late summer sunsets. Follow with lakeside dining at one of the waterfront restaurants.

Choose your adrenaline level: Kawarau Bridge Bungy (43m — the world's first commercial bungy site) or the Nevis Arc Swing (300m arc over the valley). Secure all cameras before launching. Book directly with AJ Hackett Bungy NZ.

Relax at Cargo Brewery in Arthur's Point with a hearty lunch and a tasting paddle of locally brewed Otago craft beers. Perfect for winding down after the bungy.

85 km/h high-speed jet boat spins through the narrow white-water walls of Shotover Canyon with full 360-degree spins centimetres from the rock faces. Full waterproof coats provided. Book in advance.

Celebrate with premium wood-fired steaks or locally caught seafood overlooking Lake Wakatipu. Flame Bar & Grill and Botswana Butchery are the top picks. Window tables must be booked weeks ahead for lake views.