Top Things to do in Otago Region
Countries
Things to do in Otago Region, South Island: The Best Sightseeing Tours
Discover the best top things to do in Otago Region, New Zealand including Skippers Canyon Half Day Private 4WD Charter from Queenstown, Private Tour: Dunedin to the Catlins, A 2 hour Small Group Dunedin City Highlights Tour, Private Tour Full Day Queenstown and Southern Lakes Photography Tour, 8-Day Tour: South Island from Christchurch, Franz Josef, Wanaka and Queenstown, Vine Hopper: Queenstown's Ultimate Wine & Microbrewery Adventure, Private Iconic Larnach Castle Tour, Wine Tour from Queenstown: Full Day, Wine Tour from Wanaka & Cromwell: Full Day, Premium Milford Sound Bus - Cruise - Fly Tour with Picnic Lunch from Queenstown.
Restaurants in Otago Region
1. Skippers Canyon Half Day Private 4WD Charter from Queenstown
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Enjoy getting off the beaten track with this exciting off road 4x4 tour in Skippers Canyon! Accessing Queenstown’s hidden scenic gems means leaving the highway and taking to the back roads to unveil a world you’d never know existed. As a local family owned and operated business, with years of local knowledge, our Off-Road 4x4 guides know how to navigate the long-forgotten adventure trails to amazing gold rush settlements and stunning scenery now forever captured on film by Lord of the Rings.
Inclusions: Small personalised tours to stunning locations, Guaranteed individual forward facing window seats, Free refreshments provided on selected tours, Free pick up and drop off to your accommodation, On-site IPad multimedia presentations, Guides are knowledgeable friendly locals
Exclusions: Gratuities
Reviewed By k8ienzl
One of the best tours we have ever done. Our tour driver, Scott, had a wealth of knowledge of the area, the history and the environment. We were delighted to see endangered kārearea (NZ falcon) and the vistas are stunning. Scott took the time to explain the history of the gold mining and had stories about the characters who lived and worked the goldfields as well as the origins of Queenstown. We can highly recommend this family owned tour company.
2. Private Tour: Dunedin to the Catlins
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Waterfalls, deserted beaches, coastal rainforest, and rare wildlife can all be found in the Catlins. Explore this remote part of the South Island on a private day trip from Dunedin. You'll learn about early Maori inhabitants and European settlers from your personal guide, who has a Department of Conservation (DOC) concession with access to unforgettable places.
Inclusions: Gratuities, GST (Goods and Services Tax), National Park fees, Light refreshments, Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off
Exclusions: Lunch
Reviewed By keithcG4728US
We have been trying to contact you for the last 2 weeks due to mobility issues . The documentation you sent me wjen I booked in September 2020 had no contact details or the name of the land provide? The land provider contacted me on Wednesday 05/05/2021 and was made aware of the cancellation. You have debited our credit card with AUD$385.60. Please refund this amount ASAP. Regards, Keith F G Colyer.
3. A 2 hour Small Group Dunedin City Highlights Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Join a small group tour to discover highlights of Dunedin - the oldest city in New Zealand .Our City Tour is a great choice for those who are short on time and want individual and personalised service. It is a short but sweet introduction to our wonderful city of Dunedin. Our two hour City Tour takes in the highlights of Dunedin and still allows plenty of time for you to partake in any other activities that you may have planned.
Inclusions: Bottled water, Air-conditioned vehicle
Exclusions:
Reviewed By mally502021
We enjoyed our tour around Dunedin seeing all the tourist spots. Great guide who was very friendly and helped with photography and patiently waited while I took my photos. Very knowledgeable about the area I would recommend them excellent tour.
4. Private Tour Full Day Queenstown and Southern Lakes Photography Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 10 reviews
This is your chance to photograph one of the most spectacular and majestic places on Earth; Queenstown and the Southern Lakes. This full-day private photography tour will take you to the iconic locations you see in brochures as well as those special spots only a local would know, to explore and capture the beauty and splendor for yourself. This tour is designed for photography enthusiasts and your guide is a passionate landscape photographer, with years of local knowledge. Enjoy 8-9 hours of visiting some of the most interesting and beautiful destinations close to Queenstown and around the Southern Lakes. The weather in this amazing region is constantly changing bringing many moods that to the mountains, lakes, rivers and forests. Whatever the conditions we always know where to take you to and how to capture unique scenes of outstanding natural beauty.
Inclusions: Private tour for small-groups or individuals, Flexible itinerary, Advice on creative composition and using your camera, Local photographer guide, Comfortable 4WD, Light refreshments, Hotel pickup and drop-off
Exclusions: Lunch (Opportunity to buy lunch), Camera (Nikon D5100, available to rent)
Reviewed By simoneO2710JR
We booked a photo tour of areas that most people wouldn’t go, to capture unique images. We were highly delighted with not only the tour locations but the personalised and engaging explanations of the flora, fauna, local stories and histories en route. Martin, our driver and guide; was excellent tutoring, driving and advising on images. We went off-road into stunning high country which offered excellent picture opportunities, can’t wait to process. Summer was brilliant, would love to return in winter! Highly recommended and would love to repeat with Martin again if back in New Zealand.
5. 8-Day Tour: South Island from Christchurch, Franz Josef, Wanaka and Queenstown
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14 reviews
See the best of New Zealand’s stunning South Island on this unforgettable 8-day tour! Traveling by private luxury vehicle you’ll visit all the highlights of this amazing destination on an counter-clockwise route from Christchurch. Explore Arthur’s Pass, see West Coast rainforests from Franz Josef Glacier, and visit Mount Cook and Queenstown. Customize your tour to your preference with a range of optional activities (own expense) including helicopter rides, mountain walks, bungee jumps and more! The service that we provide is a private luxury tour service, not a large group tour. Other than our friendly tour staff you will not be sharing your tour with anyone outside of your own party so you can rest assured that this is your tour and we’ll do exactly what you want to make it your perfect trip. With a round-trip transfer from Christchurch Airport or your local hotel plus seven nights of accommodation included, this adventure-laden tour enables you to see the South Island with ease.
Inclusions: Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Private tour, Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner), Live commentary on board, Professional tour guide (who is also the driver), Transport by private vehicle and all fuel charges, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Round-trip airport transfer (Christchurch), 7 nights accommodation in your selected category of hotel
Exclusions: Gratuities, Optional activities, Personal expenses, Food and drinks, not specified in the itinerary (lunch and dinner)
Reviewed By Pipnruss
Fiordland Lodge and Doubtful Sound. Fantastic ferry ride across Lake Manapouri and bus ride over the Wilmot Pass to board the Fiordland Navigator for 2 nights. 3 sunny, calm days to relax on board, spoiled by the chef's lovely food and Courtney's very knowledgeable commentary about the Sounds, history, wildlife, birdlife and little things like having complete silence in the Sound to enjoy the peace and look at the amazing mountains and their reflections in the calm water. An unexpected run out into the Tasman Sea was a bonus. The Fiordland Lodge is an American style Lodge built with lots of logs and wood and stone, very spacious. Friendly helpful staff. Located 6km from Te Anau. Our only concern was the lack of food choice for dinner, on a 3 course meal was offered, no light meals. The breakfast (included) was lovely, as was all the food, some interesting variations in tastes.
6. Vine Hopper: Queenstown's Ultimate Wine & Microbrewery Adventure
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 35 reviews
This isn't your average wine or beer tour! I've carefully sought out the best of the best. These are Queenstown's boutique taste makers. Leave the tourist trail behind and let me take you on a personal journey to meet the folks who's passion, love for their craft and location sets them apart from the rest. Take a place that is widely considered one of the top wine regions in the new world, a recent explosion in craft & microbreweries and add in the pioneering kiwi spirit and you have the perfect recipe for an all out taste adventure. Wine and beer are made, first and foremost to just be enjoyed. So, whether you're the Einstein of wine or just here for a good ol' time, come sip, slurp & savour the best local flavours. **Please Note: I'm not a large commercial operator or tour company and prefer to focus on smaller group sizes as I believe this allows for better connections to be made and a more valuable experience for travellers.
Inclusions: Beer & Food Pairing, 20+ Tastings Included, Environmentally Friendly Water Bottles Provided To All Guests, Snacks, Air-conditioned vehicle, Direct Accommodation Pick-Up/Drop-Off Included, Carbon footprint offset: For each trip, more native trees are planted in the region.
Exclusions:
7. Private Iconic Larnach Castle Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Enjoy your own personalized private tour of Larnach Castle and Dunedin City with us. This is a 6 hour fully guided tour that lets you explore Dunedin and Larnach Castle at a leisurely pace. Included is a guided tour of Larnach Castle's unique interior and gardens. Light refreshments and chilled water are included. The tour takes in many interesting buildings and landmarks in Dunedin city such as the Larnach family tomb, the old University and all the main city attractions. The drive to Larnach Castle offers spectacular views from the Otago Peninsula with a lookout stop along the way. Upon arrival at Larnach Castle, your table will be reserved for lunch at the Ballroom cafe (lunch is own cost). After lunch you will embark on a fully guided tour inside the Castle. Then your guide will also take you through the award winning gardens offering fantastic views over the Otago Harbour. Instead take a garden guide map and explore the gardens on your own during some free time before we depart.
Inclusions: Guided tour of Larnach Castle, Light refreshments, Hotel pickup and drop-off
Exclusions: Lunch
Reviewed By Truejaffa
We would thoroughly recommend using Iconic Tours. And here’s why. Last week we visited the Catlins with Kim from Iconic Tours. The Catlins had been on our bucket list for some time but we had never managed to get there until now. We had heard accommodation and cafes were in short supply down there and we wanted to ensure we didn't miss any highlights so we opted for a tour instead of self drive. Kim collected us from the airport in a comfortable air conditioned sedan and drove us into the city, pointing out places of interest as we went. He did a brief tour around the city centre, took us up to our accommodation in Roslyn and waited while we dropped our bags off, then dropped us back at the i- site. We spent the next 3 days exploring Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula which we really enjoyed. But the best was yet to come! Kim is a great driver and guide and he packed a lot into our 2 day Catlins tour, while never rushing or hurrying us. He is knowledgeable and articulate with a keen interest in the history of places and the local flora and fauna. As he was doing the driving we were able to sit back and relax and enjoy the scenery, and no need to worry if we had missed a turn off or if the road or a café were closed – he had all the local knowledge to adapt if necessary. But here’s a tip- allow 3 days , there is so much to see and do. He drove us down unsealed roads that we wouldn't have ventured on and the sights at the end were remarkable. We had walked the length of Cannibal Bay, admiring the sea lions basking on the sand and were about to head back to the car when Kim spotted a dark shape in the water . It was a huge sea lion swimming into the shallows, then walking up the beach and flipping onto the sand. Awesome. That was a highlight for us as was standing on the beach at Curio Bay in the dusk watching a lone Hoiho penguin make his way up the beach towards his nest. Our breakfast at the Tumu Toka Curio Bay cafe and our dinner at the Niagara Falls restaurant were culinary standouts. Superb service and delicious food. When we arrived at our beach front unit Kim brought in a platter of cheese and crackers and a bottle of bubbly to share with us as we reviewed the day. We then had a short rest, dinner then another visit to the beach to wait for the arrival of the little Hoiho, the rarest penguin in the world. Covered in the price of our tour was our accommodation at Curio Bay (which was a comfortable studio unit right on the beach) plus morning teas, lunches and a cooked breakfast and museum entries etc, plus of course a driver/guide. Kim managed to pack in a tremendous amount of things each day from walks through native bush to see amazing waterfalls, seeing the petrified forest and visits to museums to watching fur seals on the rocks. Kim also does Stewart Island tours and we've got that in mind for the future as we couldn't imagine a better tour guide. And the Catlins? Pristine, uncrowded, an awesome experience.’
8. Wine Tour from Queenstown: Full Day
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
This exclusive wine tour of 5 wineries is perfect for small groups of family & friends. In Central Otago wine country you'll discover a wide range including Pinot Noir, Rosé, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc. I will pick you up at your accommodation in Queenstown at 11.40 am. Travelling in a premium SUV we head up the Kawarau Gorge to our first wine tasting which takes place at one of the most awe inspiring settings in the winemaking world. We then head to Cromwell where wineries are set amongst the historic remnants of the gold rush era. Here you will visit three wineries and taste distinctive wines in dramatic terrain. At one of the wineries a platter lunch can be booked in advance on your behalf with expenses payable by you directly to the cellar door. We then return to Queenstown and stop at a winery on the way for our final tasting. I am also a photographer; pictures are free of charge and are sent to you via link after the tour.
Inclusions: Bottled water, Over 24 wines available for tasting, Wine tasting fees, Coolbox for drinks & food, WiFi on board, Air-conditioned vehicle, Photos free of charge, Wine tasting guide
Exclusions: A platter lunch can be booked on your behalf with all expenses (from $20 per head) payable by you direct to the vineyard ; platter menus available on request.
Reviewed By Exploration202242
We had a wonderful day of wine tasting with Greg. He was very knowledgeable and passionate about wine and the region. Spending a day with him was an absolute blast. We can’t stop recommending this tour to all our friends and family. Overall experience absolutely 5 star! Thank you Greg :)
9. Wine Tour from Wanaka & Cromwell: Full Day
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
This is a relaxing wine tour for small groups of family and friends who want an exclusive experience. You will travel in a luxury air-conditioned SUV with leather seats, generous legroom, extra headroom, sunroof and USB power. On board there is a free wi fi hotspot, coolbox for food and beverages, wine carrier for purchases and umbrellas. Complimentary bottled water and crackers are also provided. You will discover an amazing range of award winning wines including Pinot Noir, Rosé, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and sparkling wine. You will journey through four distinct winemaking sub regions and visit boutique wineries off the beaten track on this great value wine tasting experience. A platter lunch can be booked in advance on your behalf with expenses payable by you directly to the cellar door. I am a photographer and will take pictures of your memorable day free of charge a send them to you via download link.
Inclusions: Wine tasting fees, Bottled water, Crackers for palate cleansing between tastings, Coolbox for your drinks, food, over 24 wines available for tasting, Air-conditioned vehicle, WiFi on board, Wine tasting guide
Exclusions: A platter style lunch can be booked in advance on your behalf with expenses payable by you (from $20 per head) ; platter menus available on request.
Reviewed By divyanz
Greg was super generous with his knowledge of the region and its wines, and it was a real privilege enjoying the wine experience with him. He took us to cellar doors at boutique wineries we wouldn't have been able to access otherwise, definitely not 4 in half a day. Absolutely recommend a wine tour with Greg for a true Central Otago wine experience (and he does the driving!)
10. Premium Milford Sound Bus - Cruise - Fly Tour with Picnic Lunch from Queenstown
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
This small group day trip includes a stunning boutique Milford Sound cruise with TripAdvisors No. 1 rated cruise provider and an amazing scenic flight back to Queenstown. Highlights: •Milford Sound Cruise with Cruise Milford •Scenic return flight with Glenorchy Air •Fiordland National Park •Lake Te Anau, Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes, Hollyford River, Homer Tunnel & Mitre Peak •Wildlife Spotting Our tours are led by our passionate tour guides, notorious for bringing your journey to life by sharing stories and rich background knowledge, and run in modern, comfortable minibuses that are packed with extras, ensuring your comfort and safety. While the destinations you will be visiting are truly spectacular, we at Cheeky Kiwi Travel believe it is our small groups, our guides, the journey and the little details that set our tours well apart. Secret stops, wildlife viewings, specially designed vehicles and many other pleasant surprises ensure our tours are an experience to remember.
Inclusions: Cruise Entry, Scenic Flight from Milford Sound to Queenstown , Small Group and Fully Guided Tour, Bottled water, Snacks, Picnic Lunch
Exclusions: Alcoholic beverages (available to purchase), Gratuities
Reviewed By pcol2017
Had a great trip last week with Cheeky Kiwi. Callum our guide was fantastic - took us to beautiful spots we would never have stopped at on our own. He provided a fun commentary and was totally engaging. The cruise with Cruise Milford was stunning. Lovely staff on board who chatted happily to guests and made us feel very welcome. Would totally recommend this trip. Takes the hassle out of driving yourself, and at the end of a long day, having someone else drive you home is a bonus. Nice comfortable van and small size makes a more personal trip. 5 stars
TAGS
