May 15, 2026 • 8 mins
"'Slow down and soak up the truly remarkable surroundings'. That simple tourist maxim has taken on new meaning in Queenstown, as the wellness wave washes over our premier resort town with unprecedented relish."
Read Mike's full article here.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast
from news Talks at be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Our travel correspondent is mister Mike Yardley, the man with
the toughest gig and the broadcasting beers.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Good morning, it's a formidable job, Jack. Good morning from
Hemma's Springs. I'm looking at Conical Hill rather frigid here.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
I have to say, yes, but I mean this is
actually the time of year. I reckon that hen is great,
especially if you can when it's rear, those really beautiful crisp,
cold mornings and you can duck into the hot balls
and kind of be delicious and warm and looking at
the beautiful surroundings.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
It's yeahpying, it's just buying a Yeah, it's amazing how
many locals are here as opposed to going to six
sixty tonight. But I yes, just got a coffee from
a local cafe and Ryan Crosty and his family wandered out,
So I think half of christ should just here for
a hot dip.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Very good. Oh, I'm pleased to hear Ryan Crawdy, of course,
the most underrated man in New Zethern rugby for many
years in my view. Yes, anyway, we are focusing on
things a little further south this morning, probably equally cool
and crisp and indulgent. You're indulgent dips in Queenstown and
starting with dips of the watery kind. The wellness wave
is popping up all over Queenstown. So what is trending
(01:21):
at the moment.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Yes, if you fancy a fin like frolic on Lake
Wakatipu jack with contrast therapy, you are in luck. I
have recently taken the plunge at Watershed, which opened about
six months ago, New Zealand's first floating sauna experience. It's
part owned by Dominic Bowden and it's beautifully designed, dreamy views.
(01:47):
The sauna sits on a pontoon by Sintyma Wharf, and
after feeling like a rather cooked chalk, I then submitted
to a seven degree fridgid lake water plunge ah into
Wakatipu and I've got it like a little punge pool
next to the sauna, a sort of screened off but
(02:08):
it's very much rinse and repeat. You know, you just
go on the sauna, bake yourself then chill. It is startling,
it's shocking, it's stimulating and I've got a second floating
sauna that will soon open on the Fringdon arm by
Queenstown Marina. But yeah, it's very scandy feeling in Queenstown.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
So what else would you recommend? Then?
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:33):
I also went to bathe by a Loom, which is
another new opening on Brecon Street close to the gondola.
And this is such a stunning little complex of private
outdoor hot pools and they come with a jet cold
monsoon rain show, so you can do that whole contrast
therapy thing if you want. I went full fin Jack,
(02:55):
I went fully naked and I had a private outdoor
poll but it was soundtracked two balls being hit at
the neighboring Mini go. Of course, thankfully I was concealed
by some very well positioned pisosporum my fully naked dip.
But what I love about a loom is you are
(03:16):
bathing in magnesium rich water. Yeah, and I have to
say I had the best sleep of my life after
a dip there.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Really, that's interesting. So can a magnesium that you absorbed
the magnesium which presumably helps us asleep right from baby
like that? Okay, very good? Yeah, So the Skyline Gondola
is undergoing a major upgrade at the moment.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Ay, indeed, tens and tens of millions of dollars. So
if you haven't zipped up to the top of Bob's
Peak in a while, yeah, a major refresh is taking shape.
You may recall they launched the new ten seat gondolas,
so they are already installed, and the first half of
the new Peak building complex is now open, with a
(04:00):
considerably larger viewing deck extending out beyond the main building
for extra thrills. But the thing when I was up there, Jack,
I was thinking, you know where, if you go in Queenstown,
you're always just swiveling your head at the epic scenery.
But the view of views from Bob's Speak really is inconquerable.
(04:21):
So it's the place to go.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Soak it all in, all right for sweet tooth indulgence.
Just asking for a friend, of course.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
What are the top, yes, top of your list, Jack,
will have to be Anita Gilato. So this is a
swanking you comer to Queenstown. This place brims with one
hundred and fifty flavors, isn't it insane?
Speaker 2 (04:43):
One hundred and fifty? Tell me you're not one of
these people? Who insists on having a little taste of
everything before they finally decided.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Yeah, well I was. I was seduced by pavlov and
mxed Bury's. I don't think I've ever had that as
a flavor. And you get that really crispy maringhi quite
a within the ice cream. It's just fantastic. By the way,
I should also mention on the Sweet Tooth front, Patagonia
(05:12):
Chocolates an icon when it comes to Eye Candy and Queenstown.
They've just celebrated twenty years in business. They're such a
local hero. And ah, those glistening cabinets always slay me.
At Patagonia, Jack, I highly recommend their mon Blong tarts
and interestingly, given it still autumn, these tarts have chestnut
(05:35):
in them along with vanilla and armwos, which I thought
was a really unusual mix. Yeah, and if you do
want to build your own box of chocolate bars at Patagonia,
do not go past the dark chalk and maceademia. It
really is fabulous.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yeah. There are some new hospo spots right at Steamer Wharf,
so what is good there?
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Yeah, Well, if you want to do a bit of
a glorified Irish pub crawl. Of course, pog Mahomes is
well known in Queenstown. But to add a bit more
crack to your Irish pub crawl, the Irishmond Bar has
just opened at Steamer Wharf. Fantastic fit out, and also
the old sky City Wharf Casino has been replaced by
(06:16):
the Queenstown Wharf Bar, and it's upstairs and Steamer Wharf
with wrap around floor to celling windows, so you have
got the most incredible ringside seat to goggle at the
glory of that lakefront setting. Really cool spot, great food,
highly recommended.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah nice, Okay. Across the road, why is the Terrace
Restaurant at Rocky pulling the crowds?
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yes, Rooky translates as Tranquility and Maori and no expense
has been spared on this brand new boutique five star hotel.
The room rates at Rocky Collection are eyewatering, but I
would suggest if you want to preserve your bank balance,
just go for dining. They've got the most incredible restaurant,
(07:05):
the Terrace, and it's under the helm of Paul Frogget,
who used to head up all things culinary at Hooker
Lodge and Cold e cliffs. He knows his food and
his crayfish roles are divine at the terrace. Also enjoy
a drink or two at the library bar at Rocky
(07:25):
at glimmers In a gold foil finish with deco chandeliers.
It is quite the glamor pet.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Ah, so good. Okay, So if maybe staying at Rockies
not going to be possible for most of us, where
would you suggest parking up?
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Yeah? Well, for a really affordable lodge like experience, I
think one of the hidden gems in Queenstown's the Queenstown
Park Boutique Hotel. The location is brilliant, just a couple
of minutes walk from the Gondola Bay station, far enough
away from the overcrowded town center to be a haven
of calm, but you're still close enough to be in
(08:03):
the thick of the action on foot with a minute.
It's the best of both worlds. And it's got on
site parking, which is always a seventy saver in Queenstown.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Yeah, very much so. All right, Hey, thank you, that
sounds amazing. So for more of Mike's tips on wellness
and indulgence in Queenstown. You know a bit of Yin
Bit of Yang. His article is up at newstalkshb dot
co dot inzed, along with everything from our show. So
if you're looking for our film recommendations, are that amazing
recipe that we shared before ten o'clock for roast cabbage
with Miso Butta. That's up on the website now. Our
(08:35):
screen Time Picks Everything, News talkshedb dot co dot zed.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame. Listen live
to Newstalks dB from nine am Saturday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast
from news Talks at be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Our travel correspondent is mister Mike Yardley, the man with
the toughest gig and the broadcasting beers.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Good morning, it's a formidable job, Jack. Good morning from
Hemma's Springs. I'm looking at Conical Hill rather frigid here.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
I have to say, yes, but I mean this is
actually the time of year. I reckon that hen is great,
especially if you can when it's rear, those really beautiful crisp,
cold mornings and you can duck into the hot balls
and kind of be delicious and warm and looking at
the beautiful surroundings.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
It's yeahpying, it's just buying a Yeah, it's amazing how
many locals are here as opposed to going to six
sixty tonight. But I yes, just got a coffee from
a local cafe and Ryan Crosty and his family wandered out,
So I think half of christ should just here for
a hot dip.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Very good. Oh, I'm pleased to hear Ryan Crawdy, of course,
the most underrated man in New Zethern rugby for many
years in my view. Yes, anyway, we are focusing on
things a little further south this morning, probably equally cool
and crisp and indulgent. You're indulgent dips in Queenstown and
starting with dips of the watery kind. The wellness wave
is popping up all over Queenstown. So what is trending
(01:21):
at the moment.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Yes, if you fancy a fin like frolic on Lake
Wakatipu jack with contrast therapy, you are in luck. I
have recently taken the plunge at Watershed, which opened about
six months ago, New Zealand's first floating sauna experience. It's
part owned by Dominic Bowden and it's beautifully designed, dreamy views.
(01:47):
The sauna sits on a pontoon by Sintyma Wharf, and
after feeling like a rather cooked chalk, I then submitted
to a seven degree fridgid lake water plunge ah into
Wakatipu and I've got it like a little punge pool
next to the sauna, a sort of screened off but
(02:08):
it's very much rinse and repeat. You know, you just
go on the sauna, bake yourself then chill. It is startling,
it's shocking, it's stimulating and I've got a second floating
sauna that will soon open on the Fringdon arm by
Queenstown Marina. But yeah, it's very scandy feeling in Queenstown.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
So what else would you recommend? Then?
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:33):
I also went to bathe by a Loom, which is
another new opening on Brecon Street close to the gondola.
And this is such a stunning little complex of private
outdoor hot pools and they come with a jet cold
monsoon rain show, so you can do that whole contrast
therapy thing if you want. I went full fin Jack,
(02:55):
I went fully naked and I had a private outdoor
poll but it was soundtracked two balls being hit at
the neighboring Mini go. Of course, thankfully I was concealed
by some very well positioned pisosporum my fully naked dip.
But what I love about a loom is you are
(03:16):
bathing in magnesium rich water. Yeah, and I have to
say I had the best sleep of my life after
a dip there.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Really, that's interesting. So can a magnesium that you absorbed
the magnesium which presumably helps us asleep right from baby
like that? Okay, very good? Yeah, So the Skyline Gondola
is undergoing a major upgrade at the moment.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Ay, indeed, tens and tens of millions of dollars. So
if you haven't zipped up to the top of Bob's
Peak in a while, yeah, a major refresh is taking shape.
You may recall they launched the new ten seat gondolas,
so they are already installed, and the first half of
the new Peak building complex is now open, with a
(04:00):
considerably larger viewing deck extending out beyond the main building
for extra thrills. But the thing when I was up there, Jack,
I was thinking, you know where, if you go in Queenstown,
you're always just swiveling your head at the epic scenery.
But the view of views from Bob's Speak really is inconquerable.
(04:21):
So it's the place to go.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Soak it all in, all right for sweet tooth indulgence.
Just asking for a friend, of course.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
What are the top, yes, top of your list, Jack,
will have to be Anita Gilato. So this is a
swanking you comer to Queenstown. This place brims with one
hundred and fifty flavors, isn't it insane?
Speaker 2 (04:43):
One hundred and fifty? Tell me you're not one of
these people? Who insists on having a little taste of
everything before they finally decided.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Yeah, well I was. I was seduced by pavlov and
mxed Bury's. I don't think I've ever had that as
a flavor. And you get that really crispy maringhi quite
a within the ice cream. It's just fantastic. By the way,
I should also mention on the Sweet Tooth front, Patagonia
(05:12):
Chocolates an icon when it comes to Eye Candy and Queenstown.
They've just celebrated twenty years in business. They're such a
local hero. And ah, those glistening cabinets always slay me.
At Patagonia, Jack, I highly recommend their mon Blong tarts
and interestingly, given it still autumn, these tarts have chestnut
(05:35):
in them along with vanilla and armwos, which I thought
was a really unusual mix. Yeah, and if you do
want to build your own box of chocolate bars at Patagonia,
do not go past the dark chalk and maceademia. It
really is fabulous.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yeah. There are some new hospo spots right at Steamer Wharf,
so what is good there?
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Yeah, Well, if you want to do a bit of
a glorified Irish pub crawl. Of course, pog Mahomes is
well known in Queenstown. But to add a bit more
crack to your Irish pub crawl, the Irishmond Bar has
just opened at Steamer Wharf. Fantastic fit out, and also
the old sky City Wharf Casino has been replaced by
(06:16):
the Queenstown Wharf Bar, and it's upstairs and Steamer Wharf
with wrap around floor to celling windows, so you have
got the most incredible ringside seat to goggle at the
glory of that lakefront setting. Really cool spot, great food,
highly recommended.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah nice, Okay. Across the road, why is the Terrace
Restaurant at Rocky pulling the crowds?
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yes, Rooky translates as Tranquility and Maori and no expense
has been spared on this brand new boutique five star hotel.
The room rates at Rocky Collection are eyewatering, but I
would suggest if you want to preserve your bank balance,
just go for dining. They've got the most incredible restaurant,
(07:05):
the Terrace, and it's under the helm of Paul Frogget,
who used to head up all things culinary at Hooker
Lodge and Cold e cliffs. He knows his food and
his crayfish roles are divine at the terrace. Also enjoy
a drink or two at the library bar at Rocky
(07:25):
at glimmers In a gold foil finish with deco chandeliers.
It is quite the glamor pet.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Ah, so good. Okay, So if maybe staying at Rockies
not going to be possible for most of us, where
would you suggest parking up?
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Yeah? Well, for a really affordable lodge like experience, I
think one of the hidden gems in Queenstown's the Queenstown
Park Boutique Hotel. The location is brilliant, just a couple
of minutes walk from the Gondola Bay station, far enough
away from the overcrowded town center to be a haven
of calm, but you're still close enough to be in
(08:03):
the thick of the action on foot with a minute.
It's the best of both worlds. And it's got on
site parking, which is always a seventy saver in Queenstown.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Yeah, very much so. All right, Hey, thank you, that
sounds amazing. So for more of Mike's tips on wellness
and indulgence in Queenstown. You know a bit of Yin
Bit of Yang. His article is up at newstalkshb dot
co dot inzed, along with everything from our show. So
if you're looking for our film recommendations, are that amazing
recipe that we shared before ten o'clock for roast cabbage
with Miso Butta. That's up on the website now. Our
(08:35):
screen Time Picks Everything, News talkshedb dot co dot zed.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame. Listen live
to Newstalks dB from nine am Saturday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
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