May 30, 2025 • 7 mins
"As Arrowtown glowed in its golden, fiery blaze of autumnal hues, it was a thrill to be back in this treasure-chest township, cradled by nature’s splendour. It’s one of my all-time favourite holiday playgrounds and I was eager for a fresh dip from its glorious offerings."
Read Mike's full article here.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack Team podcast
from News Talks at be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Mike Yardley is with us to talk travel.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Good morning, Francisco, Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
What a life you live? No, I mean you, I
mean I would never tire of wining, dining and biking
my way around Arrowtown and Gibston. It is You're very tiring, No,
because it just the trail network in the region. It
just continues to withstand. It kind of doesn't matter how
(00:39):
often you've been. There's always somewhere new explore, isn't there.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
So true? Yeah, it's amazing.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
Over the last twenty years that Queenstown Trails Trust, they
have developed over two hundred kilometers of tracks, which is
just insane. And just a few weeks ago adding to
the arsenal the Shotover Gorge Trail, which essentially laces up
the northern edge of the Waker Tapoo Basin with the
wider trails network. So there are some really cool features
(01:08):
on this trail, Francesca. But I've got the Hugo Tunnel,
which is about as long as a rugby field, and
this tunnel was actually constructed over a century ago to
divert the river for gold mining. So long story short,
they've now repurposed this old tunnel as part of the trail,
So you're ripped through this tunnel. Then you've got this
(01:30):
brand new Kimmi Ako bridge strung across the shot Over Gorge.
So as you're on fought on bike heading over that bridge,
you've got jet boats thundering beneath you. So a cracking
new trail to check out down in the area.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
They seem to do this very quickly or or have
these things been taking you know, I have no idea.
Is it just my perception that they're able to kind
of keep creating trees things relatively swiftly?
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Yeah, I agree, absolutely.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
It must be that Southern can do grit I think
Francesca and they've got some other like really big trails.
The works are one of them that the Covereau Gorge trail.
You know that Lake Dunstan trail just out of Cromwell,
which yah sort of wraps around the cliffs. Yeah, so
that is going to be very very similar to this
(02:18):
Coverdeau Gorge trail which is currently been constructed that will
be open later in the year, which will actually link
up with the Lake Dunston trail. So you can sort
of like cantilibra above the water for Yeah, two of
these trails in due course.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
What's so good about the Lake Hayes Loop.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
This is a really good starter, like for people who
aren't really into adventure biking as such. I love the
Lake Hayes Loop because it's only eight k and it
is such a scenic medley. You've got all of those
soulful mountain and lake vistas. Then you've got all the
intimate snatches of those swanky, gazillion dollar trophy homes popping
(03:00):
up around the lake, and then history there is this
really cool little schist cottage that feature in the mainland
cheese aad just back up from the lake on the terrace.
So just a beautiful loop trail, and it also connects
with a lot of other trails, so like you can
tootle through the Millbrook area and then onto the glam
(03:22):
New Hospo Meccha of Airburn.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yes, I've heard a lot about this. What did you
make of this resort style playground?
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Been at home, I could have pulled up a chair
and quite happily been contented there for quite some time. Yes,
it really is like a resort, so Chris Meehan is
the guy behind this, and it's this massive family friendly
precinct that opened about eighteen months ago. And the amazing
(03:51):
thing is he basically repurposed an historic farm estate, restored
a lot of these old properties on the estate, like
the woolshed which is now the showpiece restaurant, the manure room,
a discerning door where you can just tipple away happily
on exceptional Airburn wines.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
And it just continues to evolve.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
I was thinking of you, Francesca, because you might have
seen a couple of weeks ago ago Chris announced that
it will soon house a major two hundred.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Million dollar film studio.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
Hub, so the actors will actually stay on site. They'll
have all the production facilities there and accommodation. So yeah,
it's all happening at Airburn.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Yeah, no, amazing. Hey, what if you're heading sort of
towards ourtown, where would you recommend to eat?
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Well?
Speaker 4 (04:42):
I think if you want to enjoy like a dress
circle perch on the main street in Buckingham Street in Arrowtown,
I recoon one of the best places of all. It's
the Postmaster's Kitchen and bar. So it's been around a while,
but it's such a primo spot for people watching.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
And the food is fabulous.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
You cannot beat their knocky with napoli saw semi dried tomatoes,
palamata olives, parsley and ricotta absolutely dilish. And right across
the road the original BNZ building has just recently been
fully restored to its former glory, so that's now actually
part of the Lakes District Museum complex, so definitely worth
(05:24):
checking that out as well on the main street.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Now look another area downe and it's very popular is
the Gibston Valley, especially with Penanhoa fans.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Yeah, and if you have dreams of sleeping amid the
pen and Noa Bynes, have I got the place for you.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Francesca Rudkin.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
You need, yes, you need to give yourself a little treat,
a serious splurge in book a luxury stay at a
place called Mount Rosa Lodge. The thing about this lodge
is it's perched on the upper slopes of the Gibston Valley,
so it is view issimo. It is just celestial the
views and the owners Michelle and Stuart, they will treat
(06:02):
you royally. The lodge is set around their own private
vineyard and they she's just the most delicious Pino Lobella
Rosa and the godfather of Gibston Valley's wine industry, Elan Brady.
He still oversees production of La Bella Rosa, so you
know it's going to be good. Mount Rosa Lodge and
absolute revelation.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Well, I am very familiar with Mount Rosa because I
love the rose. They make a beautiful rose as well.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
They do like to enjoy very much.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Hey, But it's also a dark sky destination.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Yeah, Jack and I were chatting last week about how
more of these dark sky reserves and sanctuaries and parks
are popping up around New Zealand and it's attracting a
lot of astro tourism interest. The lodge, by the way,
is nestled in the heart of the Cowardo Gibson Dark
Sky Park, and the really cool thing is if you
want to take a tour of the sky on a
story storry night. One of the lodge's neighbors is Professor
(06:58):
Brian Boyle. Now he directed to Big Professional Observatories in
Australia and he was a key member of the team
responsible for the groundbreaking discovery.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Of dark energy.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
So quite the guy to take a tour of the
Cosmos with above Gibston.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
So that's another draw card to Mount Rosa Lodge.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Oh, I love the way it just happens to be
living next door brilliant the world.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Hey, thank you so much, Mike. I feel like I've
been here. Quite an adventure this morning. For more tips
on whining, dining, and cycling in Aertown and Gibston, Mike's
article is on the website Newstalk, zb dot, Coto and
z Forward Slash Lifestyle, Ford Slash Travel.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live
to News Talk zed B 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):
Mike Yardley is with us to talk travel.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Good morning, Francisco, Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
What a life you live? No, I mean you, I
mean I would never tire of wining, dining and biking
my way around Arrowtown and Gibston. It is You're very tiring, No,
because it just the trail network in the region. It
just continues to withstand. It kind of doesn't matter how
(00:39):
often you've been. There's always somewhere new explore, isn't there.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
So true? Yeah, it's amazing.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
Over the last twenty years that Queenstown Trails Trust, they
have developed over two hundred kilometers of tracks, which is
just insane. And just a few weeks ago adding to
the arsenal the Shotover Gorge Trail, which essentially laces up
the northern edge of the Waker Tapoo Basin with the
wider trails network. So there are some really cool features
(01:08):
on this trail, Francesca. But I've got the Hugo Tunnel,
which is about as long as a rugby field, and
this tunnel was actually constructed over a century ago to
divert the river for gold mining. So long story short,
they've now repurposed this old tunnel as part of the trail,
So you're ripped through this tunnel. Then you've got this
(01:30):
brand new Kimmi Ako bridge strung across the shot Over Gorge.
So as you're on fought on bike heading over that bridge,
you've got jet boats thundering beneath you. So a cracking
new trail to check out down in the area.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
They seem to do this very quickly or or have
these things been taking you know, I have no idea.
Is it just my perception that they're able to kind
of keep creating trees things relatively swiftly?
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Yeah, I agree, absolutely.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
It must be that Southern can do grit I think
Francesca and they've got some other like really big trails.
The works are one of them that the Covereau Gorge trail.
You know that Lake Dunstan trail just out of Cromwell,
which yah sort of wraps around the cliffs. Yeah, so
that is going to be very very similar to this
(02:18):
Coverdeau Gorge trail which is currently been constructed that will
be open later in the year, which will actually link
up with the Lake Dunston trail. So you can sort
of like cantilibra above the water for Yeah, two of
these trails in due course.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
What's so good about the Lake Hayes Loop.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
This is a really good starter, like for people who
aren't really into adventure biking as such. I love the
Lake Hayes Loop because it's only eight k and it
is such a scenic medley. You've got all of those
soulful mountain and lake vistas. Then you've got all the
intimate snatches of those swanky, gazillion dollar trophy homes popping
(03:00):
up around the lake, and then history there is this
really cool little schist cottage that feature in the mainland
cheese aad just back up from the lake on the terrace.
So just a beautiful loop trail, and it also connects
with a lot of other trails, so like you can
tootle through the Millbrook area and then onto the glam
(03:22):
New Hospo Meccha of Airburn.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yes, I've heard a lot about this. What did you
make of this resort style playground?
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Been at home, I could have pulled up a chair
and quite happily been contented there for quite some time. Yes,
it really is like a resort, so Chris Meehan is
the guy behind this, and it's this massive family friendly
precinct that opened about eighteen months ago. And the amazing
(03:51):
thing is he basically repurposed an historic farm estate, restored
a lot of these old properties on the estate, like
the woolshed which is now the showpiece restaurant, the manure room,
a discerning door where you can just tipple away happily
on exceptional Airburn wines.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
And it just continues to evolve.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
I was thinking of you, Francesca, because you might have
seen a couple of weeks ago ago Chris announced that
it will soon house a major two hundred.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Million dollar film studio.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
Hub, so the actors will actually stay on site. They'll
have all the production facilities there and accommodation. So yeah,
it's all happening at Airburn.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Yeah, no, amazing. Hey, what if you're heading sort of
towards ourtown, where would you recommend to eat?
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Well?
Speaker 4 (04:42):
I think if you want to enjoy like a dress
circle perch on the main street in Buckingham Street in Arrowtown,
I recoon one of the best places of all. It's
the Postmaster's Kitchen and bar. So it's been around a while,
but it's such a primo spot for people watching.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
And the food is fabulous.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
You cannot beat their knocky with napoli saw semi dried tomatoes,
palamata olives, parsley and ricotta absolutely dilish. And right across
the road the original BNZ building has just recently been
fully restored to its former glory, so that's now actually
part of the Lakes District Museum complex, so definitely worth
(05:24):
checking that out as well on the main street.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Now look another area downe and it's very popular is
the Gibston Valley, especially with Penanhoa fans.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Yeah, and if you have dreams of sleeping amid the
pen and Noa Bynes, have I got the place for you.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Francesca Rudkin.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
You need, yes, you need to give yourself a little treat,
a serious splurge in book a luxury stay at a
place called Mount Rosa Lodge. The thing about this lodge
is it's perched on the upper slopes of the Gibston Valley,
so it is view issimo. It is just celestial the
views and the owners Michelle and Stuart, they will treat
(06:02):
you royally. The lodge is set around their own private
vineyard and they she's just the most delicious Pino Lobella
Rosa and the godfather of Gibston Valley's wine industry, Elan Brady.
He still oversees production of La Bella Rosa, so you
know it's going to be good. Mount Rosa Lodge and
absolute revelation.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Well, I am very familiar with Mount Rosa because I
love the rose. They make a beautiful rose as well.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
They do like to enjoy very much.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Hey, But it's also a dark sky destination.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Yeah, Jack and I were chatting last week about how
more of these dark sky reserves and sanctuaries and parks
are popping up around New Zealand and it's attracting a
lot of astro tourism interest. The lodge, by the way,
is nestled in the heart of the Cowardo Gibson Dark
Sky Park, and the really cool thing is if you
want to take a tour of the sky on a
story storry night. One of the lodge's neighbors is Professor
(06:58):
Brian Boyle. Now he directed to Big Professional Observatories in
Australia and he was a key member of the team
responsible for the groundbreaking discovery.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Of dark energy.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
So quite the guy to take a tour of the
Cosmos with above Gibston.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
So that's another draw card to Mount Rosa Lodge.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Oh, I love the way it just happens to be
living next door brilliant the world.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Hey, thank you so much, Mike. I feel like I've
been here. Quite an adventure this morning. For more tips
on whining, dining, and cycling in Aertown and Gibston, Mike's
article is on the website Newstalk, zb dot, Coto and
z Forward Slash Lifestyle, Ford Slash Travel.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live
to News Talk zed B from nine am Saturday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
True Crime Tonight
If you eat, sleep, and breathe true crime, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT is serving up your nightly fix. Five nights a week, KT STUDIOS & iHEART RADIO invite listeners to pull up a seat for an unfiltered look at the biggest cases making headlines, celebrity scandals, and the trials everyone is watching. With a mix of expert analysis, hot takes, and listener call-ins, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT goes beyond the headlines to uncover the twists, turns, and unanswered questions that keep us all obsessed—because, at TRUE CRIME TONIGHT, there’s a seat for everyone. Whether breaking down crime scene forensics, scrutinizing serial killers, or debating the most binge-worthy true crime docs, True Crime Tonight is the fresh, fast-paced, and slightly addictive home for true crime lovers.