Places to explore within a day
We are conveniently located in the heart of Central Otago, which makes it a great base to explore the lower South and Mackenzie District. If you want a comfortable and scenic respite away from tourist crowds yet near enough to be connected to the key attractions, then Pisa House B&B provides the perfect getaway to do so.
Wanaka - Crown Range - Arrowtown
A thirty-five mins drive will bring you to Wanaka where you can stroll along the Lake and grab your Insta shot of #thatwanakatree. If you are game for a hike, consider Diamond Lake Circuit (45mins), Diamond Lake Lookout (1hr return), Lake Wanaka Lookout (2hrs return) or Rock Mountain Summit (3hrs return). Up for a challenge, take on Roys Peak which takes you 1500m up and an Insta worthy shot of a spectacular view of the Southern Alps (5-6hrs return). ​After exploring Wanaka, you can take a drive to the charming and quirky gold rush village of Arrowtown through Crown Range road, which is the highest main road (1121m) in New Zealand. If you are into Whisky & Gin, drop in at the Cardrona Distillery along the way. Spend the afternoon exploring historic Arrowtown and have dinner at one of the winery restaurants before heading back to the B&B.
Queenstown - Glenorchy
Just an hour's drive to Queenstown to catch the views of Lake Wakatipu & The Remarkables. Stroll along the waterfront & shops or catch a scenic cruise and lunch on board TSS Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu.​ A 45 mins drive from Queenstown will bring you to Glenorchy which lies at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu. Its awe-inspiring landscape has been the backdrop for films like Narnia, Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Do stop at the Bennett Bluff Lookout along the way which gives you an awesome view of the Lake. In Glenorchy, you can explore the Jetty area, take a walk along the Glenorchy Lagoon boardwalk, explore its rustic town and have coffee at Mrs Woolly's General Store or take a drive to the various movie locations.
Mount Cook - Lake Tekapo
A pleasant summer day trip that takes you through alpine passes, turquoise lakes and the Southern Alps. Start the day early after breakfast. A 2.5hrs drive, will take you through scenic landscapes of Lindis Pass and Lake Pukaki before reaching Aoraki Mt Cook. There are several short walks near Mt Cook Village that can be completed under an hour (Governors Bush Walk, Blue Lake and Tasman Glacier View Track). ​Lake Tekapo is an hour's drive from Mt Cook with a must-do rest stop at Lake Pukaki that has a panoramic view of Mt Cook & the Southern Alps. The township of Lake Tekapo offers magnificent views of its turquoise lake and its iconic Church of the Good Shepherd provides memorable shots with the Lake and Mountains as a backdrop. A drive up to Mt John observatory will give you a 360deg view of Lake Tekapo and Lake Alexandrina.​ Day trip done, take a leisurely 2.5 hours drive back to Cromwell.
Winterscape
Explore the different winter landscapes in the Otago and Canterbury regions and get to come back to a warm toasty room after a day's trip. All within 2 hours drive from Cromwell. Experience the beauty of Hoarfrost in July in Omarama (Kellands Pond) or Alexandra (Buther's Dam). Take an easy 2km tramp on the snow covered grounds of St Bathan's Blue lake amidst its spectacular cliffs and deep blue waters. Winter is also the best time to catch the Southern lights (Aurora Australis). For this, you do not need to travel far - just hop out of bed into the garden facing the lake. If you are lucky, you may just get to see Lady Aurora in her splendour.