Adrenaline Adventures in New Zealand

The hike begins along a steep trail leading to a shaded forest of fallen trees and infinite silence, uninterrupted by even a chirping bird. The trail winds and eventually lets out in a grassy field overlooking one of the most panoramic mountain vistas you will ever see. The grass sways in the wind and beckons your attention, where I sat for more than an hour marveling at such natural beauty. Walking farther, you approach a number of streams and rivers used for jet boarding. On my entire hike, I did not pass a single person, eventually turning back after four hours for lack of water and a case of the city jitters.

Day 3, hit the wineries: My final day in Queenstown is spent exploring the wineries of Central Otago, one of the most famous wine-growing regions in the world. Located about 20 minutes outside Queenstown, the area is home to more than 75 wineries serving 177 vineyards producing pinot noir, pinot gris, chardonnay and sparkling wine. Numerous wineries including Gibbston Valley, feature wine tastings, full-service restaurants and gift shops. While many tour operators offer day tours usually in the comfort of an air-conditioned mega-bus, it's also fun to navigate the roads in private or hired car.

Afterward, I make the drive into nearby Arrowtown, a famous gold-mining post, and explore the cozy one-story shops and boutiques before hitting the area's most celebrated gourmand for an early dinner. Saffron Restaurant offers a cozy summer terrace with fireplace perfect for late-afternoon lunches as well as a more formal dining room decorated in stacked-stone walls, beam ceilings and carved-wood accents. The menu is modern New Zealand, complete with surf-and-turf menu with Asian accents like Hereford Beef with pumpkin mash, rack of lamb with white-bean puree and a trio of red, yellow and crab curry curries that end the trip with a fragrant culinary bang.

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