Organized Tours

Start with the sedate Queenstown-Arrowtown Double Decker Bus Tour (tel. 03/441-4471; www.doubledeckerbus.co.nz), which gives a bird's-eye view of the Wakatipu Basin without leaving the ground. It includes a 1-hour stop in Arrowtown; you can also leave the bus there in the morning and go back to Queenstown on the afternoon return trip. It costs NZ$48 for adults and NZ$20 for children 14 and under and departs daily from the top of Camp Street at 9:30am and 1:30pm, returning at 1 and 5pm. Allow 3 hours and purchase tickets from the visitor center, or on the bus.

Trilogy Trail (tel. 0800/676-264 in NZ, or 03/442-2207; www.trilogytrail.com) is operated by people who were involved in the making of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and they'll give you an insight into Middle Earth, visiting filming locations by air or road. Tours run from 2 1/2 to 5 hours. A 4WD tour costs NZ$145 for adults, NZ$75 for children 13 and under. A flying/landing tour runs from NZ$350 to NZ$1,250 for adults, NZ$175 to NZ$665 for children 13 and under.

Nomad Safaris (tel. 0800/688-222 in NZ, or 03/442-6699; www.nomadsafaris.co.nz) has exclusive rights to guide in the old mining towns of Macetown and Sefferstown, taking you through spectacular Otago scenery along the way. They also offer two 4WD "Safari of the Rings" tours, visiting The Lord of the Rings filming locations. Several of their drivers were extras in the film trilogy, and all have an in-depth knowledge of Tolkien's work that is bound to satisfy the most dedicated fans. They are the only company offering dedicated The Lord of the Rings tours, and their experience is by far the best. For the most landscape diversity, take the Wakatipu Basin tour; for the most film locations and more remote scenery, take the Glenorchy tour. Both are 4 hours long and cost NZ$150 for adults, NZ$75 for children ages 4 to 14.

If, like me, you're not given to throwing yourselves off high places for the hell of it, take the excellent Secrets of the Bungy Tour, Kawarau Bungy Centre (tel. 0800/286-495 in NZ, or 03/442-4007; www.bungy.co.nz), which gives you a 45-minute behind-the-scenes insight into this iconic New Zealand activity. Pricing for the Secrets of Bungy tour (self-drive to the bungy site) is adults NZ$20, children NZ$15, NZ$50 for a family. If you would like to be picked up in central Queenstown and transported to the site, ask for prices that include transport.

If you want to tour in style, contact Limousine Line (tel. 03/442-2040; www.limousineline.co.nz). Its knowledgeable drivers give clients a unique, personal experience based on their interests and time constraints.

For an unforgettable adventure, call up experienced Queenstown helicopter pilot Louisa "Choppy" Patterson at Over the Top, the Blue Hangar, Tex Smith Lane, Queenstown Airport (tel. 0800/123-359 in NZ, or 03/442-2233; www.flynz.co.nz). Something of a legend in these parts, Choppy knows all the magic picnic spots thousands of feet up in the mountains. She can land you there, leave you with a champagne lunch in total solitude, and return later to drop you back into civilization. This truly memorable excursion will start at around NZ$800 per person, depending on where you decide to fly. Don't miss this unique chance for adventure! As well as investing in quieter aircraft, Over the Top partnered with the Department of Conservation and the University of Otago to sponsor two eco projects donating helicopter time to help ensure this unique World Heritage area remains pristine.

Lake Cruises

If you need a moment of serenity, get aboard the 1912 vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw and cruise across Lake Wakatipu in style. Affectionately known as the "Lady of the Lake," the 97-year-old Earnslaw was built to service the remote farming communities around Lake Wakatipu. She could carry 1,500 sheep and 30 cattle on her decks. Today, she carries up to 350 passengers on daily scheduled excursions and makes around 2,000 trips per year. To keep up with the times, the vessel had a short "holiday" in 2009, when she underwent her regular survey and also had combustion fans fitted on both main steam boilers to optimize her coal-burning efficiency and reduce emissions. Some of the older decking was also replaced. In 2012, the steamship's entire forward deck section will be replaced, once the correct timber has been sourced, cured, and prepared.

The TSS Earnslaw departs on 1 1/2-hour cruises to Walter Peak up to six times a day, year-round (with a reduced winter schedule). Cost is NZ$48 for adults and NZ$20 for children ages 5 to 14. Passengers with more time can disembark at Walter Peak on the 3 1/2-hour farm excursion, which includes a country-style morning or afternoon tea (NZ$68 adults, NZ$20 children ages 5-14). Alternatively, from October to mid-April, you can take a 40-minute horse trek across the foothills, enjoy a delicious Walter Peak barbecue, learn about the area's history on a Heritage Excursion, or splurge on the evening dining excursion, which features a three-course carvery buffet and a shortened farmyard tour. Contact Real Journeys, Steamer Wharf (tel. 0800/656-503 in NZ, or 03/442-7500; www.realjourneys.co.nz).

Sail Queenstown, Steamer Wharf (tel. 03/442-7517; www.sailqueenstown.co.nz), gives you the chance to sail on former America's Cup vessel, NZL14, which was skippered by Russell Coutts. You can sit back and enjoy the ride, or act as part of the crew. No former experience is needed and you'll pay NZ$150 for the pleasure (children NZ$110). Allow 2 hours for high-level excitement.