Custom Travel Itineraries to
New Zealand since 1990
Custom Travel Itineraries to
New Zealand since 1990
There is a particular kind of light that settles over the Southern Alps in the last hour before sunset. Skiers know it well: the slopes turn amber, the shadows stretch long across the snow, and the mountains seem to glow from within. For the 2026 winter season, guests can now experience that light from somewhere few ever do, thirty five hundred feet above it.
A new sunset scenic flight has launched out of Queenstown this winter, timed specifically to the golden hour. The forty minute flight passes over three of the region’s best known ski fields, Coronet Peak, Cardrona, and The Remarkables, offering a bird’s eye view of terrain guests may have carved down that same morning, or will be skiing the next day.
It is a rare vantage point. From the air, the scale of the Southern Alps becomes obvious in a way it never quite does from the base of a chairlift. Ridgelines that looked impossibly steep from below flatten into a single, sweeping panorama. As the sun drops toward the horizon, the light turns the peaks pink and gold, and the lakes below catch the last of it in long, glassy reflections.
Winter travel to Queenstown tends to be built around a single, singular pursuit: the mountain itself. A sunset flight offers something different, a chance to step back and take in the whole picture, quite literally.
It works particularly well bookending a ski trip. Taken on the first day, it builds anticipation, giving guests a preview of the terrain ahead before they ever click into their bindings. Taken on the last day, it becomes a kind of victory lap, a chance to look down at the runs they have spent the week getting to know, this time from above and bathed in evening light.
Because departure times shift daily with the sunset, no two flights look quite the same. Guests flying in early June will see a different light than those flying in late August, which gives the experience a subtle sense of occasion each time it is booked.
The flight itself is short, around forty minutes in the air, though guests should plan for closer to an hour and a quarter once check in and transport to the airfield are factored in. It runs only through the winter months, and departure times move with the sunset, so flexibility is part of the experience.
It also pairs naturally with the region’s other well known scenic flight, over Milford Sound and the glaciers further south. Between a morning departure for one and an evening departure for the other, guests get two very different perspectives on the Southern Alps, and a bit of built in flexibility if weather rolls through on any given day.
For guests already planning a ski trip to Queenstown or Wanaka, a sunset flight is an easy and memorable addition, more experience than excursion. It does not require athletic ability, it does not compete with time on the slopes, and it delivers the kind of view that is difficult to describe secondhand.
As with any small aircraft experience with limited seasonal availability, we would recommend building this into a winter itinerary early. Reach out to your travel specialist to see whether it fits into your Queenstown or Wanaka plans this season.
The Best of New Zealand
Our team has been designing New Zealand trips since 1990.
We know which operators deliver the real thing, and which experiences reward being in the right place at the right time.
Air New Zealand’s New Business Premier Suite
Big news for your next trip to New Zealand. Air New Zealand is unveiling a brand new Business Premier suite for its Boeing 777 fleet, complete with lie-flat beds, sliding privacy doors, and a sleek 18-inch entertainment screen at every seat.
Read more through link in our bio.
#airnewzealand #newzealandtravel #luxurytravel #travelnz #bestofnztravel
Hawke’s Bay sits on the eastern coast of New Zealand’s North Island, and most visitors pass through without stopping long enough to see what the region offers. That is a mistake worth correcting. From ancient geological formations to one of the world’s most accessible wildlife colonies, Hawke’s Bay rewards travelers who take the time to go beyond the obvious.
These 5 experiences are worth building your itinerary around!
Read more through link in bio.
#hawkesbay #newzealandguide #napiernz #luxurytravel #bestofnztravel
At 399 meters, Te Mata Peak gives you views across farmland, coastline, and the ranges beyond. Drive, walk, or cycle to the top. Either way, the view is worth it. This is the one stop in Hawke’s Bay that puts the whole region in perspective.
#tematapeaknz #newzealandwalks
At 399 meters, Te Mata Peak gives you views across farmland, coastline, and the ranges beyond. Drive, walk, or cycle to the top. Either way, the view is worth it. This is the one stop in Hawke’s Bay that puts the whole region in perspective.
#tematapeaknz #newzealandwalks
Napier is one of the most complete Art Deco cities in the world. Once a year, the whole city commits to it. Music, vintage cars, exhibitions, and architecture that stops you mid-stride. If you time your visit right, this is an experience unlike anything else in New Zealand.
#napierartdeco #visitnapiernz #napiernz #nztouring
Napier is one of the most complete Art Deco cities in the world. Once a year, the whole city commits to it. Music, vintage cars, exhibitions, and architecture that stops you mid-stride. If you time your visit right, this is an experience unlike anything else in New Zealand.
#napierartdeco #visitnapiernz #napiernz #nztouring
Nearly two meters of wingspan, up close, with no fence between you and them. The gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers is the largest accessible mainland colony in the world. Tours run September through April, so the timing of your trip matters. Worth planning around.
#gannetcolonynz #birdtour
Green hills, open coastline, and enough space to feel like you have the beach to yourself. Waimarama is about 40 minutes south of Napier and one of the most scenic stretche
Top 10 Honeymoon Experiences in New Zealand
New Zealand is one of the world`s great honeymoon destinations, and not because anyone designed it that way. It just is. The scale of it gets you first. Those sudden views at the top of a ridge, a fiord opening up around a bend, a sky so full of stars it feels impossible.
From glowworm caves to glacier overnights, here are the top 10 experiences worth travelling for. Link in bio to read more!
#honeymoonexperiences #newzealandtravel #luxurytravelnz #newzealanditinerary #thebestofnz
https://thebestofnewzealand.com/activities/wine-cuisine/new-zealand-honeymoon-10-most-romantic-experiences/
Air New Zealand to Launch Sleep Pods in Economy Cabins
If you have ever dreamed of lying flat on a long-haul flight without paying for a business class ticket, Air New Zealand is about to make that dream a reality. The airline is set to launch the world`s first economy sleep pods, called the Economy Skynest, on select ultra long-haul flights from November 2026.
Read more through our link in bio.
📸 Air New Zealand
#airnewzealand #travelnewzealand #visitnewzealand #explorenewzealand #bestofnztravel
https://thebestofnewzealand.com/activities/wine-cuisine/air-new-zealand-to-launch-sleep-pods-in-economy-cabins/
Craggy Range Signature Gourmet Escape: Hawke`s Bay Luxury
If you`ve been dreaming of a New Zealand escape that goes far beyond a standard hotel stay, Craggy Range in Hawke`s Bay has crafted something truly special. Their Signature Gourmet Escape is a fully all-inclusive, multi-day experience that wraps world-class dining, wine, and luxury lodge living into one seamless package.
Read more through link in bio.
📸 Craggy Range
https://thebestofnewzealand.com/activities/wine-cuisine/craggy-range-signature-gourmet-escape-hawkes-bay-luxury/
Lake Tekapo, New Zealand: What to Do, See, & Experience
Lake Tekapo is one of those rare destinations that genuinely exceeds expectations. Tucked into the heart of New Zealand’s South Island, the lake stuns visitors with its impossibly turquoise waters while the jagged peaks of the Southern Alps rise dramatically behind them. But beyond its picture-perfect looks, Tekapo rewards you at every hour of the day.
Read more through our link in bio.
📸 GoTekapo
#laketekapo #luxurytravelnz #newzealandvacations #nzactivites #bestofnztravel
https://thebestofnewzealand.com/travel-tips/lake-tekapo-new-zealand-what-to-do-see-experience/
Tucked at the foot of Mount Aspiring National Park on New Zealand’s South Island, Wānaka packs paragliding, canyoning, jet boating, skydiving, mountain biking, and so much more into one jaw-droppingly beautiful corner of the world. Whether you’re a first-timer looking to push your limits or a seasoned adrenaline junkie, Wānaka delivers the goods every single time.
Link in bio to read more.
📸 Wanaka Paragliding
#luxurytravelnz #newzealandadventures #wanakaadventures #visitwanaka #bestofnztravel
Some places in New Zealand are simply better by boat 🛥️
From cruising through Doubtful Sound to island hopping in the Bay of Islands, exploring by water gives you access to hidden coastlines, wildlife encounters, and unforgettable views.
Ready to see New Zealand from a new perspective? Read more through link in our bio.
📸 Miles Holden
#newealandtravel #luxurytravel #discovernewzealand #adventuretravel #bestofnztravel
