Top South Island Arts & Design

This nightlife experience is available from late evenings into the early morning hours. The party scenes include night clubs, parties, live music, and the most entertaining DJ’s who keep the clubs jumping and alive throughout the night. The party scenes are meant for enjoyment, mingling and dancing and living it up with your friends and loved ones while in Jamaica. These spots are the perfect locations to unwind from the normal daily routine.

Visit ‘The Lord of the Rings’ filming locations in Glenorchy, traveling by 4WD with an informative guide. Departing Queenstown for Middle-earth in the morning or afternoon, this half-day tour includes stunning countryside landscapes chosen by director Peter Jackson. See where famous scenes were filmed, such as the Fortress of Isengard, Lothlorien, Ithilien Camp and Forest of Amon Hen. Enjoy light refreshments and personalized attention on this small-group tour, limited to six passengers per vehicle.

Treat your senses to a fun challenge at the Odyssey Sensory Maze in Queenstown. Your admission ticket gives you access to the maze, which generally takes 20-30 minutes to complete, although you can spend as much time as you like. Find your way through dark spaces and physical obstacles created by lighting, sound, and room design. An ideal activity for older kids and adults of all ages.

Enjoy an off-road adventure in the wild of New Zealand on this half-day Wakatipu Basin 4-wheel drive tour from Queenstown. Cruise along off-road routes toward the Remarkables mountain range — widely used in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Admire panoramic views over Deer Park Heights and the Kawarau Gorge, and then head onward to the historic gold-mining settlement of Arrowtown. Traverse bumpy river crossings along the Arrow River, and pan for gold on the riverbank. Then gaze over the Wakatipu Basin from Coronet Peak en route back to Queenstown.

Observe more than 20 native bird species —including New Zealand’s namesake, the kiwi — with admission to Kiwi Birdlife Park in central Queenstown. See wildlife shows, nature exhibits, and daily keeper presentations, and catch a rare sight of the flightless kiwi in a nocturnal enclosure. Your admission ticket is valid for the entire day so you can explore the park at your own pace.

Taste your way through the Gibbston Valley wines on a wine tour from Queenstown that includes wine tastings. Sampling a variety of Gibbston Valley wines ensures you a great overview of local flavors, and round-trip transport from central Queenstown means you can enjoy each tasting without worrying about driving at the end of the day.

Save time and skip the lines with this combo ticket to Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre’s cutting-edge ‘Knights of the Sky’ and ‘Dangerous Skies’ exhibits. Learn about New Zealand’s wartime pilots and see their stories brought to life in sets created by the award-winning WingNut Films and Weta Workshop. Enthusiasts should make a beeline to the Centre’s aviation relics: immaculately-preserved bomber planes and fighter jets from both World Wars.

Ringer or not, you’re sure to enjoy this 'Lord of the Rings' air tour led by the aerial film pilot for the movie series. Fly above beautiful Queenstown, and see the spots filmed for the fictional places of Isengard, Amon Hen, Lothlorien, the Misty Mountains, and the Redhorn Pass. See the mountain range from the opening scene of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,' and feel like you’re in Middle-earth.

Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre’s Dangerous Skies exhibition tells the incredible stories of World War II’s unsung aviation heroes. See impeccably-restored bombers and fighter planes from the era and immerse yourself in the museum’s Battle of Stalingrad Experience, a multimedia extravaganza that throws you right in the middle of the infamous siege. Skip the lines and book a special guided tour of the exhibit to learn more about these stories.

Designed for cruise ship travelers docked in Lyttelton, this tour takes you to some of the North Canterbury region’s best vineyards. Depart the port and head to Waipara Valley, famous for its dry climate and rick soils. Then visit 3 different wineries, sampling a variety of wines including Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and more. A delicious lunch is also included at Waipara Springs Winery.

This is a Private Tour. We can take up to 11 passengers and as locals have been proudly showing visitors Christchurch and the South Island for over 25 years (see "E S Tours" Trip Advisor Reviews). We like to think our tours are small, friendly, informative and we look for the interesting back roads to travel away from most tour destinations and itineraries.