5 Best Sights in The Southern Alps and Fiordland, New Zealand

The wine-making industry in Central Otago began with the vines that were first planted here. The best-known vineyard in Central Otago, Gibbston Valley Wines is a beautiful spot for lunch and wine tasting. There are cheese platters and tasty sandwiches through to a full à la carte menu with wine recommendations. You can even taste wines in a cool, barrel-lined cave with cave tours on the hour. If you can't get out to the winery, Gibbston Valley also has a café in Arrowtown, where you'll get hint of what you've missed.

Step into this expansive winery and bistro and enjoy stunning lake and mountain views. Both the wines and the restaurant have earned accolades over the years. Go for a memorable Trust the Chef lunch or dinner. Wine-tastings are available at the cellar door; the pinot noir, aromatic whites such as riesling and pinot gris, and the méthode traditionelle are all worth sampling.

The Chard Farm vineyard perches on a rare flat spot on the edge of the Kawarau Gorge, not far from Gibbston Valley and opposite AJ Hackett Bungy. Its location and access road are beautiful, and you'll find an excellent portfolio of wines to taste including pinot noir, chardonnay, gewürztraminer, pinot grigio, and riesling.

You could spend a lot of time in the tasting room with the large range of good wines on offer here, or you can keep it simple and grab one of their tasting trays, featuring a selection complete with notes. There are some sweet dessert wines that can only be bought at the cellar door to consider as well. Make sure you stay for lunch. Staffers are friendly and know their stuff, and the view out from Bannockburn is pure Central Otago.

Lying spectacularly by the shores of Lake Wanaka, Rippon is one of the most photographed vineyards in the country. The vineyard's portfolio includes riesling, gewürztraminer, sauvignon blanc, and fine pinot noir. Head west from Wanaka along the lake on Mt. Aspiring Road for 4 km (2½ miles).