One Perfect Day in Queenstown’s Hidden Gem, Jack’s Point
Tucked among the foothills of New Zealand’s Remarkables mountain range, and just a 10-minute drive from Queenstown International Airport, Jack’s Point is a growing 1200-hectare alpine village within minutes of and home to the spectacular Jack's Point Golf Course. Set along the shores of Lake Tewa, which is fed by glacial water from nearby Lake Wakatipu, this waterside enclave has all the ingredients for an unforgettable escape. Choose from chic apartments, luxe villas or a private retreat by the seventh hole of the golf course and follow the rhythm set by the landscape: breakfast with snow-capped views, a round of golf, lakeside hiking and sundowners as the sky purples beyond silhouetted peaks. When you’re ready to go further afield, Queenstown’s adrenaline-fuelled adventures, award-winning wineries and innovative food scene are less than 20 minutes away. Here’s how to spend one perfect day in the area.
Morning: Flat whites, fairways and fresh mountain air
Start your day like a local – with a strong flat white (double-shot, Kiwi-style) at Jack’s Restaurant, situated on the Jack’s Point Golf Course right on the edge of Lake Tewa. Coffee in hand, wander along a stretch of Jack’s Point’s 25 kilometres of scenic walking trails or settle in at a table by the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows, which look out onto white-dusted peaks and undulating greens. Paired with eggs Benedict – made with grilled crumpets and eggs from local pasture-raised chickens – it’s the ideal tee-off fuel before tackling 18 holes. Weaving among native tussock grasslands, schist rock formations and restored wetlands designed with minimal impact on the environment, Jack's Point Golf Course is one of New Zealand’s most visually striking places to putt.
Midday: Ascend to the mountain playground
No matter the season, New Zealand’s epic peaks beckon. In winter, a scenic 30-minute drive from Jack’s Point delivers you to the top of the Remarkables Ski Area, home to 385 hectares of world-class skiable terrain and panoramic views stretching to Lake Wakatipu, where the water shifts from inky blue to turquoise depending on the light. Between runs, join the lively après-ski scene and sit fireside at wine bars, or warm up while sipping (very) cold ones by the fire at high-altitude pubs and cheerful taprooms. From December to April, swap skis for hiking boots and take on the Lake Alta Track, a 2.4-kilometre loop that climbs to 1800 metres above sea level through the alpine basin to a glacial lake so cinematic it played the site of Dimrill Dale in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring film. Your reward? Crisp air and the endless sky reflected in still, icy waters.
Settle into mountain living at Lake Tewa Alpine Residences, an exclusive clutch of three- to four-bedroom homes on the shores of Lake Tewa. Created by a team of top New Zealand architects and construction partners, the Residences blend alpine elegance with year-round functionality for an all-season outdoor lifestyle with panoramic views, refined interiors and easy access to Queenstown’s natural playground. With 365-day visitor accommodation zoning and professional onsite letting services, it’s a stay visitors never want to end – and a home you could keep forever. Find out more here.
Afternoon: Drink and dine among the vines
Head 30 minutes north-west of Lake Tewa to the Gibbston Valley, home to some of Central Otago’s oldest and most storied vineyards. At Gibbston Valley Winery, grapes are still picked by hand and macerated by foot in a nod to the time-honoured traditions that shape its cool-climate pinot noir. Begin with a tasting flight in the rustic French country-inspired Wine Cave before lunch at the acclaimed Winery Restaurant for succulent Royalburn lamb with spiced Puy lentils and mint cream – and more red wine.
Evening: Lakeside golden hour and Central Otago on a plate
As the sun dips, Lake Tewa shimmers, reflecting the Remarkables’ jagged pinnacles in technicolour – the ideal time to retreat to one of the area’s sleek short-term stays and watch the show from the comfort of your mountainside idyll. Once your appetite calls, make the 22-minute drive from Jack’s Point to Amisfield Restaurant & Cellar Door, where a leisurely tasting menu highlighting Central Otago's seasonal produce could include smoked eel on Vogel’s bread or pūtangitangi – a native duck – accompanied by matching Amisfield single-estate organic wines. End the evening with a digestif before retiring to your home away from home.
Located in one of New Zealand’s most sought-after destinations, the Lake Tewa Alpine Residences match refined design with raw natural beauty. Each property features private landscaped gardens, generous balconies and dynamic open-plan living spaces that flow seamlessly from indoors to out. Sustainable design is key: floor-to-ceiling glazed windows draw in sunlight from the east and west while natural materials connect the buildings to their surroundings. To request plans, pricing and specifications, or to register your interest, please visit the Lake Tewa website.
