GO NZ: Hotel review - Cromwell s Heritage Collection Lake Resort
12 Jan, 2021 11:29 PM
4 minutes to read
The Central Otago appartments brings the overwater bungalow to Lake Dunstan. Photo / Supplied
Grant Bradley checks into the Heritage Collection Lake Resort in Cromwell
Location: Just seven minutes north of Cromwell in Central Otago, the resort is within striking distance of the many attractions in the area.
Style: Boatshed-themed managed apartment accommodation which makes the most of its proximity to Lake Dunstan and sits under the imposing Pisa mountain range which separates the area from Cardrona ski field.
Perfect for: Romantic getaways, memorable family holidays, groups of mates and it also has great facilities for corporate retreats in a variety of meeting settings. It hits all bases.
New Otago water park pulling crowds, people being turned away
10 Jan, 2021 08:14 PM
2 minutes to read
The new Kiwi Water Park in Lowburn near Cromwell is proving very popular. Photo / Stephen Jaquiery
The new Kiwi Water Park in Lowburn near Cromwell is proving very popular. Photo / Stephen Jaquiery
Otago Daily Times
The owner and operator of Central Otago s newest attraction says she is having to turn people away because it is so popular.
Queenstown businesswoman Emily Rutherford opened Kiwi Water Park at Lowburn on the shores of Lake Dunstan last month and said online bookings for the noon session were regularly sold out.
BROOK SABIN
The fast-growing town of Cromwell has mountains, a stunning lake, vineyards, cherry picking and loads of adventure activities. It s just missing the crowds.
I m surrounded by mountains – on the edge of a stunning lake – and find myself in close proximity to ski fields, loads of great food, luxury accommodation, wineries and adventure activities. It sounds like I could be in Queenstown or Wānaka – but I m in a little town that is exploding in popularity: Cromwell.
Brook Sabin/Stuff
Cromwell sits on the edge of Lake Dunstan. Before Covid-19, there was bubbling resentment that Queenstown and even Wānaka had got too busy, and many longed for simpler times. Well, I may have found it in Cromwell – here are seven reasons I think it s New Zealand’s next big mountain town.
But she never thought she d make it happen until COVID-19 forced her to return home. Initially I booked a three-month ticket home, then I realised pretty quick this is going to be going on for a few years, so I thought I d run with this idea I d had for a few years, says Rutherford.
She says it wasn t easy to get 10,000 metres of inflatable equipment from one side of the world to central Otago in the middle of a pandemic. So many times I thought this might not happen. we had a lot of issues trying to get the consent, we had a lot of issues trying to get the cranes and the mooring blocks, we had a lot of shipping issues getting the containers from China.
Cyclists ride on clip-on platforms on the Lake Dunstan Trail.
I felt a certain dread as my flight from Auckland winged its way over the Remarkables with Queenstown Airport in view in the distance. But this was nothing to do with fear of flying, or the notoriously tricky landing at Queenstown - I was more concerned with what awaited me on my three-day trip to Central Otago. As a desperately unfit city type, it was the thought of having to pedal across some of this spectacular, rugged landscape that was causing such anxiety. Would I break down halfway up a dirt track with cramp or incessant wheezing? Would I have to be rescued by my hosts?