Three weeks in New Zealand - 4/12 - 5/4/2024

Day 23-Dinner at Butchery Botswana, Queenstown-5/3/2024

Before heading to Dinner, we had a little time so we decided to walk around the downtown area.

We are in the heart of Queenstown’s shopping district, between Ballarat Street and Camp Street, where the town buzzes with energy.

Cafés and eateries spill onto the streets, making it a lively spot to browse, shop, or pause for a coffee while surrounded by the dramatic mountain backdrop. It’s a perfect blend of small-town intimacy and vibrant resort-town atmosphere.

This area reflects Queenstown’s transformation from a quiet gold-rush settlement of the 1860s into a modern resort town known worldwide. Once filled with miners seeking fortune, the streets now welcome visitors chasing adventure, fine dining, and mountain views. The contrast of stylish shops against the backdrop of the Remarkables mountains gives this district its unique character—a blend of history, energy, and alpine beauty.

 It is a really nice area to walk around.

We are now at Queenstown bay.  It is a very nice spot to watch the sunset.

Near the jet boating docks along Queenstown Bay, the energy shifts as the day winds down.

The sun is starting to set on the horizon.

The lake glows with the soft colors of the setting sun, orange, pink, and gold while the surrounding mountains darken into silhouettes.

On the quay, the scene feels peaceful and intimate.

Boats docking near the pier at the end of the day.

We continued our walk , close to the shore of Queenstown bay.

  Ducks gathering by the stone steps that lead down to the water,. Just beyond, a small pier juts into the lake, a quiet counterpoint to the lively waterfront nearby.

Panoramic view of the Lake from the pier.

Just past the little pier, the quay opens into a lively stretch lined with restaurants and bars overlooking the lake.

The terraces from the restaurants spill out toward the water, offering front-row seats to the reflections of the mountains and the glow of the sunset. The atmosphere here is warm and inviting, it’s the perfect spot where Queenstown’s natural beauty and vibrant dining scene coming together.

From this spot by the lakeside restaurants, your eyes are drawn upward to the hillside dotted with colorful houses.

The houses seem to climb the slope in layers, each with its own vantage point over the lake. The mix of colors and styles adds a cheerful, almost storybook charm to Queenstown’s skyline, especially as the sun sets and lights begin to twinkle in the windows.

Dinner at Botswana Butchery

Next we are headed to Botswana Butchery, one of Queenstown’s most celebrated dining spots, housed in a charming lakeside cottage with a warm and elegant interior. Known for its hearty yet refined cuisine, it specializes in premium cuts of New Zealand lamb, beef, and venison, alongside fresh seafood and seasonal produce.

We arrived a bit earlier and our table is not ready yet, so they let us to a cozy waiting room with a roaring log fire chimney located on the second floor.

This the bar on the second floor that is reserved for guests dining on the upper level and those using private dining spaces. 

Hoa ordered an Old Fashion while waiting for our table.

This area is so warm and cozy and the Old Fashion was also very good.

Decoration on the wall in the main dinning room.

Our table is ready and we got a really nice table with a complete view of the room

Cheers!

This is the main bar on the ground floor that seat about 8 people. This area is open to diners who want a pre- or post-meal drink.

The menu is based on a love for exquisite cuts of beef and organic and locally sourced produce.

I selected the Grilled Lamb Saddle served with a lamb & rosemary Jus.

Gorgeous presentation and the Lamb is tender, flavorful, and so delicious!

I really enjoyed this dish.

We also ordered a plate of assorted autumn mushroom salad, cos lettuce, walnuts & feta cheese.

We also ordered crispy French Fries.

Hoa selected the Savannah Angus Rib eye (Grass Fed) on the Bone served with peppercorn sauce.

It was cooked to perfection, flavorful, and simply delicious.

For Dessert we ordered an Otago Wildflower Honey & rosemary crème brûlée, Elderflower gel, Strawberry macaron, Guava sorbet, raspberry coulis

The dessert was a feast for the eye and our palate.

So gorgeous and really delicious too.

We are now done with our meal and Hoa is paying before leaving.

On our way back to our hotel, we passed by the Queenstown bay one last time.

On our last night in Queenstown, we enjoyed an unforgettable dinner at Botswana Butchery. The grilled lamb saddle and the Savannah Angus rib eye were both cooked to perfection, rich with flavor and beautifully presented. For dessert, the Otago wildflower honey & rosemary crème brûlée was a fragrant and elegant finale. It was the perfect way to end our stay, celebrating Queenstown’s charm with a truly memorable meal.

Our South Island journey began with a scenic ferry ride into Picton, opening the door to some of New Zealand’s most stunning landscapes. We explored the golden beaches and lush trails of Abel Tasman National Park, and enjoyed a memorable lunch at Cloudy Bay, one of Marlborough’s most beautiful wineries. From there, we traveled through Kaikōura’s rugged coastlines, experienced the charm of Christchurch with a serene punting ride along the Avon River, and hiked the incredible trails around Aoraki/Mount Cook, where the alpine scenery left us in awe. Continuing south, we relaxed in Wanaka’s lakeside beauty before ending our adventure in vibrant Queenstown, a perfect finale to our South Island journey.

Our three-week road through New Zealand, from the North Island to the South, has been nothing short of extraordinary. We traced a path through ancient landscapes and vibrant towns, where every turn of the road revealed something new with rolling green hills, mirror-like lakes, snow-capped peaks, and golden beaches. Along the way, we savored meals that captured the flavors of the land, met people whose warmth made us feel at home, and gathered countless moments that will linger in our memories. This drive across both islands was more than a trip, it was a tapestry of beauty, adventure, and connection that we will carry with us always.

NEXT... Melbourne, Australia (coming soon)