Of all the regions in New Zealand, Central Otago is the only one that has a continental climate. Dry and hot in summer, cold and snowy in winter - Central Otago can claim the both highest and lowest temperatures in New Zealand.

	The picturesque Mackenzie Country is ideal for hiking, camping, and trout fishing.
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Wildflowers

Before the breathtaking colours of autumn, Central Otago is a bed of wildflowers. From December to February, they bloom almost everywhere – a myriad of colours blowing in the warm breeze. Wander the hills, or just stop at the side of the road and pick a bunch.

Spring daisies in Alexandra
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Cultivation in the wilderness

Putting the natural landscape aside for a moment, there are some wonderful gardens to visit around Queenstown. The Speight Garden is nestled in a gully under the Remarkables Range and Coronet Peak. It’s huge and mostly formal – there’s a lot to see, so you’ll need a few hours.

If you love peonies, Queenstown provides perfect growing conditions. The Peony Gardens at Lake Hayes are open from early November to mid December.

One of the most unusual gardens you’ll see is Jolendale Parklands in Alexandra – it’s the driest botanic collection in New Zealand. The trees here come from all over the world, and they’ve been chosen for their ability to cope with arid conditions.

Hiking paradise

One of my favourite walking tracks in the South Island is the Routeburn Track. You get to it from Glenorchy, and it’s pure national park in every sense. You’ll see pristine beech, kamahi and podocarp forest. You can also find your way to Paradise – which is named for the native Paradise Duck.