The drive then takes us through tiny towns with memorable names, including Omarama and Twizel. We stop at the mid-way lookout for the ubiquitous selfie and admire the view. Dustings of snow remain on some of the higher peaks of these rolling, tussocked hillsides. From Cromwell we follow Lake Dunstan north, then travel through verdant, hilly sheep grazing country before ascending the Lindis Pass. The landscape changes dramatically almost every half hour, but snow-capped peaks accompany us throughout. The winding route cuts through the Gibbston Valley, home to the stunningly situated Chard Farm Winery, then snakes dramatically through the rocky, arid Kawarau Gorge, past the township of Bannockburn, home to iconic Central Otago wineries including Felton Road, Carrick and Mount Difficulty, and the fruit-growing region of Cromwell. The road out of Queenstown passes the turnoff to the quaint old mining village of Arrowtown, which should be on any tourist itinerary in these parts, then skirts the base of the Crown Range. This is one of the most spectacular drives I've ever experienced. As we drive from Queenstown to Methven, to round out our South Island ski trip with a day on the slopes at Mt Hutt, I can't help but agree. It's not the destination but the journey that matters, or so the old saying goes. With its stunning scenery and lack of traffic, New Zealand is the perfect place to combine skiing with driving. Arrowtown, Queenstown's historic charm includes buildings made from schist rock, like these shown here.
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