The Secret of Moke Lake
That night, we camped at Moke Lake, just 20 minutes outside Queenstown — but it felt like we had disappeared into a mountain painting. Easily one of my favorite campsites ever.
We chose it not just for the views (which were jaw-dropping) but also for a “secret” hike: the Moke Lake Viewpoint. It’s not an official trail, but it is on AllTrails — so of course we had to do it.
Joey tackled it at sunset (so cinematic), and I went the next morning with Emma. Let’s just say: legs burning, hearts full, and views so good we forgot how steep it was… almost.
Queenstown: Burgers, more Boats, Ben Lomond + Bonus Luge Madness
Once we got back to Queenstown, we made a beeline for downtown and officially joined the FergBurger cult. Verdict? The hype is absolutely justified. These burgers aren’t just food — they’re a full-on experience.
Bellies full and spirits high, we strolled around town and stumbled upon… a rubber ducky race. Yes, you read that right — hundreds of tiny yellow ducks floating down the river like they meant business. Obviously, we had to join in. We cheered our duck on like it was competing in the Olympics… but sadly, it was more “last place legend” than champion. 🦆
And because we’re nothing if not impulsive parents of the year, we decided to surprise the kids with a Jet Boat tour. Sixty minutes. 95 km/h. 360° spins. Basically, a water rollercoaster surrounded by The Lord of the Rings scenery. The kids were screaming, we were laughing like maniacs — pure adrenaline-fueled family fun.
Next day, back to hiking (because clearly, we can’t sit still). The kids were surprisingly still up for it — minor miracle! We tackled the Ben Lomond hike, starting right from downtown. We took the gondola up to save our knees (and our will to live) and then hiked the rest. The views? Unreal. I’d call it our best hike so far — dramatic ridgelines, snow-capped peaks, and enough photo ops to break a phone.
And just when we thought the day was done, we noticed the gondola offers luge rides. For only $50 more for the whole family, we got three rides each — and of course, we couldn’t resist. Cue the friendly family chaos: full-speed races, dramatic overtakes, and one very competitive dad (naming no names, Joey). Shorter track than Rotorua’s, but with a few jumps that made everyone laugh like kids again.
Fjords, wildlife, burgers, jet boats, hikes, and luge races — Queenstown and Fiordland definitely delivered the perfect combo of adventure and laughter. Oh, and maybe a touch of sore muscles. Worth it. Every. Single. Step.
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