Deer Park Heights Queenstown — Attraction in South Island

Great plot of land with many viewpoints for nice phototaking (although after awhile its the same views but at different pitstops) and some cute animals (plus not so cute ones). Spent about 3h in total here. Plus points: Good spots for scenic views since its quite high up One serving of 2nzd feed was sufficient to cover the whole way, which is good value Tamer animals include horses/ponies, donkey, sheeps, pig, ducks, deers. Don't bother feeding the alpaca, seems like they dont care There's maybe just a bit more than a handful of benches around the huge property for you to sit and eat your lunch. But honestly mostly would be taken up if not already, by tourists or goats. Don't think you'd wanna eat food around the latter though

Downsides however: Price can be expensive if you're only a couple to one car. Best if you can split the cost amongst more folks since its 75nzd per one car There's no staff on site to assist, in case of any issues. Which is quite weird to me considering this is a popular attraction. Example: the only working machine to get the feed was malfunctioning for a bit (got stuck, which meant many couldn't get any feed even if they have money to spare), and there was absolutely no one to help. Even shoot them an ig dm but nobody replied even after a few days. You'd expect theres at least some management around to call for help if needed.. so I guess this is really a, you're all on your own buddy, kinda place. With the animals and all. Roads are quite rugged, akin to off roads, wouldn't suggest not so confident drivers to be driving here in big vehicles. Especially when animals may block your way like goats or cows lol There's only 1 toilet available and it's where the pigs are at. But no idea why theres no proper locks to the toilet... I did notice a door stopper inside but honestly dont think that'll help with stopping another person from coming in while you're doing your business.... Personal preference but the goats are kinda annoying and they kept following the cars so I didnt even bother feeding them.

Overall I think it's worth if you want good views for photos/ cost is not an issue/ you like animals. Tips for those going in: Buy tickets IN ADVANCE. The Friday morning we were there, it was fully booked. Once you drive into the property way past the gantry, you'll first see the ponies/horses/sheeps. You wont find the machine to purchase animal feed there. You gotta drive up further to where the pigs are in...

This is suitable for families with young children. They have farm animals, goats, deer, miniature horses, lamas and alpacas, pigs Himalayan Tahr and Highland Cattle.

What interested me specifically is the geology. A roche moutonnnee ("fleecy rock”) is a rock formation created by the passing of a glacier. The passage of glacial ice over underlying bedrock often results in asymmetric erosional forms as a result of abrasion on the "stoss" side of the rock and plucking on the "lee" side.

Carved out of the last ice age 15,000 years ago, Lake Wakatipu was formed by a huge glacier that pushed through the land from the north-west. Though the lake is a relatively thin 'S' shape, the jagged mountains that surround it run straight into its depths, forming a deep canyon that is 399 metres at its deepest point.

At the top is kettle lake depression/hole in an outwash plain formed by retreating glaciers or draining floodwaters. The kettles are formed as a result of blocks of dead ice left behind by retreating glaciers, which become surrounded by sediment deposited by meltwater streams as there is increased friction.

The rocks at the top are as flat as a pancake, again carved out by a glacier flowing over the top of the hill.

The spectacular Remarkables mountain range (Kawarau) in the distance runs exactly north south, and was formed by the pressures of tectonic plates moving along the fault line that runs the length of the Southern Alps.

Deer Park Heights offers access to passenger vechilces up to 7 seats to explore the property from the comfort of your own. Pack a picnic lunch and camera, or put on your walking boots for a mountain stroll at dedicated walking spots.

Deer Park Heights has been the location for several movies and numerous advertisements, most famously Peter Jackson’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, ‘Wolverine’, Walt Disney movie’s ‘The Rescue’ and more recently ‘Pete’s Dragon’. The significant film locations for the Lord of the Rings were mostly for the second film, ‘The...

During our visit to Deer Park Heights last June, we purchased our entrance tickets for $55 per vehicle on their website, which included an access code required for entry prior to entering the premises. The panoramic views of Queenstown were truly breathtaking, offering a unique perspective similar to a bird's eye view of the town. My family and I highly recommend visiting this area! Before driving into the farm area, there's a designated spot where visitors can purchase food ($2 coins) for the animals. Although we didn't buy any this time, we DEFINITELY plan to on our next trip.

The area wasn't very crowded during our visit, which provided ample opportunities for photography without the interference of large crowds. Additionally, Deer Park Heights features numerous "Lord of the Rings" film locations, which adds an element of cinematic history to the visit. A short 10 to 20 minutes walk-up to a higher point rewards us with an even better view of Lake Wakatipu.

We encountered various animals such as goats, deer, and cows, which made navigating the vehicle difficult. We had to drive cautiously to avoid hitting any animals due to blind spots. At one point, we were stuck in the middle of the road for a while because many goats were wandering around our vehicle. I couldn't open the door or wind down the window, fearing I might hit them, and I didn't have any food for them. To make this easier, it's better to buy their animal food to lure them away from the vehicle, ensuring a smoother drive through the area. Otherwise, you might find yourself stuck like us😂, as the animals often approach the car for food.

Overall, Deer Park Heights offers a remarkable combination of natural beauty, photography opportunities, and unique wildlife encounters, making it a must-visit destination for anyone travelling...