Curated food and adventure – Mystery Picnics come to Queenstown
The latest experience to launch in Queenstown is Village Picnic’s Mystery Picnic. Participants will get to solve clues, enjoy fun activities and uncover a day-trip scavenger hunt, punctuated with stops at some of our region’s gourmet, artisan producers.
There’s options to travel via car or bike, for larger groups or just a romantic pair. It will take around five hours with multiple pitstops on the way – from scenic lookouts to divine tastings, a bit of fun, and collection of food and drink, which will culminate in a picturesque picnic at the end, in a secret location.
“Predominately it’s couples that take part – date night reimagined, I call it,” founder of Village Picnic, Philippa Potaka says. “It’s people celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and it’s just a nice, unique way of spending time with loved ones in an interactive way.”
First started by Potaka in Matakana after Covid when people were wanting to get out of the house, the unique picnics were really well received. After meeting Queenstown-based Carla Bonata Neves and Jade Ponniah of The People Pleasers, the partnership naturally developed. With so many different types of tourists coming to our region, seeking everything from adrenaline to relaxation, scenery, adventure, and so on, this is a lovely addition to what’s on offer.
Clues could include crosswords, riddles, find words, and completing small tasks to decipher each stop along the way. You’ll start with a map (which also landmarks a few extra spots you can stop at on your journey if you choose) and the clues – the rest is up to you. Sit down and work out all the clues before you set off, or pitstop along the way and figure them out as you go.
“We have a couple of routes for Mystery Picnic and Pedal n Picnic routes to start with, and we expect to add new routes in the future. It’s an adventure, it’s an experience – it’s more than just the food. We coordinate with local business so everyone expects the customer.”
At some of the stops, you’ll have vouchers to present to the different businesses, and when you reach your final scenic picnic spot, you can expect a combination of cheese, chutneys, crackers, fruits, meats, fish, nuts, sodas, and more. Dietary requirements can also be accommodated. Then, it’s time to sit back and relax on your picnic blanket, have a cheers and watch the world go by – there may even be a final activity packed away.
“There’s also Village Picnic to You, a mobile charcuterie and cheese cart available for weddings and events. The grazing-style cart complements our workshop experiences, where we collaborate with local artists offering two-to-three hour guided activities, whether pottery, painting, or perfume making. We then partner with local beverage suppliers – including Altitude, Wet Jacket, and Rifters – to pair with our local artisan feast.”
Pricing for the picnic experiences starts from $540 for a couple and includes all food, drinks, and activities. You can also add a Ryd car hire by the hour, an e-bike hire option booked through their preferred supplier, Whizzy eBikes, as well as a setup from Picnique that includes glassware, cutlery, tables, rugs, cushions and more – a beautiful upgrade for a styled picnic setting.
For more information on the different picnic experiences that Village Picnic curate, and to see what you can join in on, head to villagepicnic.co.nz or find them on socials at villagepicnic_queenstown on Facebook and Instagram.
Exclusive offer!
Lakes Weekly readers can receive 20% off the Queenstown Standard and Premium Mystery Picnics.
Book before December 31 and enter code LBQT20
