Mo Time, Mo Wellness: A Queenstown Guide to Movember
Growing a Mo or walking your 60 kilometres? Where to sauna, soak and walk in Queenstown this November, and why a drive is the easiest place to talk.
October 31, 2026
Evolve Blog
Plan a Day Trip to Glenorchy's Cutest Attraction
Guinea pigs, lambs, llamas and a Clydesdale at a family farm just past Glenorchy. When it is open, how to get there and what else to do with the day.
October 22, 2026
The NZ Open: Golf, Mountains and the Ultimate Queenstown Weekend
The 2027 New Zealand Open at Millbrook, 25 to 28 February. How the pro am works, watching it, getting there, and the rest of Open week in Queenstown.
October 15, 2026
From Auckland to Middle Earth: Your Hobbiton Day Out
The drive from Auckland to Hobbiton, which tour to book, what you see inside, and the waterfalls, hot pools and country towns worth adding to the day.
October 08, 2026
A Day Trip to Glenorchy: The Drive, the Walks and the Road to Paradise
Forty five minutes from Queenstown sits a wetland full of birds, a viewpoint used to sell New Zealand, and a gravel road running into Mount Aspiring National Park.
October 01, 2026
Exploring the World's Edge Festival by Car
World class chamber music in wineries and halls across Central Otago. When At the World's Edge 2026 is on, where the venues are and how the drives fit together.
September 24, 2026
Milford Sound and Gibbston Wine: 10% Off with Southern Discoveries
Two of the best days out from Queenstown, a Milford Sound cruise and a Gibbston wine tour, with 10% off for Evolve Rentals customers. How to plan each one around your car.
September 21, 2026
Chocolate and Coffee Festival Auckland: A Sweet September Escape
More than sixty chocolate makers and coffee roasters on Auckland's waterfront. When the 2026 festival is on, how to get there, and what to do with the rest of the weekend.
September 17, 2026
From Hotel Lobby to Highway. Your Auckland Car Awaits
Where to collect an Evolve car in central Auckland, why starting in the city beats the airport run, and the west coast drive worth doing with it.
September 10, 2026
Snow Machine Queenstown: Music, Mountains and Good Times
Hilltop Hoods, Chet Faker and Restricted, eight stages across two mountains and a main arena in town. How Snow Machine week works and how to get around it.
September 08, 2026
October in Queenstown: The Last Hurrah of Ski Season
The Queenstown ski season ends over three weekends in October, one mountain at a time. Here are the dates, the snow, and what to do once the lifts stop.
September 04, 2026
Driving in New Zealand: What Visitors Need to Know Before They Set Off
New Zealand roads are narrower, slower and more winding than most visitors expect. Here is what we tell people who are about to drive here for the first time.
August 24, 2026
The Best Weekend Road Trips from Auckland
Four weekend trips from Auckland, how long each really takes, and the things that catch people out. Tides, gates and weather closures included.
August 20, 2026
Take the Scenic Route. Auckland Road Trips Worth the Drive
Four day trips within an hour of Auckland, what is actually open, which tracks are closed, and when to leave so the motorway does not eat your day.
August 17, 2026
Coffee with a View: Our Favourite Takeaway Spots and Scenic Sips Around Queenstown
Three takeaway coffee stops in and around Queenstown, which one suits which kind of morning, and the view spots worth driving to with the cup.
August 13, 2026
Hot Chocolate in Queenstown: Where to Get a Proper One
Four places that do a proper hot chocolate in Queenstown, three of them within a few minutes' walk of each other, and one worth the drive.
August 06, 2026
Snow Chains 101: Getting Ready to Drive in Queenstown This Winter
Driving to Queenstown's ski fields this winter? Which roads need snow chains, how to fit them for the first time, checking the road report and sorting chains with your rental.
July 31, 2026
Christmas in July in Queenstown: What's On in 2026
Christmas in July is back across Queenstown for 2026. What is on at Coronet Peak and Ayrburn, and how to fit the mountain and the lights into one day.
July 23, 2026
The Waitākere Ranges Are Reopening: Your Winter Road Trip West of Auckland
Zion Hill, Kuataika and Smyth Ridge tracks in the Waitākere Ranges have reopened. Where they are, the beaches to pair them with and why winter is a good time to go.
July 19, 2026
Best Things to Do in Queenstown in the School Holidays' Final Week
The July 2026 school holidays end on Sunday 19 July. Family ski days, bad weather options and easy drives from Queenstown to make the final week count.
July 12, 2026
Queenstown Mardi Gras: Snow, Sound, and Serious Party Vibes
New Zealand's biggest dress up party comes to Queenstown every winter. When it runs, what it is like, getting there and home, and the rest of the weekend.
July 07, 2026
What to Do This School Holidays and Matariki
Matariki falls on Friday 10 July 2026, in the middle of the school holidays. Stargazing at Tekapo, easy winter day trips from Queenstown and weekends from Auckland.
July 04, 2026
Queenstown Winter Fun Without the Big Price Tag
A Queenstown winter does not have to cost a ski pass a day. Free lights at Ayrburn, lakeside walks, a gold rush village and the drives in between, for winter 2026.
June 22, 2026
Snow on Pause, Adventure on Screen
A late start to the 2026 ski season? The NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival fills the gap in Wānaka and Queenstown. Dates, highlights and the drive between.
June 19, 2026
Our Favourite Auckland Food Stops
Where we actually eat in Auckland. Brunch in Ponsonby, the weekend markets, Korean small plates, birria tacos, and the food day trips worth getting out of the city for.
June 15, 2026
2026 Ski Season Is Here: Where to Head This Winter in New Zealand
New Zealand has roughly two dozen ski areas and five of them get all the attention. Here is the wider picture, and what each one actually costs you in road time.
June 10, 2026
Auckland in June: Quieter Winter Days, Easy Drives and More Room to Explore
Auckland in June is quieter, easier and still full of good days out. City days, winter food stops, four day trips within an hour and how to collect your car centrally.
June 04, 2026
Winter Has Arrived Early in Queenstown
Coronet Peak opens early for winter 2026. What is open from 29 May, how to drive up, snow chains, collecting ski gear and what to book before the season fills.
May 27, 2026
Get Winter Ready: Why May Is the Time to Book Ahead
Winter 2026 in Queenstown fills up fast, and the July school holidays and Matariki land in the same fortnight. What to book in May, in what order, and why the car should not be last.
May 21, 2026
Make the Most of May Before Winter Arrives
May is the last easy driving month of the year, and the month the winter rules switch on. What changes, what is worth doing now, and the new chain rule.
May 09, 2026
Arrowtown Autumn Festival 2026: A Must Do Autumn Day Trip from Queenstown
The 40th Arrowtown Autumn Festival, 15 to 19 April 2026: the parade, Pie, Pint and Pinot, how the festival began, and the drive from Queenstown.
April 12, 2026
Warbirds Over Wanaka 2026: A Classic Easter Weekend in the South
Warbirds Over Wanaka 2026: Spitfires, Tiger Moths and a 12 helicopter formation over Easter, the drive from Queenstown, and when the airshow returns.
April 02, 2026
Easter in New Zealand: Long Weekend Getaways, Sweet Stops & Easy Road Trips
Easter 2026 in New Zealand: the dates, what closed, the clocks going back, and the best long weekend getaways from Queenstown and Auckland.
March 31, 2026
Feeling the Fuel Pinch? Why Hiring a Hybrid Just Makes Sense Right Now
Hybrids earn their keep on exactly the kind of driving a Queenstown or Auckland trip is made of. Where the saving comes from, where it is smaller, and how to make every tank go further.
March 23, 2026
St Patrick's Day in Queenstown: Paint the Town Green on 17 March
The Irish pub, the old courthouse and the teapot cocktails, how to get home again, where to catch the southern lights, and what to do with the morning after.
March 14, 2026
The Perfect 2 to 3 Day Christchurch Itinerary
Christchurch is small enough to walk and perfectly placed for the drives that make Canterbury worth the trip. Here is how to spend two or three days.
March 12, 2026
Finishing Your Road Trip in Christchurch: What You Need to Know
Want to finish your South Island road trip in Christchurch? How a one way finish is arranged, the best stops from Queenstown and how many days to allow.
March 01, 2026
Electric Avenue Festival 2026 in Christchurch, Your Ultimate Weekend Guide
Electric Avenue 2026 in Christchurch: Split Enz, Dom Dolla and Kesha, the rules worth knowing, how the festival began, and the drive from Queenstown.
February 23, 2026
The Ayrburn Classic 2026
The second Ayrburn Classic, 20 to 22 February 2026: a Tour d'Elegance, a live auction of 40 collector cars, Ladies' Day, and what is next in 2027.
February 18, 2026
Chinese New Year 2026
Welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse: Auckland's festival and lanterns, and why the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement is the place to go in Queenstown.
February 15, 2026
Valentine’s Day, the Easy Way
How to do Valentine's Day well in Queenstown and Auckland: one great booking, a private hot pool or a wine trail, and a drive somewhere beautiful.
February 11, 2026
Where to Stay in Auckland This Summer
City hotels, social hostels, a quiet bed by the airport and a campground on the beach. Where to base yourself in Auckland this summer, and how each one works with a car.
February 05, 2026
Auckland Anniversary Day Weekend Is Made for Getting Out of the City
The regatta is a morning, not a weekend. Here is where to watch it from, what is shut to cars on the day, and how to turn the rest of the long weekend into a trip.
January 20, 2026
Two Wheels or Four, Queenstown Bike Fest Is Better With a Car
The Bike Festival is ten days, not a weekend, and it moves around the district daily. Here is what is on, where it happens, and why you end up driving between most of it.
January 13, 2026
The Long Summer Drives Worth Doing in January
January is the month for New Zealand's big drives: Queenstown to Milford Sound, Auckland to Cape Reinga, and the road to Mount Cook and the glaciers.
January 09, 2026
January Is the Month of Saying Yes
January is the busiest month of the year in Queenstown and the quietest in Auckland. Here is how we time a January in both so the best bits are still yours.
January 02, 2026
New Year's, Kiwi Style
How to spend New Year's Eve in Queenstown or Auckland: the lakefront fireworks, the Sky Tower at midnight, quieter places to escape to, and the morning after.
December 28, 2025
Christmas, Kiwi Style: How to Spend the Day in Auckland or Queenstown
Christmas in New Zealand is a summer holiday. What is open, how locals spend the day in Auckland and Queenstown, and how to make the most of it.
December 21, 2025
Road Trips from Queenstown Worth Planning in December
Three of the best drives in the country start in Queenstown: Tekapo and Mount Cook, the Haast Pass to Franz Josef, and Wanaka. How far, how long and where to stop.
December 14, 2025
Auckland Summer Road Trips to Start the Holidays
The best summer drives from Auckland: the west coast beaches and Muriwai gannets, snorkelling at Goat Island, and Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove.
December 03, 2025
Where to See the Lupins: The Spring Road Trip from Queenstown
Lupins peak in early December. Where to find them near Queenstown and at Lake Tekapo, how long the drive really takes, and why it is not a day trip.
November 19, 2025
From Start Line to Skyline: Make the Most of Marathon Weekend
The Queenstown Marathon on Saturday 14 November 2026: the races, the expo, getting to the start, where to watch, and how to spend the rest of the week.
November 08, 2025
Diwali: A Celebration of Lights, Culture and Road Trips
The Auckland Diwali Festival on 31 October and 1 November 2026, the Queenstown community festival, and the road trips worth adding to the weekend.
October 14, 2025
The Remarkables 40th Spring Carnival: Ski, Celebrate and Go Retro
Forty years, one weekend and a lot of 80s ski gear. How The Remarkables marked its 40th anniversary, and how the mountain has changed since it opened in 1985.
September 19, 2025
Why September is the Perfect Time to Visit Queenstown
Spring skiing, shorter queues, Snow Machine and the clocks going forward. Why September might be the best month in Queenstown, and how to make the most of it.
September 11, 2025
Carving Rainbows on the Slopes. Winter Pride 2025
Winter Pride 2025 ran 15 to 24 August and Onesie Day was the best of it. There is no festival in 2026, and it returns to Queenstown in September 2027.
August 12, 2025
Slippery Tails and Snowy Trails. The Coronet Dog Derby is On
Farm dogs, town dogs and a barking contest: the Coronet Peak Dog Derby, when it runs, how to watch it, and getting up the mountain.
August 01, 2025
We’ve Arrived in Auckland: Car Hire in the City
Evolve Rentals arrived in Auckland in July 2025. Where to collect your car in the city, and how to drive it one way all the way to Queenstown.
July 28, 2025
Scenic Winter Drives from Queenstown (No 4WD Needed)
Four winter drives from Queenstown you can do in a standard hatchback, with what to stop for and what is actually open in July.
July 27, 2025
Christmas in July in Queenstown: Snow, Santa and Slope Side Cheer
Christmas in July 2025 in Queenstown: festive days at Coronet Peak and The Remarkables, and how to plan a snowy Christmas on the mountain.
July 24, 2025
Ayrburn's Winter Wonderland: Lights, Ice and a Proper Winter Night Out
About twenty minutes from Queenstown, Ayrburn lights its whole precinct for winter and puts an ice rink on The Dell.
July 02, 2025
Stories That Move Mountains: NZ Mountain Film Festival Comes to Queenstown
Two nights at the Memorial Centre, the best of the Wanaka programme, and the best thing to do in Queenstown on a June evening when your legs have gone.
June 23, 2025
Hit the Slopes: Queenstown Ski Season Kicks Off 14 June
The 2025 Queenstown ski season opened on 14 June: Coronet Peak's best start in years, The Remarkables' 40th winter, and what was new at Cardrona.
June 12, 2025
Light Up Your Queenstown Winter: LUMA 2025
LUMA stopped being a long weekend and became a winter long night walk through the bush at Kiwi Park. What it is now, and how to check if it is running.
June 02, 2025
Winter Is Coming: How to Get a Head Start on Ski Season in Queenstown
The fields are not open yet, the colour is still on the trees and the town is quiet. Here is what to lock in now, and what to do while you wait.
May 20, 2025
May in Queenstown: Cosy Cafés & Crisp Autumn Walks
May is the quietest good month in Queenstown. Where to sit with a coffee, which flat walks are worth the drive, and what to know before you plan a day.
May 13, 2025
Mother’s Day in Queenstown: Treat Mum to Something Special (11 May)
Mother's Day lands in the best fortnight of the Queenstown autumn. Where to eat, which drive to do, and how to plan a day she would actually choose.
May 07, 2025
A Scenic Autumn Day Trip to Glenorchy: Queenstown’s Golden Escape
Glenorchy at its golden best: the autumn stops on the Glenorchy road, what to do in the village, and how to plan a shorter autumn day around the light.
May 02, 2025
Arrowtown’s Autumn Festival: The Perfect Autumn Day Trip from Queenstown
The 39th Arrowtown Autumn Festival, 24 to 27 April 2025: over 50 events, the Saturday parade and market day, and an easy day trip from Queenstown.
April 22, 2025
Easter in Queenstown: What's Open, What's On and Where to Drive
Most of New Zealand shuts on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Queenstown does not, and that one fact changes what a long weekend here looks like.
April 18, 2025
Pies Worth the Drive: The Best Pie Stops Around Queenstown
Five pie stops from Queenstown out to Fairlie, how far each one really is, and the range you can only buy where it is made.
April 05, 2025
Rev Up for the Ayrburn Classic: A Must Attend Festival for Car Enthusiasts
The inaugural Ayrburn Classic, 21 to 23 March 2025: more than 250 cars, the Showcase on the Dell, a LaFerrari headliner and a weekend near Arrowtown.
March 19, 2025
Welcome Autumn in Queenstown: Golden Leaves & Outdoor Adventures
March is the warmest month of autumn in Queenstown, the crowds have gone and the trees are still green. Here is what the month is actually good for.
February 28, 2025
Heading to the NZ Open? Why Renting a Car Is Your Best Shot
The 2025 New Zealand Open at Millbrook: who won, how it was decided, the history behind the tournament, and how to plan for the next one.
February 23, 2025
Heading to Electric Avenue? Why Not Turn It Into a Road Trip Adventure.
Electric Avenue's first two day festival in February 2025, and how to turn the drive from Queenstown into a road trip via Twizel and Lake Tekapo.
February 19, 2025
Romance in Queenstown: The Ultimate Valentine's Day 2025 Guide
Queenstown for couples, from our Valentine's Day 2025 guide: hot pools and day spas, championship golf, an e bike wine trail and a dinner to remember.
February 11, 2025
Celebrate Chinese New Year in Queenstown 2025
Chinese New Year 2025 and the Year of the Wood Snake: when it fell, Auckland's serpent lantern festival, and how Queenstown marked the new year.
January 31, 2025
Making the Most of Late January in Queenstown: A Round-Up of Our Favorite Adventures
The last week of January is the best week of the Queenstown summer and the one people waste. Here is where we send guests, and what is worth the drive.
January 25, 2025
A Day Trip to Wanaka Lavender Farm
When the lavender is actually in bloom, what each season gives you instead, which road to take from Queenstown, and what to stop for on the way home.
January 13, 2025
Arrowtown Day Trip from Queenstown: The Drive, the Gold and the Good Food
About twenty minutes from Queenstown, Arrowtown packs gold rush history, river trails, a boutique cinema and very good food into one day.
January 06, 2025
Ring in the New Year in Queenstown
The best places to watch the New Year's fireworks in Queenstown, from the beach to the Gardens to Kelvin Heights, and how to spend the day before.
December 30, 2024
Merry Christmas from Evolve Rentals
Merry Christmas from all of us at Evolve Rentals, with a few of our favourite ways to spend a summer Christmas in Queenstown.
December 23, 2024
Queenstown Accommodation: Something for Every Budget
Six places to stay around Queenstown and Wanaka, and what each one actually means once you have a car with you: parking, distance and how often you will use it.
December 01, 2024
Queenstown Marathon: Run, Relax, and Explore!
The tenth Queenstown Marathon in November 2024: who won, the records that fell, how the race has grown, and when the next one is.
November 10, 2024
Bonfire Night in Queenstown
There is no official Guy Fawkes display in Queenstown. Here is what the night is actually like, where to watch it from, and the one thing to check first.
November 04, 2024
November Golf in Queenstown: Perfect Weather, Perfect Courses
Five places to play or practise golf around Queenstown, from a bucket of balls at Frankton to two championship courses at Millbrook, and who each one suits.
November 02, 2024
Foodie Finds for Less: Score 50% Off at Queenstown’s Best Spots
Half price dinner in Queenstown is real, with a couple of things worth knowing first. How First Table works, what the discount covers, and where to go after.
October 25, 2024
From Road Trip to Race Track: A Thrilling Day Out at Highlands in Cromwell
Highlands in Cromwell is 50 minutes from Queenstown through the Kawarau Gorge. What you can actually drive, what there is for everyone else, and the road there.
October 17, 2024
Explore Queenstown by Car and Bike with Evolve Rentals and Going Blue
Drive to the good end and ride the rest. How a car and a bike fit together in Queenstown, which trails suit which people, and the Evolve discount on bike hire.
October 08, 2024
Embrace Spring in Queenstown: Ski, Board, and Hike
Spring in Queenstown is the one season you can ski in the morning and walk a lake track in the afternoon. Here is what is still open and where to go.
September 23, 2024
September in Queenstown: Shorter Queues and Where to Eat
The school holidays are over and the queues are shorter. How to eat your way around Queenstown in September, from Shotover Street to Arrowtown.
September 11, 2024
Get Ready for Snow Machine 2024: Queenstown's Ultimate Alpine Music Festival
Who played Snow Machine 2024, the new Winery Arena at Ayrburn, how the festival got to Queenstown, and what the week is like if you are planning a future trip.
September 04, 2024
Winter Games NZ 2024: The Grand Finale in Queenstown
Our coverage of the 2024 Winter Games NZ finals at Cardrona and The Remarkables, and what it takes to get up to the mountain venues.
August 31, 2024
Winter Warmth in Queenstown: Relax and Rejuvenate Indoors
Where to warm up in a Queenstown winter, from private hot pools at Arthurs Point to a spa that comes to your accommodation, and which ones actually need a car.
August 18, 2024
Winter in Queenstown: Beyond the Slopes, and What to Do Without Skis
Wanaka and Lake Hāwea are an hour and a quarter from Queenstown over the Crown Range. Here is the winter run, the stops worth making, and what the road asks of you.
August 11, 2024
Winter Family Fun in Queenstown: Activities for Kids On and Beyond the Slopes
Beyond the ski slopes: what to do in Queenstown with children in winter, with the ages, the distances and what to take with you.
August 04, 2024
Best Dining Destinations in Queenstown Worth the Drive
Five places to eat around Queenstown that are worth getting in the car for, with the real distances, the views, and what to do with the rest of the day.
April 21, 2024
Queenstown Ski Season: Which Field to Pick and How to Get There
Four ski fields, four different drives, and one decision that shapes the whole trip. Here is how to pick, and what the road actually asks of you.
April 14, 2024
Queenstown to Christchurch: The Four Stops Worth Building the Drive Around
Around six hours of driving, and four stops that turn it into the best part of the trip. Here is what to actually do at each one, and what each one costs you in time.
April 07, 2024
Meet Mark, General Manager of Evolve Rentals: Queenstown's First and Only Delivery Car Service
Meet Mark, General Manager of Evolve Rentals, the story behind Queenstown's original delivery car rental service and what makes it different.
March 31, 2024
Five Queenstown Viewpoints, in Order of How Much Effort They Take
From a two minute stroll to a four hour climb. Five of the best views around Queenstown, with the DOC gradings, the road conditions and what waits at the end of each.
March 14, 2024
Do You Need a Car in Queenstown? Walking, Buses, Ferries and Driving Compared
You can walk across central Queenstown in twenty minutes. Getting to Glenorchy, Arrowtown or the Crown Range is another question entirely. Here is the honest comparison.
March 07, 2024
Queenstown in Autumn: Golden Trails, Wine Country and Arrowtown
Autumn in Queenstown runs March to May and peaks in April. Here is where to find the colour, which drives are worth it, and how to make a day of it.
February 29, 2024