https://www.bachcare.co.nz/cottage/Central-Otago-Cromwell/Melmore-Oasis-Cromwell-Holiday-Home-1152595.html

Melmore Oasis - Cromwell Holiday Home, Melmore Terrace, Cromwell (2026)

19/06/2026

Cromwell Wine Weekend — Day One

After finishing work in Wellington, the four of us caught a late afternoon flight down to Queenstown for a long-awaited getaway. The flight south was smooth, and as always, the views of the Southern Alps coming into land were spectacular.

We grabbed a taxi at the airport and made our way over to Cromwell, arriving at the Melmore Oasis in the evening. After travelling all day, it was nice to walk into a warm, comfortable house and immediately feel at home. We unpacked a few essentials, claimed our rooms, and had just enough time to freshen up before heading back out.

My wife booked dinner at Wooing Tree, which seemed like the perfect first stop for a weekend in wine country. The food was excellent, but if we’re being honest, the wine had drawn us there in the first place.

One bottle became two, and before long the stress of work and city life had completely disappeared. We sat talking for hours, planning adventures and laughing about old stories while sampling some fantastic local wine.

Eventually we wandered back to the Oasis under a cold Central Otago sky.

The evening continued around the dining table with a few games of cards. The boys did our best to concentrate on the game while the ladies enthusiastically discussed the wineries they wanted to visit tomorrow. Judging by the length of the conversation, we may need a second holiday just to fit them all in.

It was one of those wonderfully peaceful evenings where nobody felt the need to rush anywhere.

By the time we finally headed to bed, we were relaxed, content, and asleep almost as soon as our heads touched the pillows.

A perfect start to our Cromwell weekend.

18/06/2026

Oasis Family Diary — Final Day

Our last day at the Oasis.

The kids practically ran out of bed this morning, so excited for one last day of ski lessons. Breakfast disappeared in record time, and before I knew it, we were all piled into the car and heading back up to Coronet Peak.

By now we had our little routine down perfectly. The kids knew exactly where to go and confidently made their way to their lesson groups while I settled in for another peaceful morning.

It was another gorgeous Central Otago day, so I took my book and sat outside with a hot drink, soaking up the sunshine and mountain views. I couldn’t help thinking that tomorrow we’d be driving all the way back to Christchurch. It will be lovely to see my husband again and have the whole family back together, but I’ll definitely miss these quiet mornings.

The kids finished their lessons all smiles, although there were a few sad faces too. They’d made friends, built confidence on their skis, and weren’t quite ready for it all to end.

I promised them we’d be back once there was a proper dump of snow.

That seemed to cheer everyone up.

On the drive back to Cromwell, we stopped by Buffalos American Food Truck and picked up smash burgers to take back to the Oasis. They were exactly what we all needed after a busy morning.

Back at the house, we packed our bags and tidied up our things, but afterwards we all felt a little at loose ends. Nobody was quite ready for the holiday to be over.

So we jumped back in the car and drove over to Wanaka.

It was a cloudy but beautiful afternoon. We wandered around the lakefront, looked in a few shops, and simply enjoyed being together with nowhere particular to be.

Eventually, we made our way back to the Oasis for one last cosy evening.

We had a simple dinner, watched a bit of television, and enjoyed the warmth of the house one last time before bed.

Tomorrow we’ll head home.

But I know we’ll be back.

Next time, hopefully with even more snow.

17/06/2026

Oasis Family Diary — Day Three

The kids were unbelievably excited this morning about getting back up the mountain. For once, there were no arguments, no delays, and no one pretending they couldn’t find a glove. I actually had them all in the car early, which felt like a minor miracle.

It was one of those perfect Central Otago days: crisp, clear, and bright. While the children were in their ski lessons, I sat outside with several cups of tea and my book. I barely turned a page without getting distracted by how beautiful everything looked. It’s rare to get moments like that on a trip like this, so I made the most of it.

After their half-day lesson, we drove into Queenstown for a change of scenery. The kids were buzzing, still talking over each other about their morning on the slopes. We wandered around town and found a spot for lunch, which we demolished in record time before we headed back to the Oasis.

The afternoon was quieter, which we all needed. The kids had some downtime, movies, snacks, and general chaos in small bursts, while I started planning dinner and trying to regain a bit of order.

Then I surprised them with tickets to see Robert Glen and The Inversion at Rippon Hall. They convinced at first, but I insisted we were going. As soon as the music started, their attitudes completely changed. They were dancing, clapping, and having a brilliant time. Turns out kids really love live music.

We made it back to the Oasis late, tired but happy, and got everyone into bed with very little resistance.

Another full day done.

Tomorrow, back to the slopes again.

16/06/2026

Oasis Family Diary — Day Two

I was up early this morning and had breakfast ready before the kids even appeared in the kitchen. There was a lot of excitement in the house because today was our first proper ski lesson day.

Getting three children dressed in ski gear and out the door is a little like organising a military operation. There were missing gloves, someone couldn’t find a sock, and at least one child announced she wasn’t hungry just moments before deciding she was absolutely starving.

Eventually, everyone was dressed and fed.

Just under an hour later, we arrived at Coronet Peak, greeted by crisp mountain air and plenty of snow. The girls could hardly contain themselves.

Once they joined their lesson groups, I suddenly found myself with something quite unusual.

Free time.

I headed to the café with a hot drink and my book and enjoyed a few peaceful hours watching the skiers come and go. The morning seemed to fly by.

Before I knew it, the kids were back.

All three of them were talking at once, trying to tell me about their instructors, their new friends, and who had stayed upright the longest. They were also absolutely starving.

We had lunch together in the cafeteria while listening to endless stories about snowplough turns and chairlifts.

After lunch, we made our way back to the Oasis for a quiet afternoon.

The kids spent the rest of the day playing board games, watching a bit of television, and generally enjoying the cosy house. I think the morning’s skiing had tired them out more than they realised.

I made a big supper, and we all ate together around the table, already talking about tomorrow’s lessons and what they hoped to learn next.

An early night followed for everyone.

A great start to our holiday and, judging by the smiles on their faces, the kids are going to love every minute of this week.

14/06/2026

Oasis Family Diary — Day One

After a long drive up to Cromwell, the kids and I finally arrived at the Melmore Oasis for their week of ski lessons at Coronet Peak.

It’s our first time staying here, and I was relieved to find check-in was incredibly easy. The house felt warm and cosy the moment we walked in, which was exactly what we needed on a cold winter’s evening.

One of the best things was being able to park right in the garage. With three children, groceries, ski gear, and enough winter clothes to outfit a small army, unloading the car was surprisingly painless.

Naturally, the bedroom negotiations began immediately.

My eldest daughter wasted no time claiming the upstairs double room, declaring it “the best one” before her sisters and brother had even taken their coats off. Thankfully, the twins were perfectly happy with the single beds downstairs and quickly made themselves at home.

By the time we had unpacked a few essentials, it was getting late. I let the kids entertain themselves while I put a pre-made lasagna in the oven. There was no chance I was cooking a proper meal after the drive.

While dinner warmed, the kids laid out all of their snow gear for tomorrow’s lessons. There was a lot of excitement, a lot of trying on gloves, and several questions about whether there would be enough snow.

We finally sat around the table together and enjoyed dinner, talking about everything we hoped to do this week.

Afterwards, we curled up for a little television before I declared it bedtime.

There were a few groans, but not too many.

Tomorrow is our first day up at Coronet Peak, and we have an early start ahead of us.

The house is quiet now; the kids are asleep, and I’m looking forward to a wonderful week in Cromwell.

14/06/2026

Cromwell Getaway — Final Day

We were up early this morning and headed over to the Cromwell Mall for breakfast at Fusee Rouge Café. Excellent coffee, good food, and one last chance to plan our day before heading back to Auckland tomorrow.

No snow this weekend, but by now we’d completely stopped worrying about that.

After breakfast, we walked over to Dunstan Bike Trails and rented a couple of bikes. Armed with maps and plenty of enthusiasm, we set off for one last adventure.

If we couldn’t ski, we’d explore Central Otago another way.

The Lake Dunstan Trail turned out to be the perfect substitute.

The trail follows the lake from Cromwell, winding its way through Pisa Moorings and along the shoreline. We quickly discovered why everyone raves about it. The scenery was incredible, and there were plenty of places to stop and admire the views. Even in winter, the lake looked stunning.

We rode through the Heritage Precinct and followed the Kawarau arm of Lake Dunstan towards Bannockburn Bridge. Looking back across the water towards the vineyards and Cromwell itself was something special. Along the way, there are reminders of the region’s gold-mining history and how the landscape changed again when the lake was formed.

Crossing the bridge and looping around Bannockburn Inlet gave us a chance to stretch our legs and take a few photos. The inlet would be an amazing spot for a summer picnic, and we all agreed we’d love to come back when the weather is warmer.

As the trail continued towards Cornish Point, we rode past vineyards and olive groves, with beautiful views across the lake. The section through the gorge was probably our favourite. The bluff bridges, dramatic cliffs, and the stone faces of the Cairnmuir Slide made it feel like we were cycling through another world.

We stopped often, partly to take photos and partly because every corner seemed to offer another spectacular view.

Eventually, we turned around and followed the trail back towards Cromwell, arriving tired but very happy with our decision to spend the day on bikes.

After dropping them back at Dunstan Bike Trails, we decided we’d earned an early dinner.

So naturally, we headed to Amigos.

Excellent Mexican food and even better margaritas.

A few margaritas later, we made our way back to the Oasis to start the inevitable task of packing our bags and getting ready for our early flight home.

As we folded clothes and gathered chargers, the four of us were already talking about coming back.

This trip didn’t turn out the way we’d planned.

There was no opening day at The Remarkables.

No first turns of the ski season.

But somehow, it ended up being even better than expected.

We’ll definitely be back.

And next time, there’ll be snow.

13/06/2026

Cromwell Getaway — Day Two

After a ridiculously fun night at the Penny Black, the four of us were moving a little slower this morning. A handful of painkillers were distributed around the house before we ventured out in search of a proper breakfast.

We walked down to the Cromwell Heritage Precinct and grabbed bacon and sausage butties along with some much-needed coffees. It was exactly what we needed to get ourselves functioning again.

The weather was a little warmer today, with clouds rolling in across the valley, but there was no chance that was going to interfere with our plans.

Adventure was calling.

First on the agenda was a trip to the Kawarau Bungy Centre. None of us had done a bungy jump before, but it had been sitting on our bucket lists for years. Since skiing wasn’t happening this weekend, we figured we might as well throw ourselves off a bridge instead.

And honestly?

It was incredible.

Terrifying for about ten seconds, followed by pure exhilaration. We laughed, screamed, questioned our life choices, and immediately started talking about doing it again. Watching our partners take the plunge was almost as entertaining as doing it ourselves.After our voluntary dive towards the river, we headed into Queenstown for lunch.

We made a beeline for an old favourite, Odd Saint. The food was every bit as good as we remembered. I ordered the corned beef hash, which remains one of my favourite meals anywhere. It’s the sort of dish I think about months later.

Refuelled and feeling brave after the morning’s adventures, we headed up to the Skyline for a few runs on the luge.

A few quickly became several.

No matter how hard I tried, my partner somehow managed to beat me down the hill every single time. I suspect there was some questionable racing etiquette involved, but apparently there were no officials available to hear my complaint.

We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around Queenstown, popping into shops, enjoying the atmosphere, and taking in the views. Before long the daylight faded, and we made our way back to the Oasis.

The late afternoon was wonderfully relaxed. We lit the fire, stretched out on the couches, and enjoyed doing absolutely nothing for a while.

Later we drove over to the Bannockburn Hotel for dinner.

It turned out to be one of those meals where nobody wanted to leave the table. Great food, great wine, and even better conversation. We spent hours swapping stories from previous trips and discussing where our next adventures might take us.

By the time we returned to the Oasis, we were pleasantly full, thoroughly relaxed, and ready for a quiet night.

The fire was still glowing; the couches were comfortable, and the television required absolutely no effort.

Perfect.

11/06/2026

Cromwell Getaway — Day One

We flew down from Auckland this afternoon with the wives and our best mates, full of optimism that we’d be kicking off the ski season at The Remarkables this weekend.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other ideas. Not enough snow, not enough cold weather, and opening day has been pushed back.

A little disappointing, sure, but there are worse places to be stranded than Central Otago.

After landing in Queenstown, we made our way to the Melmore Oasis in Cromwell and got settled in. We’ve stayed here before and it’s exactly what we needed, a warm, cosy base for a few days away. Bags were barely unpacked before we headed out and find out what was happening around town.

We wandered down to the Cromwell Heritage Precinct for a drink and quickly discovered we’d stumbled upon 70s Night at The Penny Black. Suddenly our quiet evening became a lot more entertaining.

The costumes alone were worth the trip. There were enough flared trousers, platform shoes, sequins, and questionable moustaches to fill an entire decade. The place was buzzing with locals and visitors, and before long we were chatting with everyone, laughing at the outfits, and enjoying a few drinks.

It’s funny how the best holiday memories are often the ones you never plan.

By the time we finally made it back to the Oasis, it was much later than intended. We gathered around the table, discussed our options for tomorrow, and tried to come up with a backup plan now that skiing was off the cards.

Luckily, Cromwell seems to have plenty of alternatives.

Not the weekend we expected, but so far it’s shaping up to be a pretty good one.

10/06/2026

Central Otago Wine Adventure — Day Four

Today was our last full day in Cromwell, and I think all four of us felt a little melancholy over breakfast.

We sat around the table at the Oasis, coffee cups warming our hands as we reminisced about the adventures we’d packed into the past few days. Outside, winter had finally arrived in Central Otago. The lawns sparkled with frost, and the hills beyond the lake looked crisp and cold beneath a cloudless sky.

It was the perfect excuse to bundle ourselves into our warmest jackets and head off exploring.

Rather than order a taxi, we took the shuttle into Queenstown. The journey took less than an hour, and soon we were wandering through the town centre, admiring the lake views, the mountains, and the lively atmosphere. After several days amongst vineyards, it was fun to spend time somewhere a little busier.

For lunch, we made our way to The Winery, where we spent a wonderfully indulgent couple of hours sampling wines from all over New Zealand. It felt like the perfect activity for our last day in the South Island’s wine country. We compared regions, debated favourites, and added several new bottles to our ever-growing list of wines we’d like to find once we return home.

After lunch, we caught the shuttle over to Arrowtown.

The little town was every bit as charming as everyone had promised. We wandered slowly through the historic streets, exploring boutiques and gift shops while the men quickly discovered a cosy bar where they claimed they would “wait patiently” for us.

I suspect they enjoyed themselves just as much as we did.

The afternoon disappeared far too quickly.

Our original plan had been to return to the Oasis before dinner, but while exploring we discovered there was a Cyndi Lauper tribute night at the Blue Door. One look at each other and the decision was made.

Plans could wait.

For a few hours, we sang along to familiar songs, laughed, and enjoyed one final, unexpected adventure together. Hearing True Colours performed while surrounded by good friends on the other side of the world felt strangely perfect.

Eventually, we called a taxi and made our way back to the Oasis.

The house felt especially cosy when we arrived, but there was no escaping the fact that tomorrow we leave Cromwell behind. We spent the evening finishing the last of our wine, packing our bags, and talking about the next stage of our journey.

Tomorrow we fly north to Wellington and then on to Martinborough.

We’re sad to leave Central Otago.

But if the wines are half as good as the ones we’ve discovered here, the adventure is far from over.

10/06/2026

Central Otago Wine Adventure — Day Three

This morning we gathered around the table at the Oasis for what has become one of my favourite parts of the trip: breakfast together while discussing the day’s plans. Between fresh coffee, toast, and plenty of excitement, we agreed that today’s adventure might be our best yet.

Cycling through vineyards and tasting wine.

What could be more perfect?

We had booked a winery bike tour, so after getting ourselves organised, a shuttle collected us from the Oasis and drove us to Arrow Junction. From there we began our ride at the Southern Discoveries Suspension Bridge, following the Arrow River Bridges Trail through the gorge towards the famous wineries of Gibbston Valley.

The scenery was absolutely stunning. The trail wound alongside the river, crossed beautiful suspension bridges, and passed through dramatic rocky landscapes before opening into rows and rows of vineyards. Every turn seemed to reveal another postcard-worthy view.

Our first winery was Chard Farm, perched dramatically above the gorge. It was a spectacular start to the day. From there we continued to Gibbston Valley Winery, followed by Mt Edward, each offering its own character and wonderful wines.

By lunchtime, we arrived at Gibbston Tavern, where we settled in for a leisurely meal. Sitting in the sunshine with good food, excellent wine, and old friends, it felt like exactly what this holiday was meant to be.

The afternoon was a delicious blur of vineyards and tastings. We visited Peregrine Wines, Kinross, The Church, and finally Mt Rosa Wines. By this point, our tasting notes had become much less detailed and our laughter much more frequent.

The beauty of travelling by bicycle was that we could drift through the valley, enjoying the landscapes between wineries and appreciating just how special this region is.

Eventually our shuttle met us and returned us to the Oasis. The ride home gave us time to sober up a little and reflect on what had been an unforgettable day.

Not that we were finished.

After a brief rest, we called a taxi and headed out to Panners Restaurant for dinner. It was the perfect way to end the evening. We enjoyed a leisurely meal, shared stories from the day, and reminisced about our favourite wines so far.

By the time we returned to the Oasis, I felt completely content.

Full.

Happy.

Surrounded by good friends.

And very grateful that this trip is not quite over yet.

Melmore Oasis - Cromwell Holiday Home

19/06/2026

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