Take the time to do something you’d really love to do this weekend – we have our ten top Queen’s Birthday treats for you to enjoy.

Make this weekend your superhero. Saturday and Sunday are the days that can swoop in and save the rest of your week. This weekend is Queen’s Birthday weekend, so you’ve got three whole days to enjoy.

Here’s a few ideas for you to give your Queen’s Birthday weekend superpowers. For further details on any of the events and activities, check out our What’s On guide. There’s a link below.

Make your own olive oil. Have a few olive trees at home? Pick your olives and bring the whole family to Smiths Way in Cromwell on Sunday. Learn about pressing and get your share of the Extra Virgin olive oil produced after racking and certification, all thanks to the Central Otago Olive Growers group.

Don’t worry if you don’t have enough olives of your own, or if you don’t have any olive trees - the kind olive growers in the area will have trees available so you can pick your own.

Grab a picnic, bring the whole family for a very different experience and a fun day.

Keen to explore the Lake Dunstan trail? The friendly team at Bike It Now are offering transfers from Clyde to the trail. Start your ride fresh, so you have more energy to enjoy the trail.

Let the experts do the cooking.  It’s the Queen’s Birthday - the perfect excuse to celebrate. Head out to Clyde and enjoy a delicious brunch, lunch or dinner cooked by the expert chefs at Olivers Restaurant.

Put your feet up with a good book. The wonderful team at PaperPlus ordered plenty of copies of ‘The Missing Sister’, so get in there and take one home. It’s a great weekend read. And if Lucinda Riley’s not your thing, there’s a huge range of other great books to choose from.

Dreaming about up-sizing, down-sizing, or just need a change? If you’re looking for your dream home, you’ve got three days of relaxation to do some creative thinking - why not enlist the help of property expert Barb Whelan to make your dream a reality?

Why not ward off winter’s chill in style? Queen’s Birthday is a traditional excuse to shop. NuDax in Alexandra has some of the hottest new winter styles, so it’s a great weekend to check them out.

Warm fire, delicious food. Take a drive to the historic town of Ophir, and treat yourself to a relaxed coffee, brunch or lunch in front of the fire, at Pitches Store. They’ve got great food available from 10.00am.

Cocktails and tapas? Paulina’s in Clyde are renowned for their sharing-style tapas, amazing cocktails, great selection of beers and wines, all in a fun and friendly atmosphere.

There’s the occasional salsa dance class as well! Make sure you book your table ahead of time so you don’t miss out on this busy weekend.

Crafts, produce and winter essentials. Following on from its summer success, the first ever Cromwell Winter Farmers and Craft market is on this Sunday. Chat to our crafters, buy produce direct from our local farmers and soak in the market atmosphere. Fresh produce, pasta, breads, cheeses, jam, winter essentials and so much more - it’s all going to be there.

Soulful country tones, intimate show, Saturday night. Matt Joe Gow will bring his soulful Americana sound to Central Stories in Alexandra for an intimate, sophisticated show, before returning across the Tasman to finish his new album. From large festivals to boutique Americana gatherings, from supporting Chris Isaak to Marlon Williams, Matt Joe Gow is stopping off here in Central Otago to bring us a unique performance.

Buy your tickets now or you’ll miss out on this unmissable night. Limited to 100 people.

For further details, or more inspiration for your weekend, see our What's On Guide