THE FOUNDER'S TRIP — QUEENSTOWN, 2026
For the past five years, my birthday week — August 13 to 18 — has belonged to one city: Queenstown. It’s our annual trip — my husband and I, and sometimes close friends too — and it’s the one thing we never take off the calendar.
WHY QUEENSTOWN
A city that became a tradition
Queenstown is one of my favourite cities in the world. The landscapes are breathtaking, and the town has an atmosphere that welcomes you the moment you arrive.
Incredible restaurants, renowned wineries, spectacular mountains and that ski energy only people who’ve been there truly understand. And, of course, wonderful people around every corner of this little town.
It’s always a special experience — which is exactly why, year after year, we never give up this trip.
WHY THIS WEEK
A birthday, peak season, and two dachshunds
The timing isn’t random: it’s my birthday week, and I’ll admit I use that as an excuse to step away in the middle of peak ski season across Australia and New Zealand — the busiest stretch of my business.
The other big challenge is deciding who looks after my dogs. I have two miniature dachshunds, the loves of my life, and they pretty much only listen to me — so finding someone we trust to watch them is never simple.
But in the end, we always find a way to make this trip happen every year. It makes me so happy, and I couldn’t imagine giving it up.
THE DAY BEGINS
Airport traditions
We woke up at 4:30am — our flight left at 8:30, and we like to get to the airport with plenty of time, around 6:30, to check in without rushing. I was wearing my go-to travel look: a Chanel sweater, jeans, shoes and bag.
We wandered through a few shops, I picked up some makeup, and we sat down to toast with a glass of champagne before boarding. The Virgin flight was packed, so it wasn’t exactly the quietest flight of my life.
We landed in Queenstown at 1:30pm — and with the two-hour time difference from Sydney, the day had already moved further along than it felt.
The travel-day look — and on our way to Queenstown
THE AIRPORT SCARE
A vintage Chanel vest, and ninety minutes of panic
Right after landing, we hit a snag: I’d packed extra suitcases for this trip — pieces I was personally delivering to clients in Queenstown. While I waited for my husband to grab the bags, I left a vintage Chanel vest, bought in Japan, inside the immigration area — and only realised once we were already in the airline’s lobby, on our way to pick up the transfer to the car.
I ran back and spent almost ninety minutes trying to get it back — I must have spoken to at least ten people, airport staff and Virgin Australia staff alike, explaining it wasn’t just any piece, but a vintage collector’s item. Honestly, the airport service was a flat zero out of ten — nobody wanted to help at all, everyone just passed the problem on to someone else.
Just as I was about to give up, one Virgin attendant looked like she might actually help. I went up to her and explained the whole thing again, and she radioed it in, put on a hi-vis vest, and walked straight into the immigration area. “Wait here,” she said. “If I come back, I’ll have it — if not, I have to make my next flight.” Seven minutes later, she came back with the vest in her hand. That Virgin attendant was a genuine 10/10 — one of the best pieces of customer service I’ve had in years.
With the vest back and the car already waiting, we finally headed to where we were staying this year.
“The most stressful possible start to a trip we love this much — but, in the end, always a win.”Mariane, Founder of 2ND LANE
ARRIVING IN JACK’S POINT
A quick ski gear hiccup
We arrived at our Airbnb in Jack’s Point, a residential neighbourhood further from the centre — basic, but it did the job, and the view was honestly stunning. This year we decided to rent skis and boots instead of bringing our own gear from home, to save on luggage.
The plan was for the equipment to be delivered straight to the Airbnb, but that didn’t happen. I called SnoPro, and the team jumped on it right away — thirty minutes later they were at our door with the skis and boots. Genuinely 10/10 service.
We did the boot fitting right there, sorted our clothes and gear, and got ready to head out for dinner.
Thirty minutes after the call, SnoPro was already there with everything — 10/10
A NIGHT IN QUEENSTOWN
An incredible dinner and a country bar until late
We went to dinner at The Essence, inside The Roki Collection, which opened in late 2025. I wore a Camilla and Marc dress and jacket, with Zara boots. Dinner was incredible, the service flawless, and the whole Roki property was a solid 10/10.
After dinner, still not ready to call it a night, we found a country bar in town — I honestly don’t remember the name — great music, people up dancing and having a good time. We had a few margaritas and made it back to the Airbnb around 10pm.
The next day, a full day of skiing at Cardrona was waiting for us — gear already sorted, thanks to SnoPro.
On our way to The Essence, at The Roki Collection
Dinner at The Essence, inside The Roki Collection
Closing out the night at a country bar in town
TO BE CONTINUED
Day one ended here — but the trip was just getting started
Between the lost-and-found Chanel vest, an incredible dinner and a night dancing at a country bar, day one in Queenstown already had plenty of story to tell. But the best of it — the ski days, new restaurants, wine-tasting tips and mountain outfit inspo — is coming in the next posts.
Mariane
Founder, 2ND LANE