Country Lane: Rustic Charm, Sustainability, and Community

More Than a Shopping Village

Nestled on a farm just five minutes from Queenstown airport, Country Lane Retail Village is a vibrant community of local businesses and creatives in a rustic garden setting.

Country Lane is a must visit for families, foodies, makers, and mindful travellers, not only for encounters with local makers and artisan treasures you won’t find anywhere else, but also for the ethos of the place. Behind Country Lane is the story of a visionary pair, who set out to build a vibrant creative hub valuing sustainability, heritage, and connection.

The Story Behind Country Lane

Country Lane was a working sheep farm before Tineke Enright and her brother Bruce Grant decided to transform the property into a haven the whole community could share. As fourth-generation guardians of the land, it was important to both Tineke and Bruce to protect the farm’s heritage – preserving the old buildings while evolving them for new use. They started by converting the sheep yards into a space where visitors can meet horses, sheep, goats, and rabbits, while kids play on an old tractor and in a sandpit converted from a water trough.

The siblings have a strong DIY sensibility typical of New Zealand farmers – they build and landscape as much as they can themselves. The property has its own schist quarry and Tineke and Bruce are still quarrying rocks to build walls and raised lawns. They’re also committed upcyclers who love to give unused items new purpose. Tables are crafted from farm trailers and old fish shop fryers have a new lease of life planted up with flowers.

In 2020, Tineke and Bruce took their repurposing ethos a step further, rescuing six cabins destined for landfill and lovingly restoring them to become homes for local businesses. Bitten by the bug of rescuing old buildings, in 2023 they relocated an old chapel from Waipahi near Gore and refurbished it to become a restaurant and bar. Then in 2024, they moved an old Queenstown High School building that had been home to the Queenstown Arts Society from Stanley Street in downtown Queenstown to Country Lane to become School House Studios.

The Country Lane team plan to continue their regenerative journey. Solar panels, rainwater harvesting, getting rid of single use cups, and a vegetable garden are all in the works.

Shop, Make & Discover

Country Lane is no ordinary shopping centre. It’s guided by a singular vision to offer a boutique mix of retail and experiences found nowhere else in Queenstown. Operations Manager Annika Grant says, “A lot of consideration goes into selecting new tenants. We seek businesses that share our values and have the same high sustainability goals. We’re fortunate to have a deep pool of talented entrepreneurs in Queenstown joining us here.”

The Barn

The first store to open at Country Lane was The Barn. Built by Tineke’s and Bruce’s grandfather and his brother in the 1950s, the barn was restored with recycled materials and became home to a trio of businesses. Visit the Barn to browse Tineke's children's clothing label Pretty Kiwi, gifts, art, homewares, jewellery, and a curated selection of homewares and accessories at Lusso Boutique.

Buzzstop Honey Centre

Over time the Barn has been joined by a cluster of experiences and adventures. Buzzstop’s honey centre and gift shop is a magnet for lovers of bees and all things honey. You can spin your own honey, learn what it’s like to be a beekeeper, try your hand at honey-themed crafts by making beeswax wraps, soap, and cosmetics, taste locally made mead, gins and wines, and shop for local honey, skincare, and kitchenware.

Ride to The Sky

Ride to the Sky offers one of our favourite local adventures, scenic e-bike tours that combine storytelling with spectacular scenery,  led by knowledgeable local guides. Take a guided ride to the top of Grant Peak or into the Gibbston vineyards while hearing about local history and Māori legends, spotting native birds, and learning about the traditional uses of native planets. If you prefer, rent an bike and explore Queenstown’s trails under your own steam.

From Barber Shops to Tattoo Studios

Country Lane is also home to a cluster of local service businesses. Spruce up with the perfect fade or a clean shave at Bad Luck Barber Shop, give your locks a glow up with natural products at Blonde by Chloe Allen, or get the ultimate memento of your stay at Black Leaf Tattoo. You can also visit experienced naturopath Emma Pearce to talk natural health and nutrition, or take a yoga class at the Queenstown Yoga Collective serene studio with mountain views.

Eat & Drink – a Taste of Local

Country Lane has welcoming, family-friendly food and drink offerings in a cottage garden setting with views of the Remarkables. These places to eat are loved by loyal locals and delighted visitors alike.

Sundays

Sundays is a European-inspired wood-fired pizza eatery set in the old 1933 church rescued from Southland. This convivial space serves up delicious Neapolitan-style pizza, Central Otago charcuterie, Royalburn lamb meatballs, pastas, and seasonal sides. Grab a seat with a view outside with mulled wine to warm your hands in winter, or a zesty sangria in summer.

The Buzzstop Café

The Buzzstop Café has hearty brunch and lunch options. They grow their own herbs, greens, tomatoes, and berries onsite and the menu switches up seasonally. Expect generous sandwiches, burgers, and brunch classics like eggs benedict. Don’t miss the fresh waffles with berry compote drizzled in local honey and order the honey latte for a dreamy brew of espresso and wildflower honey with a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Artisan Cookies & Coffee

The Remarkable Cookie Co. bakes massive, moreish cookies onsite. Buy them warm and gooey from the oven to munch as you wander around. Their mocha flavoured cookies are made with brew from Black Lab Coffee Roasters next door. Drop in to try a flight of coffees roasted onsite or buy a bag of beans to take home. We love Black Lab’s sustainable ethos with no single use cups or plastic bags, so BYO cup if you want to takeaway.

Arts & Crafts – Creative in Every Corner

As much as it’s a delightful destination for dining, shopping, and relaxing, Country Lane is also a creative hub. Browse the gallery and artist studios or try your hand at jewellery-making, print making, painting, potting, and more.

School House Studios

The latest addition to Country Lane is School House Studios. This old school hall has been repurposed into a visual arts hub with a gallery, artist studios, a yoga studio, and workshop space. The space is home to a diverse group of local creatives including: Kasia Hebda studio, Spellbound Art Studio, JW Studio, The Jewellery Nook, Tikki Sewing Studio, The Arts Hole, Saturday Ceramics and Art Adventures.

Try Your Hand at Something Creative

One of the most remarkable things about Country Lane is the range of workshops and classes led by local artists and makers. Book yourself into a session and try something new.

At Studio 42 jewellery school, contemporary jeweller Jess Winchcombe offers beginner-friendly jewellery workshops. Take a three hour or a full day class and make your own ring or create a piece of silver jewellery from scratch.

Potter Connie Jones at Saturday Ceramics makes attractive mugs, bowls, and plates with earthy glazes and an organic texture for everyday use. A joint collaboration with felllow potter Liv, The Clay Club offers a range of clay workshops and classes so you can give potting a go yourself.

Artist Raquel Carter teaches offers in studio Painting classes and workshops - as well as open air painting trips. Her full day landscape painting adventure is a Queenstown must-do for lovers of landscape and art. Explore the scenic wonders of the region and capture them in watercolour, acrylic, oil, and photography.

The Jewellery Nook is a creative collective of four local makers, offering handcrafted rings, earrings, necklaces and keepsakes, all lovingly made in Aotearoa.

Tikki Sewing Studio is driven by the desire to bring sewing skills back into our everyday lives. Their space is set up to encourage repair, upcycling, and making, and they run regular Crafternoons and evening sewing socials, as well as a range of sewing workshops.

The Arts Hole

The Arts Hole is a contemporary urban art gallery showing emerging local artists and established international artists. They’ve a collection of work by renowned street artists Bansky and Invader. Pop in to see their bold, thought-provoking exhibitions and browse their impressive collection of original works, prints, sculpture, taxidermy, and jewellery.

Stock up at Queenstown Arts Supplies

Make time for a visit to Queenstown Art Supplies. The impressive range of print making and art supplies, papers, and Japanese stationery at this art and design store is as irresistible for stationery enthusiasts and art hobbyists, as it is for designers and professional artists.

Country Lane Is Well Worth a Visit

Country Lane is a great destination for families or people who love art and want to connect with local makers and find a one-of-a-kind treasure to take home. The buzzy community has a welcoming, family-friendly vibe and a creative atmosphere.

Getting to Country Lane is easy. The village is just five minutes from the airport or you can get the Route 1 or Route 4 bus from central Queenstown for only $2.50 with a Bee Card. Hop off at the Frankton Bus Hub. It’s a 10-minute stroll to Country Lane at 26 Hansen Road, where you can spend a few happy hours wandering around the attractive gardens, enjoying the views, the food, and the open space.

Information accurate at time of publication (2025).