When Wayne, the owner of Remarkable Scenic Tours, pulled into the Azur Lodge at Queenstown to pick me up for a private full day tour of Arrowtown and Wanaka, I told him the tour would be more private than expected, as my travel companion was ill. Wayne kindly offered to switch me to a group tour, which would have been cheaper. But I decided to stay with the tour I had booked, and I'm so glad I did. Wayne is an engaging and witty guy, with an encyclopedic knowledge of the history, culture and topography of the region. The seven-hour tour was packed with interesting and intriguing stops, from the original site of bungee jumping in New Zealand to the fancy golf club that will host the New Zealand Open this week. There was plenty of time to explore the lovely waterfront of Wanaka, and of course take a photo of the famous tree that seems to float in the middle of the lake. After a ride on the spectacular Crown Range Road, we had a beer at the iconic Cardrona Hotel. Wayne made sure to leave enough time for me to explore the historic mining town of Arrowtown. I had feared it might be too touristy, and there were plenty of tourists there. But I found the town fascinating and delightful to wander through, and the natural setting was amazing. Wayne's enthusiasm and passion for the region never flagged, even though he only had one passenger in his car. I enjoyed his tour, and the pleasure of his company.