By Liam Naden
New Zealand Travel Expert, about.com
Queenstown must be top on the list of any places to visit in New
Zealand and for many very good reasons. The scenery (made famous through
Queenstown being the setting for "The Lord of the Rings"
and many other films) is breathtaking. Unique amongst alpine resort
towns it is filled with things to do all year round. And things to do
there are, with more adventure activities than almost any place on
earth. It is home to the world's first commercial bungy jump and in the
winter becomes the leading ski resort town in the southern hemisphere.
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But there is a lot more to Queenstown than just bungy jumps and skiing.
It is a sophisticated town with superb accommodation and dining
(complimented by the region's own world class wines). Increasing number
of international visitors (including celebrities) are buying property
here.
Queenstown Location and Environment
Queenstown is situated nearly 600 kilometers (375 miles) south of Christchurch in the Central Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand.
It sits on the shore of Lake Wakatipu and is
surrounded by the mountains of the Southern Alps, including the aptly
named Remarkables.
Getting to Queenstown
Queenstown has its own international airport, although it currently only receives international flights from Australia (Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane). There are local flights to and from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
By road, Queenstown is a six hour drive from Christchurch or 3 ½ hours from Dunedin.
What to See and Do in Queenstown
With mountains, rivers, lakes and history there is no shortage of things to explore in and around Queenstown.
Highlights include:
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Skiing and Snowboarding:
The world class ski fields of The Remarkables, Cardrona and Treble Cone
are all only a short distance away and are open between June and
October.
Fishing: The surrounding lakes and rivers are abundant in trout and other fish.
Hiking and Tramping:
Mt Aspiring National Park, part of the UNESCO World Heritage region of
Te Wahipounamu, is on the doorstep. Everything from short strolls to
multi-day tramps are open to all.
Jetboating: The Shotover, Kawarau and Dart rivers all operate thrilling jet boat rides through narrow canyons and other spectacular scenery.
Whitewater rafting: Go for a wild ride on the Shotover or Kawarau rivers.
Historical Tours: This was a thriving gold mining area; try your hand at goldpanning in a river or visit the old mining town of Arrowtown.
Sightseeing (including visits to "The Lord of the Rings" locations). Wherever you look the scenery will take your breath away.
Wine tasting:
Wines from Central Otago are renowned as amongst the best in New
Zealand, particularly from the pinot noir grape. A number of the
wineries are open for tours and tasting.
Visiting Lake Wanaka: This beautiful lake and township are less than an hour away and have a special character all of their own.
Anything
else you can possibly think of to do outdoors, including kayaking,
mountain biking and flying. And of course don't forget to try a bungy
jump!
Queenstown Dining and Restaurants
Queenstown
has a wide selection of restaurants and cafes. Some, such as at the top
of the gondola ride or those on the lakefront, also offer a memorable
location.
Queenstown Accommodation
Some of the best luxury
accommodation in the world is to be found in Queenstown, including the
award winning Sofitel and the recently opened Hilton. There are also
many options at all levels, including hotels, apartments, campgrounds and motorhome/campervan parks.
Best Time to Go
Queenstown
has four distinct seasons and it is great to visit at any time of year.
It is busiest during the winter ski season and in the summer months of
January/February when accommodation can be a premium. New Zealand school holiday periods are also extremely busy.
Autumn
(fall) and Spring are quieter but are beautiful in the Central Otago
region. The poplar trees, which are a distinctive feature of the
Queenstown landscape, are stunning at these times.
