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    • Queenstown

    Queenstown travel guide

    View New Zealand travel guide

    Overview

    With a reputation as the adventure sports capital of the world, Queenstown is New Zealand's premier tourist destination, offering visitors the chance to indulge in almost every adrenalin activity imaginable. But Queenstown has more to offer visitors than action packed activities.

    Queenstown is a heavily commercialised, year-round resort that is touristy, crowded and characterless. However, with its magnificent scenery, set on the deep blue Lake Wakatipu and framed by the craggy Remarkables Range, it is appealing to adventurers and leisure seekers alike. The lake is the perfect setting for steamer cruises, and many fine walking opportunities in the surrounding hills and valleys provide breathtaking views. The surrounding vineyards offer wine tasting, and there is shopping at the town's many boutiques. The nearby historic gold mining town of Arrowtown is a fascinating day's outing. Scenic flights take visitors on unforgettable excursions, such as those around the majestic peaks of Mount Aspiring and Mount Cook, or to Milford Sound.

    Queenstown's popularity is also due to the fact that it is a year-round resort, a renowned alpine playground for skiers and snowboarders in winter and activities such as jet boating, bungee jumping, luging, white water rafting and paragliding in the summer months.

    Skyline Gondola

    The Queenstown Gondola takes visitors up to Bob's Peak above the town, and has incredible views over Queenstown, the lake, and the Remarkables Range. At the top of the gondola is the Luge offering three-wheel cart rides for all different ages and abilities, or there are numerous walks on the mountain with beautiful views of the area. At the bottom terminal is the Kiwi and Birdlife Park featuring nocturnal kiwi houses and other endangered species of New Zealand.

    Website: www.skyline.co.nz
    View from Skyline Gondola View from Skyline Gondola Will Ellis
    Arrowtown

    Arrowtown sits at the edge of the Otago Goldfields and was one of New Zealand's biggest gold towns in its day. It still has reminders of the gold rush days with little miners' cottages along the tree lined streets, historic wooden buildings, and 19th century-style shops. There are the interesting remains of a Chinese settlement, with interpretive signs, nestled along the banks of Bush Creek where gold was panned. The Chinese diggers often worked through the remains of previous miner's claims in search of undetected fine gold. The Visitors Centre contains the excellent Lake District Museum that has a small display on local history and gold mining.

    Website: www.arrowtown.org.nz
    Buckingham Street Buckingham Street Bgabel
    Lake Wanaka

    Lake Wanaka was voted as one of the world's top 10 most romantic destinations. It is a picture-perfect alpine lake located in the Otago region of the South Island. It is New Zealand's fourth-largest lake and certainly one of its most beautiful. The lake is popular for boating, fishing, and swimming and the temperate climate ensures that this is a year-round destination. The nearby Harris Mountains provide ample opportunity for skiing in winter as well.

    Lake Wanaka Lake Wanaka Ghislain Mary

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    English Pronounciation

    Queenstown is a destination for all seasons, with its Alpine climate. Winter is magical with snow-capped mountains and blue skies, providing a haven for winter sports enthusiasts. Spring, officially starting on September 1, brings a meltdown, with temperatures ranging between 46ºF (8ºC) and 59ºF (15ºC), and with some beautiful, fresh days and cool evenings, punctuated by spring showers. At the end of November high summer sets in with long warm days averaging around 80ºF (26ºC), ideal for outdoor fun in the sun. Autumn arrives in March and is blessed with occasional hot spots and balmy evenings as the leaves begin to turn.

    Queenstown Airport
    Location: The airport is just four miles (6km) from central Queenstown.
    Time: GMT +13
    Getting to the city: The best way to get into the city is by taxi, however, shuttles are also available to be booked. Shuttle fares are cheaper for children, but cost extra for transporting ski gear.
    Car Rental: Rental companies including Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Thrifty, Ezi Car Rental and Sixt all offer car rental services at Queenstown Airport.
    Airport Taxis: Taxis are available from outside the terminal.
    Facilities: ATM, currency exchange, baggage lost and found office, baggage storage facilities, tourist help desk, first aid facilities, WiFi, retail outlets, and restaurants. The terminal is fully accessible for disabled passengers.
    Parking Long and short-term parking is available. It is free for the first 10 minutes, with a maximum charge of NZD 25 for the first day, and NZD 155 for a week.
    Website: www.queenstownairport.co.nz

    Queenstown is a compact city, easy to negotiate on foot. Double-decker sight seeing buses are a popular way to cover the city's principal attractions. The only existing public transport is a bus service that operates on three lines; day passes are available. Taxis are readily available and there are also several car rental agencies. Uber is also an option.

    Queenstown offers the perfect setting for adventure, relaxation and fun all year round. With a buzzing atmosphere and stunning scenery, travellers will find there is no other place in the world quite like Queenstown. For iconic views of the city and Lake Wakatipu, visitors should take a ride on the Skyline Gondola, which climbs its way to Bob's Peak. From there, visitors can enjoy a peaceful walk or visit the Kiwi and Birdlife Park when reaching the bottom terminal.

    Around town, travellers can take a leisurely stroll through Queenstown Gardens or take in the view from the Ben Lomond walkway. For the golfer, there are plenty of world-renowned courses to choose from around Queenstown, while the wine fanatic can sample some of New Zealand's finest vineyards around which they can plan a day of excellent wine tasting. For something truly special, visitors to Queenstown should not miss out on a visit to Lake Wanaka, which was voted as one of the world's top 10 most romantic destinations in the world and sports the most photographed tree in New Zealand.

    As part of the Southern Scenic Route, Queenstown is ideally located on a tourist highway in New Zealand linking Queenstown, Fjordland, Te Anau and the iconic Milford Road to Dunedin via Riverton, Invercargill, and The Catlins. Also, an Australian travel magazine labelled the Southern Scenic Route as 'one of the world's great undiscovered drives' in 2008. If visitors have the time and an adventurous spirit, renting a car and exploring the most beautiful scenery that can be found in New Zealand is a must.

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    No direct flights from Heathrow to this Destination