Queenstown

International Top 10 Destination 2008

Queenstown was voted a top ten world destination for 2008. Springing into life as a gold mining town in 1860, it has also been nominated to be included in the new Monopoly, which will be chosen by popular vote.

Once you have been to Queenstown, you will fully understand why this truly beautiful town, with a permanent population of only 8,500, receives so many accolades. Called “the adventure capital of the world”, not only is it amazingly picturesque and photogenic, it also offers a huge range of activities to enjoy.

April, three years ago we arrived in Queenstown to an early snowfall. Sitting on the upstairs verandah of historic Chico’s Restaurant and Bar in The Mall, the heater roaring, we watched the snow falling outside, dusting everything, including the people ambling along, with glistening white powder. The pine trees clothing the mountain above the town were reminiscent of a picture book fairyland. In the distance, at the top of Bob’s Peak, we could just see the light of the gondola station, glistening eerily through the falling snow. It was was magical!

Queenstown nestles back into the foothills of the Remarkables, and curves around the edge of Lake Wakatipu. It is popular with all age groups and suits all interests. In recent years many visitors are keen to visit the Lord of the Rings sites, while snowboarders and skiers use it as a base for nearby Coronet Peak, in the ski season.

Tourists keen to try a range of adrenaline induced adventure activities are right in their element. Including of course, experiencing the original bungy at the site where AJ Hackett set up the world’s first bungee jump. Perhaps you would enjoy roaring down the Kawarau river in a jet boat, or accepting the challenge of some white water rafting, maybe in a combo with kayaking or a short hike. Wine tours, garden tours -these are but a very few activities to fill your days, which will almost certainly not be enough for all you would like to pack in.

Peruse the activities, organise your time well and you will be surprised at the rich Queenstown experience you can enjoy in a very few days, if that is all your itinerary allows. It is a must see destination for all tourists, and a popular convention destination. Queenstown really does have something for everyone, and is the nearest any New Zealand place gets to a European alpine resort.

Central Queenstown - Shopping and Eating

Wandering the narrow streets, you can soak up the mountain resort ambience. Everything leads to the lake edge. The town centre is compact, and you will be able to shop till you drop in the many specialist stores featuring a range of leather, wood, arts and crafts, greenstone and paua shell jewellery, and beautiful knitwear,-look out for the gorgeous light warm possum /merino mix wool garments. You will not find these outside New Zealand.For ideas have a look at New Zealand shopping

Cafes and Restaurants

The Pig and Whistle is popular, with a great selection of cheap meals on their menu. The Speights Ale House is a modern bar with excellent meals, (try the lamb shanks...yum!), at a good price, a roaring fire in winter, and big screen if you are keen to watch some sport. Winnie Bagoes is another pleasant restaurant with a roaring fire to warm your toes. Feeling a little homesick? Pog Mahones is an Irish Pub imported from Ireland, and very popular. The biggest problem is finding a table! There are the well known chains including Hard Rock Cafe, and Lone Star offering huge steaks. And for a real surprise, hunt out The Bunker in Cow Lane. Hidden behind a plain, old solid wooden door with not an advertisement in sight, you will find this great Bar and restaurant. Settle into the comfortable second hand couches by the huge fireplace and enjoy the music.

The two casinos have restaurants, and there are many good cafes for breakfast and lunches. You must take the gondola up to Bob’s Peak and enjoy a buffet meal while taking in the superb mountain and lake views.

Most of the winery’s have restaurants with delicious meals. The coffee roastery is small, but has excellent coffee roasted on the premises. For a touch of history, a morning tea or lunch at the gazebo on the lakefront is lovely. There are far too many choices to mention – these are but a few I have tried and enjoyed.

GETTING AROUND

You will probably find you want to do some of your sightseeing or activities as part of a day tour, in Queenstown. There is a huge selection of tours, activities, and tour companies to choose from.

After getting a feel for the town you will almost certainly want to head to the Tourist Information centre by the clock tower in Shotover Street. Here you can peruse the options and make bookings for your tours. This area also has many car hire offices. There is a good bus system. The Connectabus runs to Fernhill, Frankton and Arrowtown. There are shuttle buses in winter to Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Cardrona Alpine resort. While the airport shuttles run regularly to and from the airport only 10 minutes away. There are also plenty of taxis.

Buses and tours go to Wanaka, Milford Sound, Te Anau and the many other interesting places a short distance from Queenstown. So you can get around quite well without renting a car.

ACCOMMODATION

Queenstown has an excellent range of hotels in all price ranges, motels, several backpackers lodges, and camping grounds. You can stay in some gorgeous Bed and Breakfast homes, or the most exclusive lodges. Queenstown would have to be one of the most romantic honeymoon destinations you could choose.

Queenstown Activities

Your bus passes will also almost certainly get you to most of the activities you are keen to experience.

WATER ACTIVITIES

• Jet boating -Dart river, Kawarau Gorge and Gold fields,Shotover Canyon

• White water rafting

• Canyoning

• Kayaking – Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound

• Cruises- including hunting, kayaking, fishing, enjoying nature, the historic coal fired steamboat TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak station

• Boat Charter – 1-7 days – Fiordland - Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound

• Fishing – Glenorchy fly fishing – range of options available

HIKES AND WALKS

Guided walks

• Mt Cook – up Hooker Valley

• Milford Track – Cruise to start of track – 5kms walk to Glade House, beside

the Clinton River, cruise back.

• Routeburn Track – Mt Aspiring National Park , 6.5 kms. Extra options possible.• Skipper Trail- historic gold mining area

• Queenstown Nature Walk Trail

There are many short walks in the area, including up to Bob’s Peak where the gondola arrives.

SNOW AND MOUNTAIN ACTIVITIES

• Skiing – Coronet Peak, Cardrona Ski Resort, Treble Cone

• Snowboarding – Treble Cone snowpark

• Alpine Heliski

• Cross Country skiing

• Mountain biking – tours to Skippers Canyon, Old Woman Range

• Heli/Bike tours

• The Rugway – climbing – 12 routes of varying difficulty with a guide

ADRENALINE RUSH ACTIVITIES AND AIRSPORTS

• The Ledge Sky swing

• Acrobatic Flight

• Hang Gliding ( tandem)

• Paragliding ( tandem)

• FLY by WIRE – you are the pilot!

• Skydive

• Bungy jumping ( several choices)( including the original bungee)

• The Luge – 3 levels of difficulty

• Quad bikes

• U drive Landrovers

• Helicopter to Cecil Peak – views of Milford Sound, Mt Aspiring, glaciers, the Remarkables, Lord of the Rings sites

You can do many tour combinations for a set price.

GENERAL SIGHTSEEING ACTIVITIES

• 4WD (4 wheel drive) safaris – I can recommend Macetown – a gold rush ghost town in the back country with the houses of the settlers still standing.

• Full range of LORD of the RINGS TOURS – Plenty of locations – Middle Earth, Forest of Lotherien, Irengard, Amon Her, Ithilien Camp etc

• TSS Earnslaw steam boat on Lake Wakatipu – BBQ and Farm Tour

• Skippers Canyon – rental cars are not allowed on this road! I recommend you DO NOT attempt to drive this hair raising road,but do a tour.

• Arrowtown –a gorgeous historic town especially beautiful with autumn colours( Tour in red London double decker bus)

• Wanaka – on the edge of Lake Wanaka. While there visit

• New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum

• “Warbirds over Wanaka” is a major Southern Hemisphere Easter biennial airshow.

• Walter Peak Horse Treks

• Skyline Gondola and restaurant

• Cardrona Adventure park – a children’s treat - ride the world’s largest school bus, monster truck, 4x4 racecar, go karts,kids and adults quad bikes

• Deer Park Scenic Tour

• Photography Safari

• Garden Tours

• Harley motorbike tours

• Horse Riding

• The Kingston Flyer – an original steam train

• Kiwi and Birdlife Park

• GOLF – Millbrook Park,( a luxery course), Frankton or Kelvin Heights golf courses

• Hot Pools at the bottom of Coronet Peak

• Maori Concert party and Hangi Feast

• WINE TOURS – I recommend a day tour taking in Gibbston Valley

• Target Shooting

• Mini Golf

Further afield

• Te Anau Glowworm Caves

• Milford Sound – Day trips including cruises and/or flights

• Mt Cook and the glaciers

• Taiaroa Head Albatross Colony ( Dunedin) – could include Larnach Castle

• Mt Aspiring

• Doubtful Sound Cruise - A World Heritage Area known for its wilderness. The largest of Fiordland’s 14 fiords.

• Lake Manapouri – Wilmot Pass into Deep Cove – see fur seals, bottlenose dolphins, and sometimes rare penguins.

You should enjoy the videos of the South Island

New Zealand Scenery2.

ROMANTIC AND RELAXING ACTIVITIES

• Luxury day spas

• Therapeutic massage – Millbrook resort

I hope you are excited about visiting Queenstown. This really is a stunning part of New Zealand and there are so many trips and activities in or near to Queenstown. Do try and allow enough time to experience a good sample of activities that appeal.

If you find the prices are beyond your pocket, there are still many sightseeing spots that will cost nothing or little to see.It is highly entertaining watching the bungee and hire wire activities. You can walk, visit Arrowtown, Wanaka, Glenorchy, which is Lord of the Rings territory,Coronet peak,etc.Wander the town, botanical gardens, up to Bob's Peak, and much more.

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