A majestic landscape surrounds the quaint resort village of Queenstown, situated on the South Island of New Zealand. A vivid fusion of Lake Wakatipu and the Southern Alps creates a tranquil backdrop to the otherwise adventure filled destination that it is widely known for.
Queenstown has the right amount of spiritual warmth and calm, inspired by the deep rooted culture and nature, as it does a thrill seeker town. Tourists flock from all over the world to indulge in activities such as hiking, camping, skiing, snowboarding, white water rapids, sky diving, bungee jumping/swinging and much, much more.
The airport is conveniently located 7km away from central Queenstown, so it’s a short 10 minute taxi ride direct to your hotel. I wouldn’t bother with airport transfers unless they’re free.
The centre of Queenstown is surrounded by Airbnb’s, serviced apartments and hotels which are all a short walking distance from the main hub of shopping, restaurants, bars and tour guides. Peak season attracts many tourists and the accommodation can be pricey, book early so that you don’t miss out. Here are some of the sites and activities I’ve enjoyed:
Skyline Gondola, Restaurant & Luge
A great activity for adults and children, the steep skyline gondola leading to the peak can take 4 people per carriage. You are rewarded with vast sprawling views of Queenstown village below and the majesty beyond of the lake and mountains. Make a booking at the Stratosfare Restaurant and feast on the buffet, complete with an extensive dessert section! Finish off your experience by racing down the mountain a few times in a luge, super fun for young and old!
Queenstown Gardens
I decided to take a break from the snowboarding (really it was the early mornings that were killing me) and wandered through the Queenstown Gardens located right next to the town of Queenstown. Head down towards the Novotel or kids playground to commence your walk. Lots of photo opportunities so pack your camera!
Coronet Peak & The Remarkables
If you live in Australia, it's just a hop skip and a jump to New Zealand, sometimes for cheaper airfares than it is to travel in our own country! Visit Queenstown for the snow season, and for the cheaper alternative (because winter sports are exy!), go in September. There is still a decent amount of powder and the flights are cheaper. The Remarkables and Coronet Peak are the two most popular mountains for skiing or snowboarding, and I would choose Coronet Peak out of the two. Either mountain offers plenty of runs, international instructors, fluffy fresh powder, decent beginner area as well as a variety of advanced runs. AND, at a fraction of the price Thredbo and Perisher charge. Extensive facilities for ski or snowboard hire and well serviced café areas with food and beverage options. The bus can be boarded from the centre of Queenstown with a pre-paid ticket in the morning, returning you in the afternoon. A return ski bus will probably set you back about $15 return or $199 for the season.
White Water Rafting
To be honest I never saw myself white water rafting, as extreme sports are really not my thing, but what an exhilarating few hours in the grandeur of the Shotover River. I went all out and chose the option of being dropped in over Skippers Canyon via helicopter and then rafted the grade 3-5 rapids. I was suitably dressed in warm underlays, wet suit, life vest, helmet, gloves etc, so don’t worry about getting cold in winter. Your raft has about 4-5 people with an expert guide who instructs you on positioning your ores and body weight appropriately to ensure that you do not capsize, which we didn’t. Thank God! That’s not to say that you won’t unfortunately. I must admit this was a highlight of the trip for me, genuine fear and anxiety countered by the (sometimes) peaceful flow of the river, magnificent mountains and my favourite, all the goats traipsing about precariously to take your mind off the massive toilet bowel of water to come- have I sold it to you yet??
TSS Earnslaw Steamboat
This is truly a wonderful and easy activity for young and old alike. You board the historical 1912 coal-fired steamship, complete with viewing of the lower deck to cruise the Lake Wakatipu majestic waters. Pack a warm jacket, beanie and gloves because you’ll want to spend some time outside watching Queenstown grow small as you’re whisked away. The views and surrounds are stunning, lots of photo opportunities. You disembark at Walter Peak where you can visit the country farm and watch a live shearing of a New Zealand sheep. A gourmet BBQ lunch follows and let me tell you, I was thoroughly impressed by the extensive buffet. Usually the food on these tours is mediocre, as most of us have experienced around the world, but this was actually fantastic. Beautiful gourmet offerings, extensive dessert selection and lovely wines to match. A truly wonderful day if you want to take a break from the thrill seeking and instead pore over the incredible beauty of Queenstown. This is a great one for the kids!
iFLY
For the less adventurous or younger thrill seeker, head to the iFLY for some inclusive family fun located in Queenstown. Basically it's indoor skydiving in a purpose built air tunnel where a giant fan propels you into the air simulating a free fall or rather gliding and floating sensation, just like jumping out of a plane! But less risky! And your children can enjoy it too.
Restaurants and Bars
There are some great food options in Queenstown for those brisk nights where you just want to park yourself somewhere warm for a hardy feast after a day full of activities. Here are some of my faves:
Cow Restaurant
Tucked away up one of the side lanes, Cow Lane in fact, is a small rustic dimly lit restaurant serving up some of the tastiest wood fired pizzas around. It's exactly the type of place you want to hibernate with a beverage and food for a couple of hours.
Fergburger
Literally there are scores of people lining up outside for these burgers and after giving them a go one night, I totally understood why! Persevere through the crowds and if you’re lucky enough to grab a seat, dine in, otherwise grab them to go!
Pier Restaurant and Bar
Situated on a corner down by the marina, overlooking the Lake and jet boats, Pier is great for some brekky or lunch, where you can sit in the sun on a cold winters day and peruse the wanderings of passersby.
Boardwalk
Fancy a lush dinner and drinks? Located on level 1 of Steamer Wharf, Boardwalk serves a modern New Zealand menu with both seafood and meat dishes. You can just drop in for a night cap too and as opposed to the local pubs, it’s a little quieter.
Coyote Grill
I love me a fun fiesta Mexican night out whichever country I’m in! And I appreciated this place for a break from all the pub meals
Get yourself ready for a fun filled, adventure loaded holiday in Queenstown, New Zealand. You absolutely won't regret it and there are experiences and memories to be created by all types of travelers!
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