Queenstown

...when you are a Queenstown fan.

Well, the sun doesn't shine every single day but many of the 365 sunrises over Queenstown's Lake Wakatipu are a poet's dream.

A gem in New Zealand' crown, on the 45th parallel, Queenstown is a mecca for tourists who come for all-seasons activities and I don't expect there's many who leave disappointed.

This is a town which exists, not only because of the high visitor numbers, ...
...entrepreneurs and ordinary 'kiwis' call Queenstown their home, which of course makes it a bit pricey to buy real estate and shopping prices soar seasonally.

While the outdoor adventure, tours and dining may seem to some travellers a bit expensive you can do things that don't cost a penny. Like, walking in the beautiful park which takes up all the peninsula beside Lake Wakatipu, with views back to the township and out over lake and ... more

A jewel shines brightly in New Zealand's South Island .... it is Queenstown. Stunning, beautiful, adventure-playground, majestic mountains and calm waters are just a few introductory adjectives - they aren't enough to describe this magnificent part of New Zealand.

``Mountain tops pierce the clear, blue sky - the sun shines on crystal, clear, azure waters''. You won't find this in any poetry book - because I made this little set of words up - it's easy to do when you are a Queenstown fan.

Well, the sun doesn't shine every single day but many of the 365 sunrises over Queenstown's Lake Wakatipu are a poet's dream.

A gem in New Zealand' crown, on the 45th parallel, Queenstown is a mecca for tourists who come for all-seasons activities and I don't expect there's many who leave disappointed.

This is a town which exists, not only because of the high visitor numbers, but for honestly some of the best scenery you could expect to see anywhere in the world.

It's remarkable. Actually, The Remarkables are the huge, craggy mountain range that dominate the Wakatipu Lake scene from anywhere you are in Queenstown.

Millionaires, film stars own homes there, overseas business entrepreneurs and ordinary 'kiwis' call Queenstown their home, which of course makes it a bit pricey to buy real estate and shopping prices soar seasonally.

While the outdoor adventure, tours and dining may seem to some travellers a bit expensive you can do things that don't cost a penny. Like, walking in the beautiful park which takes up all the peninsula beside Lake Wakatipu, with views back to the township and out over lake and mountain range. Or just wandering through the small, compact town, having a look at the trout which swim around the pier or meandering up into the hills to watch a day in the life of Queenstown.

There is a bit of a goldmining theme going on in Queenstown, so there are attractions which take you back in time when Chinese and other hopeful's scoured the rugged hills and dangerous, torrential rivers for that precious ore.

Actually, Queenstown exists due to these hardy goldminers. It's history goes back to times when the Maori also searched - for Pouanamu (greenstone, or jade) and the Moa bird (now extinct!). Along came the goldminers, who needed a place to settle, so they did; around 1860 Queenstown became a goldminers' camp.

It is much more than that today. It is a vibrant, day or night, town which really does move. Bus tours by the dozens bring international travellers to plush hotels, motels, while the motoring public usually accommodate themselves in the many B and Bs, motels and the motorcamp, it's high on the hill with the most amazing views.

You may even see The Lady of the Lake, TSS Earnslaw. One of the last remaining coal-fired passenger carrying vessels in the Southern Hemisphere. Since she first arrived in Queenstown, in 1912, she's been serving the local community. Nowadays, she plies Lake Earnslaw most days on a nostalgic, scenic journey over to Walter Peak High Country farm.

I've done this trip and the day we went there was a honky-tonk band on board and it was really swinging. Fine wine and lovely food, relaxation and scenery to boot! If you are a real enthusiast you can go down into the boiler room to get a taste of steam ship life.

If you want to go to Cecil Peak Station there are daily launches taking you to a day out you are sure to remember, for a high country farming experience. Remote, quiet and busy, this is an ideal way to learn about a unique New Zealand farming way of life.

Dubbed the 'adventure capital of the world', Queenstown and its environs has it all: white water rafting, bungey jumping, heliskiing, snowboarding, snow mobiles and of course skiing at its two nearby ski areas (Coronet Peak and The Remarkable Ski Area) for winter time visitors.

A special event which is definitely worthwhile planning your trip around is the Queenstown Winter Festival, it is action, action, action, on and off the slopes, day and night. This is a 'remember for a life-time' event, for sure. It's a July event and as it is some time since I went to one so could not do a separate review, you can learn more about this by using the search engine: Queenstown Winter Festival.

Try an adrenalin rush down the Shotover River on a jetboat, a raft or perhaps go for a more sedate fishing trip. In summer-time you might like to get a bit of the parapente action, bungy jumping (I think one of the two sites is the first one AJ Hackett set up and he's since gone on to open them all over the world), aerobatic flying, hang-gliding, 4WD bone-crackers and if you're really out for a challenge, try a tandem skydive.

For other recreation there is a challenging golf course around at Frankton Arm, mountain biking, walking in native bush, horse riding, shopping, picnicing, visiting art galleries or go on an arts trail, visit a local vineyard, chill out at a local cafe and generally just enjoy one of the most pristine tourist destinations New Zealand has to offer.

When you come in from an action-packed day there are dozens of things to do at night: restaurants offering several international foods, cafe, bars, nightclubs in differing price ranges and a casino. It pays to book your restaurant to avoid disappointment.

How romantic it is to take the gondola ride up to Bob's Peak, high above this beautiful town, sit in the Skyline Restaurant, by the window and enjoy the best in local and New Zealand wines with food to die for.

During the day Bob's Peak offers another exciting ride... the Luge. After taking the Gondola lift-ride up to the Bob's Peak Restaurant and Observation deck, you take another lift up; two people sitting on nothing more than a bit of board, hanging on a cable! Then you sit on this tiny little ''go-kart-like'' thingey and hurtle down the hill on a narrow, concrete chute. (The Luge is a fun filled gravity ride on a 3 wheel cart. The unique braking and steering system provides the rider full control and allows them to travel as fast or slow as they wish.)

I didn't do the Luge - of course - I'm much to demure! We were so high up, there were parapenting people defying aerodynamics, hanging around underneath us!

When you book your gondola ride, ask for the Luge deal - you get the ride up to Bob's Peak and then 5 runs on the Luge - or pick another package to suit your enthusiasm for this scary, speed-freaks trip down the mountainside.

Queenstown is a place where the world meets; you will be strolling along with visitors from many parts of the globe and it's odds on that they will be chatting away about the food and wine, stunning scenery, the action; their cameras are sure to be clicking away madly.

Queenstown has an international airport, if you are flying in from Australia; there are excellent links to other New Zealand airports. You can travel to and from Queenstown by regular buses from Christchurch, Dunedin or Invercargil, or visit on an organised bus tour of the South Island.

Hire a car or motorhome and really get out and about, you won't be sorry. You can take day trips to so many other fantastic South Island destinations from Queenstown. (If you are self-driving contact the New Zealand Automobile Association for section road maps so you will know what you are seeing along the way!)

Personally, I like the Queenstown opal shops - my downfall - but now I've disciplined myself to lock up the credit card I can visit without withdrawal symptoms. There are a lot of jewellery and craft shops in Queenstown: silver, paua, greenstone (jade) gold, as well as weaving pieces, jerseys, sheep-woolen articles and other clothing - fantastic.

Some say Queenstown is too commercialised, others rave about the scenery. I truly love visiting Queenstown and each time I go I marvel at the growth: new developments, new subdivisions, new attractions. This town has evolved to suit visitors and locals alike.

It's good for the soul to visit, any time of year, each four seasons bring a different focus on what and how you experience this part of New Zealand.

I recognise its importance to New Zealand's tourist economy and feel confident each and every visitor is getting value for money in what they see, experience, and remember about their visit to beautiful Queenstown.

I could write so much more here but go to www.queenstown-nz.co.nz/information/AboutQueenstown/ if there's something I haven't covered. (Will try to add some photos soon!!?) 

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