Queenstown

Queenstown
For spectacular scenery and adventure try New Zealand's favourite resort...

New Zealand may be on the other side of the world but it rewards any travellers who make the long trip with a unique kiwi experience. The country is regularly voted as a favourite holiday destination and with so much to see and do, where do you start? One of the gems found in the South Island is the lovely resort of Queenstown.

Mention the name Queenstown to any New Zealander or Australian and watch their eyes light up. With a perfect location nestling on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and at the foot of the impressive Remarkables Mountain Range, this all year round resort really does have something for everyone.

Originally a gold rush town it is deceptively peaceful and picturesque, but what lies beneath is the world capital of adventure sports. Queenstown offers all the adventure sports you can stomach with a few new and unusual ones chucked in, whether it is high adrenalin thrill seeking jetboating or bungy jumping they have it all.

Queenstown isn't just about adventure sports there are plenty of other activities on offer throughout the year including golf, walking/hiking, horse riding, kayaking, mountain biking, sight seeing or wine tasting at various vineyards on the local wine trail. During the New Zealand winter some of the countries best skiing is available at two major ski fields nearby the resort.

The area played host to Lord of the Rings filming and has some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. A more relaxing trip involves a cruise on the vintage Steamship TSS Earnslaw from Queenstown to Walter Peak Station homestead. Once there you can either return immediately to the town or take advantage of some of the trips on offer including horse riding or a tour round a working farm, all finished off with tea and homemade cakes in the farmhouse - a perfect end to a trip before a return sail to Queenstown.

Queenstown's compact town centre is concentrated over a few main streets with a good variety of shops, restaurants and bars, this is a cosmopolitan and buzzing resort with a relaxing atmosphere. It is however worth seeking out the hard to find Cow Lane - it looks almost like a back alley but worth the discovery with The Cow at the end. The Cow is a small restaurant in a cosy stone house and offers some of the best pizzas available - try the house special, the Bolognese pizza, which is especially good.

Take the Skyline gondola ride to the top of Bob's Peak and enjoy the views of the town and lake or watch in amazement at the bungy jumpers diving into the forest surrounding the peak.

The town is also an ideal base as a gateway to Milford Sound and Fiordland, New Zealand's largest national park. The trip from Queenstown to Milford Sound is quite literally inspiring with some of the most outstanding views of glacial landscape. Cruising Milford Sound is the most popular and easily accessible way to take in the views of Mitre Peak and the grandeur of the majestic mountains and waterfalls and if you are lucky some dolphins.

Queenstown is a stunning resort that is an ideal base to explore the south of New Zealand's Southern Island and there can be no better introduction to this stunning country.