Adventure Playground of New Zealand
Queenstown is an international resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand, and probably the most famous town. It is built on an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin lake formed by glacial processes, with spectacular views.
Queenstown is a centre for adventure tourism, skiing, jet boating, whitewater rafting, tramping, mountain biking, and of course the world famous home of bungy jumping.
It is a major centre for snow sports in New Zealand, with people from all over the country and many parts of the world travelling to ski at the four main mountain skifields Cardona Alpine Resort, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Treble Cone.
The Remarkables
 In relation to the scenery, The Remarkables are true to their name. They are one of the most photographed mountain ranges in the world due to their spectacular jagged shape and the steep rise from the shores of Lake Wakatipu.
The Remarkables have carved a niche in the freestylers market. The multiple terrain parks are very impressive, and the new Burton Stash park adds to the variety of opportunities for shredders. The ski area is well suited to beginners, and there is some advanced terrain and incredible chutes for extreme skiers to get the adrenaline going, but much of this requires a hike.
High point in the range is Double Cone (2340 metres) with Ben Nevis (2330 metres, named after the Scottish mountain of the same name) a little further south in the Hector mountains.
The mountains were allegedly named The Remarkables because they are one of only two mountain ranges in the world which run directly north to south.
One of New Zealand's longest highways, New Zealand State Highway 6, runs along the foot of The Remarkables, skirting the shore of Lake Wakatipu This stretch of the highway is in part tortuously winding, and rises and falls over a stretch known as "The Devil's Staircase".
Step back in time
 Step aboard and watch the stokers fuelling the fireboxes and hear the sound of the steam engines working as the TSS Earnslaw takes you on a cruise of beautiful Lake Wakatipu.
Be transported in style to Walter Peak High Country Farm. As you relax on board enjoy delicious café style food or a drink from the bar. Every cruise allows you plenty of time to explore the TSS Earnslaw’s decks and bridge, view the engine room and historic displays in the Fo’c’sle Gallery and join a sing-along with the ship’s pianist.
Cruises depart regularly throughout the day. You can combine the cruise with a visit to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a guided farm visit & barbecue lunch or an evening buffet dining.
In recent years, Queenstown's hostels have become a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. Queenstown provides adventure tourism during the day and a vibrant nightlife scene during the evenings.
Locally, Queenstown has a reputation as one of New Zealand's wine and cuisine centres. Neighbouring, historic Arrowtown also features excellent restaurants and bars, and Queenstown lies close to the centre of a small wine producing region, reputed to be the world's southernmost. Pinot noir produced in this area fetches premium prices.
Queenstown also now hosts an annual International Jazz Festival, and recently the world golf championships, and the surrounding area contains many locations used in filming "The Lord of the Rings", and X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Queenstown Airport has scheduled flights to Auckland, Christchurch and Sydney year-round and Wellington, Melbourne and Brisbane seasonally.
Highlights in the area
- Lake Wakatipu - on the Edwardian Stream Ship TSS Earnslaw
- Adventure Tourism, jetboats, bungy jump, skiing, river surfing, canyon swing, aerobatic flights, sky diving, mountain biking, paragliding
- Ben Lomond - a 1,748 m (5,735 ft) mountain whose summit is accessible with a few hours easy climbing giving magnificent views over Lake Wakatipu and the surroundng area
- A round of golf at Millbrook Resort - 150-year-old wheat farm, now a luxury resort.
- Cricket (new One Day International venue) and Golf
- Queenstown Airport at Frankton
- Skyline Gondola and luge
- Queenstown Winter Festival
- Goldmining, Arrowtown, Central Otago history, sheep farming and Walter Peak station.
- Southern Lakes District & Milford Road, Milford Sound / Homer Tunnel, the Fiordland Lakes / Doubtful Sound
- Film locations of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy
- Glenorchy & Routeburn track
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