Queenstown (New Zealand)

Queenstown [1] is a scenic town in the South Island of New Zealand. It is one of the most beautiful regions of Otago and offers year round attractions. The town sits on the edge of Lake Wakatipu and is surrounded by the Southern Alps. The most remarkable sight is the Remarkables, which is a saw-toothed range of mountains on the opposite side of the lake from the town.

Culture and History

Queenstown lies at the outlet to Lake Wakatipu, one of New Zealand's Southern Lakes. It caters for tourists on a wide range of budgets, from backpackers to luxury tourists. In many respects Queenstown can be a tourist trap. However, reasonable prices and bargains can be found for those prepared to look for them.

Queenstown is a party town during high seasons. if you plan on getting a good nights sleep, then you might consider staying slightly out of town. It is common to see people on the street up to 5am in the morning, coming back from the disco or pub. If you are looking for a relaxing scenic holiday, Wanaka (an hour drive) is smaller and more tranquil (with less of a party atmosphere).

Local Newspapers

The Mirror. The first of two free community newspapers to hit the streets (on Wednesday morning), The Mirror is a great source for catching up on all things that are happening in the Queenstown area (including the entire Central Otago and Lakes District region). In addition to the news articles, there is a weekly restaurant review and profile of a band or DJ that will be headlining a one of Queenstown's many nightspots that week.

Lakes Weekly Bulletin is an additional source of second hand items for sale, community noticeboard, employment vacancies, film/gig guide, flatmates and rentals. [2]

History

The town and surrounding area was originally settled by Europeans and a substanial Chinese population for gold mining and farming in 1860s. After the decline of goldmining, Queenstown became a sleepy rural town, popular as a summer getaway.

In 1947, New Zealand's first commercial skifield Coronet Peak opened and since then the town has grown into a world class tourist resort. There are now 4 commercial skifields within easy driving of Queenstown.

Travel to Queenstown (New Zealand) - Visa Requirements

Flights and airtickets to Queenstown (New Zealand)

Queenstown has an international airport which is served by two large carriers, Qantas and Air New Zealand. There are connecting flights from all New Zealand's major centres and, during the ski season, direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in Australia.

Queenstown airport is known for it's spectacular approach, the snow-covered mountains of New Zealand's Southern Alps surround it on four sides and there is a complicated path to the runway. Low cloud and cold weather can close the runway, especially in winter, resulting in cancelled flights.

Queenstown airport also provides for private jets and other aircraft, and there is a huge number of helicopter take-offs and landings each day. Scenic flights and heli-skiing are a popular attraction for the region.

Queenstown is an expensive airport and it can be cheaper to fly to Dunedin or Christchurch and drive the 3 1/2 or 6 1/2 hour journeys.

From the airport, the cheapest way into town is on the Connect-a-bus service 11/12, which runs every 30 minutes (check that it's going straight into town and not via Arrowtown) and costs $5 one way - pay the driver when boarding. Taxis into town cost about $20-25 while shared shuttle vans work out almost as cheap as the bus if you can get a big enough group together and will take you straight to your accommodation.

Buses to Queenstown (New Zealand)

Daily services from Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Te Anau, Wanaka and the West Coast.

Newmans Coach Lines operates a premium sightseeing tours to Queenstown from Christchurch and from the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers.

InterCity Coachlines is New Zealand's national coach company and operates over 150 services to more than 600 destinations nationwide. Daily services in and out of Queenstown connect throughout the South Island.

nakedbus.com is the cheapest way of getting to Queenstown with fares starting at $1 if you book early enough.

Many international tour companies carry holidaymakers into Queenstown by coach.

By car

Allow a full day from Christchurch (about 6 hours driving). The drive is spectacular, through the diverse countryside of New Zealand's South Island, with vast plains, rolling hills, multicoloured lakes and mountain passes. Major international and all national rental car and campervan companies have offices in Queenstown.

Tours and Getting around Queenstown (New Zealand)

The Queenstown town centre itself is small enough to walk around. Parking is at a premium and can be hard to find during the day. For more distant travel wheeled a bus or car is necessary.

There are a number of tour operators to be found in downtown Queenstown. Transport from downtown Queenstown to adventure activities is often part of the tour package. Some operators may even pick up from your tourist accommodation.

A number of boat tours depart from the Queenstown Wharf at the bottom of the Mall - including the historic steamship TSS Earnslaw, affectionately known as the "Lady of the Lake" [3]

Queenstown also has a small local bus service operated by Connectabus. There are three routes - the most useful for tourists being services 10/11 which run every 30 minutes to the airport and the Remarkables Park shopping centre and alternate services continue to Arrowtown. Fares are expensive e.g. $6 single/$10 return from the airport to Queenstown, or $13 for a network day pass. All buses stop on Cow Lane outside the O'Connell shopping mall.

Queenstown (New Zealand) tourist attractions and sightseeing

The spectacular mountain scenery and Lake Wakatipu dominate the view from many parts of town. Most attractions in Queenstown make the most of the view. It is enough reason to spend time in Queenstown if you choose not to do anything else.

One of the best views is from the top of Bob's Peak reached by the Skyline Gondola [4]. Breathtaking views of Coronet Peak, The Remarkables mountain range and across Lake Wakatipu to Cecil and Walter Peaks. It's truly magnificent and awe-inspiring!

The drive to Glenorchy, 50 minutes north up Lake Wakatipu, is rated as one of the top scenic drives in the world. The Gibbston Valley wine area is 20 minutes drive from Queenstown by the ancient Kawarau Gorge.

For visitor information and brochures, call into the official Queenstown i-SITE office [5] on the corner of Shotover & Camp Streets. Ph 03 442 4100 Email: info@qvc.co.nz

Queenstown (New Zealand) city tours

• Skiing & snowboarding - 4 world class ski fields
• SNOWSHOEING, ☎ 0800 455 712, [6]. Experience the serenity of the spectacular 'back country' around Queenstown this winter on Snowshoes! Get away from the busy ski fields and spice up your ski vacation in Queenstown with a snowshoeing trip.  
• HELI-SNOWSHOEING, ☎ 0800 455 712, [7]. Snow shoes allow you to walk across unbroken snow without sinking up to your waist, opening up huge possibilities for wilderness exploration. It is the perfect way for non-skiers to explore the winter mountains of Queenstown & enjoy the snow away from the crowds. 
• Touring - the scenery surrounding Queenstown makes for excellent touring, with lakes, mountains and bush around vineyards and farmland

• Bungy Jumping

• AJ Hackett Bungy, [8]. first commercial bungy jump established on the Kawarau Bridge 

• Jet boats. Exciting jetboat rides have been operating near Queenstown for 50 years. The jet boats carry passengers at high speeds over shallow waters performing stunts like 360 degree pirouettes in the water.

• Ultimate Nature Experience(Guided Nature Walks), ☎ 0800 455 712, [9]. This full day adventure combines total wilderness walking through ancient beech forest in the Mount Aspiring National Park, with the "Dart River Jet Safari" traveling to the start of your guided walk through one of the most scenic high mountain big river valleys to be found in New Zealand. 
• Shotover Jet. The original Shotover Jet is billed as "The World's Most Exciting Jetboat Ride" 

• Luge [10] is fun filled gravity ride for all ages and abilities. You control your own gravity propelled vehicle down the track. Choose from two tracks, one scenic and gentle, the other advanced and adventurous.
• Horseback riding. There are some great tours that pick up in Queenstown and take you into the valleys, through rivers, etc. Pamphlets can be collected at any hotel or hostel to explore the dozens of horseback tours
• Parasailing
• Mountaineering
• Parapenting - launching yourself off a hill with a parachute to ride the "thermals"
• White water rafting
• Scenic flights - the helicopter and light aircraft flights around Queenstown and to Milford Sound and Fiordland are rated amongst the best in the world.

• HeliWorks, [11].  
• Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters, The Helicopter Base, 2 Lucas Place, Queenstown Airport, ☎ 0800 801 616(qtown@glaciersouthernlakes.co.nz, fax: +64 3 442 3019), [12].  

• Flyfishing
• Hiking

• Guided Nature Walks, ☎ 0800 455 712, [13]. Guided Walks, Heli Hikes & Snowshoeing. Regular walks or Privately Guided 
• You can do a short walk to the Oxenbridge river tunnel from the Shotover Jet base.

• Heli-hiking in stunning, remote locations near Queenstown and get away from the crowds.

• Heli-hiking(Guided Nature Walks), ☎ 0800 455 712, [14]. It's hard to believe there's anything more pristine than the road and foot accessed trails which make the Southern Lakes of New Zealand so special but high above the valley floors and glacier-blue lakes there's a whole new world to explore. A mountain-top paradise most people never even imagine they could visit is only accessable by helicopter. 
• HeliWorks, [15].  
• Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopers, [16]. Flight plus Ben Lomond or Cecil Peak Hike  

• Wine tasting. The southernmost vineyards in the world are close by.

• Nature Walk & Wine Trail(Guided Nature Walks), ☎ 0800 455 712, [17]. Guided Nature Walks and Appellation Central Wine Tours bring you this exclusive full day tour where you’ll see real drama in the scenery, hear the pristine silence of the high country, savour the scent of pure clean air and feel the pulse of the heart of Central Otago wine region. 
• Queenstown Wine Trail, [18]. operate daily departing guided wine tours to renowned Queenstown & Bannockburn wineries  

• Cycling - hire a bike for the day and use your legs.
• Heli Biking - an awesome descent after a spectacular helicopter flight.

• Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopers, [19]. Flight plus Vertigo Heli-Bike  

• Relaxing - Queenstown is a sleepy village with reasonable nightlife
• Fishing - lake wakatipu is known for it's trout. You cannot buy fishes from lakes in NZ, you have to fish for them yourself.
• Cruising - lake cruises on Lake Wakatipu offer great views of the town, surrounding mountains, etc.
• Gardens - Queenstown has a number of superb private gardens as well as the centrally located public Queenstown Gardens jutting out into Lake Wakatipu. The walking track on the lake edge offers excellent views of Queenstown and surrounding mountains.

• Queenstown Garden Tours, [20]. operate small group garden tours to 3 private residential gardens in & around Queenstown during spring & summer.  

Queenstown (New Zealand) souvenirs and shopping

The town centre contains many tourist and souvenir stores, and bargains can be hard to come by.

Top quality knitwear, Sheepskin and Possum Fur products, Greenstone (Jade) and bone carvings, and fine New Zealand wine is available for a price.

Outdoor suppliers are plentiful, with equipment for trampers (hikers), mountain bikers, skiiers and snowboarders, and many others who use Queenstown as the launching-pad for expeditions into the nearby National Parks.

There are a handful of convenience food stores in the town centre, most open until midnight and beyond. Two large supermakets are on the outskirts of town.

Most of the stores in Queenstown are open until 8pm or 9pm, 7 days a week.

Queenstown (New Zealand) Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

There are a huge variety of numerous eating establishments to be found in Queenstown, from all-hours takeaways to fine dining. Reservations for dinner are important at the best places most times of the year, and most nights of the week.

Fine restaurants serve world-class seafood (local mussels, oysters and deep sea fish such as blue cod), game, red meat (farmed venison, lamb and beef).

The wineries of the Gibbston Valley (20 minutes drive) are open for lunch.

• The Bathhouse Fine Restaurant, Esplanade (03) 442 5625 (fine dining)
• The Bunker, Cow Lane (03) 441 8030 (fine dining)
• Wai Waterfront Seafood Restaurant, Steamer Wharf (03) 442 5969 (fine dining)
• Fergburger Takeaways, Shotover Street (03) 441 1232 (large burgers)
• Winnie Bagoes Pizza Bar, 7 The Mall (03) 442 8635 (pizza and drinking)
• The Cow Pizza & Spaghetti House, Cow Lane (03) 442-8588 (pizza)
• At Thai, Church Street, (03) 4423683 (Thai cuisine)
• The Lone Star(casual dining)
• Minami Jujitsu (Japanese)
• Memories of Hong Kong (lunch boxes and dining)
• Hamills Restaurant (casual dining) Remarkables Park, Frankton

Queenstown (New Zealand) nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

Nightlife in Queentown is largely about drinking, and there are over a hundred licenced premises in Queenstown. Most are in the downtown area, a number open 24 hours. Most bars have licenses to close at 5am and it is lively most nights.

There are cheap bars popular with backpackers and young locals, and sophisticated and expensive wine, cocktail and imported beer bars. Many bars and pubs have sunny outdoor courtyards in the summer months, and roaring open fires in the winter. Major sports events are normally to be found on screen somewhere in Queenstown.

There are two small casinos and one "massage parlour" for adult entertainment.

Many bars do not offer food.

Queenstown (New Zealand) cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels and lodging

Accommodation ranges from backpacker camps and inns to luxury lodges, bed and breakfasts, apartments, and hotels.

• Larch Hill B&B [21]
  Panoramic view of Larch Hill B&B from balcony

• Aspen Queenstown [22] (Fernhill Road), which is the highest-situated hotel in town, overlooking Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables.

Contact

There are several internet cafes to be found in Queenstown with cheap rates. Some hotels charge plenty for internet, others offer it free. most of the town is covered by WiFi. Pick up a prepaid card at reasonable rates.

Stay Safe

Queenstown is a relatively safe town. However, visitors should still take care to ensure their own personal safety. Many of the other people in town are also visitors.

The most common offense committed against tourists in the Queenstown are car break-ins. Remember to always lock your doors and do not leave valuables in your vehicle.

Although limited in number, the police in the Queenstown area are intolerant of disorderly behaviour and are prepared to arrest for quite minor offences. As with anywhere in New Zealand, they have no tolerance for possession of drugs.

Other emergency services in the area operate on a volunteer basis.

Rental car companies have restrictions in their rental agreements to prevent their vehicles being operated on some high country roads. New Zealand's skifield roads also take many visitors by surprise, but driving to the conditions means no real risk.

Get out

Queenstown can be used as a base to see the surrounding country, including Arrowtown, Glenorchy, Kingston, the Kawarau Gorge, Cromwell and Wanaka.

More distant tourist destinations such as Te Anau and Milford Sound are a day trip away, with many tour operators providing bus tours and flights.

Visit the Fox Glacier -the biggest and less crowded West Coast Glacier. Located approximately 4.5 hours drive north of Queenstown.

This page was last edited by Ian Sergeant. Based on work by Wikitravel user(s) Aliba, Kiwitraveller, Rodericoco and Novemberish, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others. - Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license