Queenstown

Queenstown is billed as the adventure capital of the world, a stunning resort town set on the shore of the deep-blue Lake Wakatipu beneath the jagged peaks of the Remarkables on the South Island. The birthplace of commercial bungee jumping, it is a year-round hub of adrenaline, from jet boating, skydiving and white-water rafting to superb skiing in winter and hiking, biking and world-class Central Otago wine in the warmer months.

History

Kāi Tahu tradition says the lake was dug by the Waitaha ancestor Rākaihautū with his digging stick. Nathanael Chalmers, guided by the chief Reko, was the first non-Māori to see Lake Wakatipu, in September 1853; William Gilbert Rees set up a high-country farm on the site of the town in 1860, and after gold was found in the Arrow River in 1862 he turned his wool shed into a hotel, the Queen's Arms, now Eichardt's (Wikipedia, Queenstown, New Zealand).

What to look for

• The lake and mountains - the town beneath the Remarkables on Lake Wakatipu.
• Bungee jumping - the original commercial bungee at the Kawarau Bridge.
• The adventure sports - the jet boating, skydiving and rafting.
• Central Otago wine - the pinot noir vineyards nearby.

When to go

December to March for summer hiking, biking, wine and lake activities; June to September for skiing at the nearby fields. It is a year-round destination, busy and lively in both peak seasons, with spring and autumn quieter and beautiful.

Before you go

It is expensive and, in peak seasons, crowded and busy, a resort town geared to tourism and adventure rather than a quiet retreat. The adventure activities are thrilling but pricey and add up fast. Its setting, though, is genuinely spectacular, and it is a great base for the wider South Island.

Nearby

Milford Sound, the historic town of Arrowtown and the Central Otago wineries are close.

Key facts