View from the township of Wanaka over Lake Wanaka toward Treble Cone, near Queenstown.

Location

Queenstown is located in the south of the Southern Island of New Zealand.

Recommended Activities

Snow Skiing/Boarding - Coronet Peak and The Remarkables ski resorts are 20 minutes drive from Queenstown itself. Two other resorts are only hours from Queenstown. Cardrona has special facilities for snow boarding, and Treble Cone has great skiing in dramatic surrounds. When returning from Treble Cone or Cardrona make sure you stop in for a hot wine. If for some reason you tire of skiing/boarding, the activities below are perfect to break up your trip.

Jet Boat - The Shot Over Jet ride is one of a kind and certainly gets the adrenaline pumping for a good 20 minutes.

Hand-Gliding - The views alone justify a lot of hand-gliding. However the conditions are also excellent. World records have been set in Queenstown. Tandem hand-gliding outings are available within Queenstown.

Bungee Jumping - Some of the tallest and most dramatic bungee jumping in the world is around Queenstown. Choose the setting - off a bridge into the river, off the top of a mountain, take your pick.

Other adventure activities - There are a variety of rides, activities and adventures including jet propelled devices, off-piste helicopter drops, hiking etc etc. You can save time and money by purchasing an adventure package that incorporates three or four activities, typically the Shot Over Jet and a bungee jump.

When

Winter peak season is July-August so book ahead. Queenstown has heaps to do all year round.

Accommodation

Limited accommodation is available at Corenet Peak and The Remarkables hence the hostels, hotels etc in Queenstown are always in demand during winter.

Transport

Queenstown has a small airport with few international flights. Most would fly or bus from/to Christchurch. All ski fields have bus connections with Queenstown, most tour operators pick up from your accommodation. The township itself is small and you can often walk from A to B.

Surrounds

In addition to Cardrona and Treble Cone ski fields, Milford Sound is another nearby attraction. Day trips to this truly amazing place are available from Queenstown. For those with more time, the Milford Sound trail is a six to eight day tramp through the amazing inland approach to Milford Sound. Bookings are essential and normally have to be made at least six months in advance.