Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown, New Zealand (Pop. Varies depending on season) is a resort town in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It has access to four world-class ski fields, and is surrounded by New Zealand's Southern Alps. The town was named because it was "...fit for Queen Victoria". New Zealanders often refer to Queenstown as "Vegas by the Lake".
Built around an inlet on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin "N" shaped lake in the southern alps of New Zealand, its neighbouring towns and districts include Arrowtown, Wanaka, Alexandra, as well as Invercargill and Dunedin.
A typical resort town, Queenstown is a centre for adventure tourism. Skiing, jet boating, bungee jumping and tramping are all strong promotional themes.
Another reason that people travel to Queenstown is because of its reputation as a wine and food centre. Neighbouring Arrowtown features excellent restaurants and bars.
Along with Mount Ruapehu, Queenstown is a centre for snow sports in New Zealand, with people from all over the country and the rest of the world travelling to ski at the four main mountain skifields (Cardrona, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Treble Cone).
Highlights
- Lake Wakatipu - TSS Earnslaw, Kingston Flyer, Hydrofoil
- Adventure Tourism, jetboats, bungee jump, skiing
- Cricket (new One Day International venue) /Golf
- International Airport (NZ-Australia only)/Mountains - Flightseeing
- Skyline Gondola and luge
- Winter festival
- Goldmining, Arrowtown, Central Otago history, sheep farming and Walter Peak station.
- Southern Lakes District & Milford sound/Homer tunnel
- Glenorchy & Routeburn track
- Proposed cableway to Hollyford valley (Extremely controversial issue due to significant conservationist and environmental concerns)
