Located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by spectacular mountain ranges, Queenstown is the adventure capital of New Zealand. Activities include hiking, boating and fishing, sightseeing, mountain biking, road cycling, skydiving, paragliding, helicopter riding, four wheeling and jet boating and anything in between (Bungy jumping was invented here).
Since it is a popular tourist activity center, Queenstown is always busy. Nevertheless, relatively quiet roads for cycling can still be found here; and the scenery is... More...
Located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by spectacular mountain ranges, Queenstown is the adventure capital of New Zealand. Activities include hiking, boating and fishing, sightseeing, mountain biking, road cycling, skydiving, paragliding, helicopter riding, four wheeling and jet boating and anything in between (Bungy jumping was invented here).
Since it is a popular tourist activity center, Queenstown is always busy. Nevertheless, relatively quiet roads for cycling can still be found here; and the scenery is spectacular on most of them. The highest paved road of New Zealand is not too far from Queenstown.
Queenstown was settled as a result of a gold rush in the 1860s. After the gold rush, the town's population withered from thousands to less than 200. Now, over 9,000 permanent residents live in Queenstown.
If you are wine lover, you will enjoy the surrounding vineyards, since the Central Otago Pinot Noir is grown here. Less...
The best time to visit Queenstown is during the summer months and early autumn (southern hemisphere). The maritime weather is calmer and at it is at its warmest. If you are planning to visit during December and January, it is advisable that you make reservations for lodging ahead of time. Less...
Climate
and Weather
Like most of Central Otago, Queenstown has a relatively dry climate with average annual rainfall less than 800mm (2.6 ft). The temperature from the end of November, when the high summer sets in with long warm days, averages mid-80ºsF (20ºsC). This is ideal weather for summer outdoor activities and perfect for cycling; and although autumn arrives in March, it is still generally warm late into the day for comfortable cycling. Less...
How
to Get There
Queenstown is serviced by buses and airlines. The Queenstown airport was upgraded in the 1990s so it could handle jet aircraft, including international flights from Australia. The airport is serviced by regular domestic services from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. International flights from Melbourne and Sydney also service the airport.
Several bus services serve Queenstown from many regions of the South Island. If you are planning on taking a bus to Queenstown, check the internet for bus companies and their schedules.
If you are traveling by car, the primary road access to the Queenstown area is via State Highway 6 (SH6), which travels from Cromwell through the Kawarau Gorge to Frankton, where a 9km section (SH6A) leads to Queenstown city center area. Less...
Accommodations
There are plenty of accommodations in Queenstown, ranging from campsites, youth hostels and simple motels, to upscale hotels and luxury B&Bs and lodges. Although the accommodation choices are generally plentiful, reservations are recommended during the high season from December to the end of January. Less...
The
Roads
The roads around Queenstown are mostly of paved sealed chip surface and can be narrow in places, with minimal or no guardrails. However, some of the main roads do have a nice shoulder to ride on. The road from Arrowtown to Wanaka over the Crown Range is New Zealand's highest paved public road and provides for quite a challenging ride. Less...
What
You Need To Know
Queenstown is the adventure capital of New Zealand, and as such, it is packed with young and active crowds throughout the year.
Weather can change rapidly in Queenstown and the surrounding area. As such, it is advisable to be prepared for any adverse weather at any time.
It is said that bungy jumping was invented here in Queenstown. The AJ Hackett Bungy jumping is the original bungy operator still offering visitors the thrill of bungy jumps from the AJ Huckett bridge. Less...
