Holiday in Queenstown New Zealand
Queenstown is New Zealand's leading holiday and tourist destination. It is one of the world's most scenic cities with Lake Wakatipu at its center and surrounded by snow capped mountain ranges and sensational ski resorts. It is one of the most photographed regions in the country. Queenstown is the accommodation and tour base for the tourist industry on the southern end of the South Island. All the organized tours that take tourists through the South Island stay in Queenstown because of its central location. Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, the Fox and Franz Joseph Glaciers and many other South Island attractions become day tours from Queenstown. The lake is huge and is also an integral part of the tourist scene here. The steamer TSS Earnslaw plies the waters of the lake and is really popular for a day out on the water or for a dinner tour to the beautiful Walter Peak Station.
Queenstown's accommodation will cater for any budget. The choice is yours between great hotels, fantastic apartments or a fun backpacker hostel. Most of the accommodation in Queenstown is either on the hills overlooking the lake or on the lake front. This means that almost every accommodation unit in Queenstown has a fantastic view. Many tourists come to Queenstown on a campervan holiday and there is plenty of overnight accommodation for them in local caravan parks. The city center is a cosmopolitan mix of tourist shopping, cafes and sensational restaurants. The steamer wharf is right in the middle of town and is also home to several charter fishing boats just waiting to take you out on the lake to catch a trout or salmon for your dinner.
Close to Queenstown are four major ski resorts and several minor ones. Coronet Peak is the nearest to town and is about twenty minutes drive along a fully sealed road. The Remarkables are about 45 minutes drive along a remarkable road that is cut into the mountain side. Cardrona is a little further into the range and a bit over an hours drive and Treble Cone is located just near neighboring Wanaka. All four resorts have fantastic facilities that include snow making equipment, plenty of lift capacity, great restaurants and cafes and excellent ski hire and tuition available. There is no on snow accommodation so you must stay in either Queenstown accommodation or Wanaka accommodation. A shuttle Bus services operates to all resorts if you don't want to drive on the mountain roads. If you come for a skiing holiday you can ski or snowboard at a different resort every day.
Queenstown is the home of the worlds bungy jumping industry and many people come from around the world to jump from a high bridge or a cable car with an elastic band tied to their feet. It sounds like a silly thing to do but some people will do anything for an adreniline rush. Queenstown is easy to access and it has its own airport with plenty of daily flights. Direct flights are available from Australia during the skiing season.
No holiday to New Zealand is complete without having a few days in Queenstown to enjoy the attractions.
