The Southern Alps and Fiordland: Places to Explore

Queenstown

Set on the edge of the glacial Lake Wakatipu, with stunning views of the sawtooth peaks of the Remarkables mountain range, Queenstown is the most popular tourist stop in the South Island. Once prized by the Maori as a source of greenstone, the town boomed when gold was discovered in the Shotover River during the 1860s; the Shotover quickly became famous as "the richest river in the world." By the 1950s Queenstown had become the center of a substantial farming area, and with ready access to mountains, lakes, and rivers, the town has since become the adventure capital of New Zealand. Today, New Zealanders' penchant for bizarre adventure sports culminates in Queenstown; it was here that the sport of leaping off a bridge with a giant rubber band wrapped around the ankles—bungy jumping—took root as a commercial enterprise.

The shop windows are crammed with skis, Polartec, Asolo walking boots, and Marin mountain bikes. Along Shotover Street, travel agents tout white-water rafting, jet-boating, caving, trekking, heli-skiing, parachuting, and parapenting (paragliding). Queenstown unabashedly caters to adrenaline junkies, so height, G-force, thrill factor, and danger are emphasized. Want to go on a nice rope swing? Queenstown has the world's highest—109 meters long—in the Shotover Canyon; the ride is 149 kph (93 mph) and delivers 3 Gs of force. In late June and early July, the 10-day Queenstown Winter Festival brings the winter-sport frenzy to a climax, with musical performers, ski-slope antics and races, and serious partying.

If you're not an extreme adventure enthusiast, you might recoil a bit and view the city with a cynical eye. Luckily there's a side to Queenstown that doesn't run on pure adrenaline: find a nice café, have wine by the lake, and sample the cuisine.

Queenstown at a Glance

Planner

Transportation

Sights

Sports and Outdoors

Entertainment

Restaurants

Hotels

Elsewhere in The Southern Alps and Fiordland

See Also

Free Fodor's Newsletter

Subscribe today for weekly travel inspiration, tips, and special offers.

 Fodor's Trip Planning Ideas

Travel Deals in The Southern Alps and Fiordland

* Some taxes, fees additional