Queenstown

Sitting on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by mountains, it is not hard to imagine why this destination is a delight for the eyes. The crystal clear waters of the lake contain what is to be considered amongst the purest and cleanest water sources in the world. One guide famously stated: “Many international visitors always comment that the water colour is spectacular. I always reply by telling them that this is just the colour of water- the water is simply dirty where you come from!” Each of the four distinct seasons allow different facets of the scenic wonders to come alive, with each offering a truly unique and individual holiday experience. Queenstown is also a great base to explore the the serene and picturesque town of Glenorchy and the stunning 45 minute lakeside drive from Queenstown usually ends up taking over 2 hours because of the number of stops visitors make en-route to appreciate the breathtaking views.

The activities on offer in Queenstown include world-class skiing and snowboarding, bungy jumping and jet boating. The snow covered mountains in the nearby ski fields attract ski enthusiasts from across the world and the season often lasts well into the spring. During the long hot days of the summer, visitors can be found fishing, hiking or enjoying a game of golf. For mountain bikers, Queenstown has trails for all skill levels. After winter, the Coronet Peak ski runs turn into scenic downhill biking trails. Skippers Canyon old pack-track is an historical experience, and Bob’s Peak has a challenging descent.

The high end recreational activities and top of the range luxury accomodation changes have made Queenstown is a destination of choice for celebrities and discerning travellers. Extravagant excursions include private helicopter hire to fly to a remote alpine location for a champagne picnic, and private yacht charters for fishing. Exclusive dining at top restaurants is provided at the luxury hotels and lodges as well as at top independent restaurants.

Queenstown, despite a relatively high altitude nestled among mountains and a southerly location, experiences an oceanic climate. Summer has long warm days with temperatures that can reach 30°C while winters are cold with temperatures often in single digits with frequent snowfall, although there is no permanent snow cover during the year.

As with the rest of Central Otago, Queenstown lies within the rain shadow of the Southern Alps, but being closer to the west coast the town is more susceptible to rain-bearing fronts compared to nearby Cromwell, Wanaka and Alexandra.

Ski Season

Queenstown’s ski season runs from June to early October. Average winter temperatures (June-August) are between 0°C (or colder) and 8°C, with clear blue skies, frosts and snowfall. In summer, the sun rises as early as 5am and the light fades around 10pm. Summer (December-February) daytime temperatures range between 20C and 30C.

Summer

In January, riders from all over the South Island participate in the famous Glenorchy Races, which include bareback riding and attract thousands of spectators. The Queenstown Jazz Festival presents 10 days of top jazz and the Arrowtown Autumn Festival runs the week after Easter. The festival celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2009, and it features market days and street entertainment celebrating the gold-mining era.

Festivals

The Queenstown Winter Festival in late June - early July is New Zealand’s largest winter celebration with more than 60 events over 10 days. Events, on and off the mountain, cover sport, art, music, comedy, food, wine and everything in between. Gay Ski Week - held in late August / early September - is the southern hemisphere's biggest gay and lesbian alpine party and attracts many international visitors. The Spring Carnival held in mid-September at the Remarkables Ski Resort, presents a feast of snow-related sports and social activities.