Queenstown New Zealand
Rich in mountains, lakes and forests, Queenstown is New Zealand’s capital of adventure.
Tucked within New Zealand’s Southern Alps, Queenstown hugs the shore of the stunningly blue Lake Wakatipu, whose distinctive shape creates a tide of sorts, rising and falling every 25 minutes. Maori folklore says that this is caused by the heartbeat of the monster, Matau, who sleeps beneath.
In the summer, the dramatic landscape of mountain, forest and lake is fair game for explorer and adrenaline-junkie alike. From the city centre, visitors can get a taste of the great outdoors with a 500-metre (1.640-foot) walk up the pine forests of Te Tapu-nui, or the 'mountain of intense sacredness! Meanwhile, the slightly more challenging, three-hour Mt Crichton loop Swoops through red beech, mountain beech and manuka trees. It takes trekkers back in time, past Twelve Mile Creek gorge, which once swarmed with prospectors and still bears a 1930s hut and tail race tunnel, which was used to carry goldbearing gravel after it was knocked off the cliff.
One of the region's more memorable hikes. Ben Lomond, rises 1.438 metres (4.718 feet) up through alpine tussock and shrubs. Its summit boasts mesmerising panoramic views, with lake and mountain stretching as far as the eye can see. While the mountain can also be explored on horseback, it’s best accessed from the top of the Skyline Gondola, which not only features a coffee shop with the best view in town, but an 800-metre (2,625-foot) downhill luge and regular stargazing sessions.
The thrilling landscape is a natural temple to the gods of adrenaline, and perhaps the greatest of all can be found in the Shotover Jet. an iconic red speedboat that throttles between the Shotover River Canyon. Zooming between stone and tree, the boat spins and soars, bursting between rocks and over shallow water.
New Zealand is also world famous for its bungee jumps (usually spelled 'bungy' in New Zealand), and Queenstown hosts Australasia's highest - the 134-metre (440-foot) Nevis Bungy. with a freefall of 8.5 seconds. If that's not quite exciting enough, couples and friends can try out the Nevis canyon swing, the world's largest.
Come June, the town becomes a winter wonderland, with perfectly powdery snow spread across four skiing areas. Popular resorts like Coronet Peak and The Remarkables feature meticulously curated and groomed trails catering to all difficulty levels, with views that would make Monet blush. Meanwhile, for the hardcore enthusiasts, Treble Cone is home to an array of long slopes and off-piste terrains to explore.
For a change of pace, or those averse to shock and awe, a day trip to the nearby park of Milford Sound is not only peaceful, but positively transformative. The deep blue fjord is embraced by steep cliffs and thick rainforest, best explored via cruise, kayak or even scuba. Home to dolphins, seals, penguins and the bizarre black coral, usually confined to the ocean’s darkest depths, it is a nature-lover’s paradise.
The best way to avoid a bumpy landing when coming back down to Earth is with a tasting of the region’s Pinot Noir which, thanks to the cool weather and glacially derived soils, ranks among the world’s finest.