The options are endless...
There comes a time when the chairlift closes at the end of the day and you have to look further afield for your thrills. If you’re in Queenstown New Zealand then you are in major luck. This lakeside town nestled beneath the soaring peaks of the Southern Alps offers endless entertainment options for those taking time off the snow.
Jetboating
Experience the world famous aqua waters of New Zealand’s mineral rivers from the adrenaline lined passenger seats of a jet boat as you soar through narrow gorges over rapid waters. Jetboating is quintessential New Zealand and it would be rude not to try this thrill ride at least once.
Jump for joy
Sometimes you just need to jump. In Queenstown you can jump not once, not twice, but three times off AJ Hackett Bungy ledges. Try your hand at the original Kawarau bridge, a mere 43 metres from the waters below. Want more free fall? Then climb aboard the Nevis, a cabin suspended between two peaks with a 134 metre jump. Now you’ve got the hang of it (see what we did there) you can take to The Ledge high above Queenstown itself for an after dark night bungy with a twist.
Nevis Bungy (134 metres)
Kawarau Bridge Bungy (43 metres)
Ledge Bungy (47 metres)
Nevis Swing (The World’s Highest Swing)
Wine wine wine
The Central Otago wine region of Queenstown is known for world class Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Amisfield Winery is a must do mere minutes from Queenstown with a tasting room, landscaped gardens and a stunning chef’s menu for long languid liquid lunches. Others worth checking out include Peregrine Winery known for a progressive architectural design alongside equally progressive grape blends, Hollywood actor Sam Neill’s Two Paddocks winery and the cellar door at Mt Difficulty
Lace up
Put your walking boots on and head for the hills. Queenstown offers some spectacular mid winter hiking options below (and above) the snow line. Expect breathtaking scenery, micro climates, mammoth lakes, woodlands and even rainforest. Try a day hike section of the Routeburn Track, take in the Queenstown Hill hike for a view of town or wander along the Ben Lamond track for a half day experience.
Chopper up
If you think the surrounding region available to the naked eye around Queenstown is awe inspiring, wait till you access the vistas from a helicopter. Chopper to a peak for a ridge line walk and fly low over river mouths. Whatever you choose, make sure you take your camera.
Request a quote for options and prices.
Chow down
Queenstown’s cobbled laneways and pedestrial malls are home to over 150 licensed establishments in one square kilometer. You can’t go wrong from breakfast to dinner and beyond. Try Joe’s Garage, Vudu Larder and Bespoke Kitchen for breakfast, The Boat Shed on the lake and The Chop Shop Arrowtown for lunch and Madame Woo’s, Botswana Butchery and Rata Dining for dinner and Fergburger after dark on your way home from too many cocktails.
Wander
One of the best ways to get to know a town is to just wander. Start at Queenstown Gardens and make your way along the waterfront then wind your way through the grid like street pattern and take in the shopping, cafes, galleries and local life.
Ready to book?
There’s never been a better time. Start your Kiwi experience off right with direct Air New Zealand flights to Queenstown, available from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne. This award winning airline boasts over 59 direct flights from Australian capital cities each week.
