Queenstown - New Zealand

You've seen the Lord of the Rings ... and the sequels AND the tours AND the behind the scenes..

Now, it is time to discover one of New Zealands worst kept secrets. (People just can't stop raving about it!)

Queenstown is a hub for all the beautiful aspects of New Zealand Rolled into one. Fantastic resturants, 3 ski resorts, family activity and beautiful places to stay, all surrounded by the tranquil lake and the rolling mountain side.

There is so much to be said for New Zealand that is often over looked past it's picturesque views. Queenstown has one of those quaint, fresh atmospheres that makes you feel right at home as soon as you arrive.

Seven Things You MUST Do!

Mini Golf Queenstown:
If your after some fun for the kids or even just a break from the slopes visit the Mini Golf centre up on the hill. It features a full 18 hole mini golf coarse with some amazing obstacles. Each one is themed differently and involves creative contraptions and ingenius tricks that will have your family mesmerized for hours on end.


Skiing
You won't ever get snow like this again anywhere else in the world. It may not be the best, but it's certainly an experience to remember. Whether you've never seen snow before or were one of us who were born on skis.. it doens't matter, there is no better place to hit the slopes for the right money, views, snow and people. Cardrona and The Remarkables are the best for beginers followed by Coronet Peak and Tribble Cone for the more experienced skiiers and boarders.
Visit http://www.nzski.com/ For more information.


Float to the top!
Said to be the steepest lift in the Southern Hemisphere, the gondola carries visitors high above Queenstown to the Skyline complex located on Bob's Peak.

Situated an easy five minute walk from central Queenstown, the gondola is an all weather tourist attraction in its own right. Sit back and relax as the views from the gondola unfold while you journey to the Skyline complex.

The best vistas in the region are found here, spread out in a spectacular 220 degree panorama.
Numerous observation decks around the complex offer breathtaking views of Coronet Peak & The Remarkables, over Queenstown and across Lake Wakatipu to Cecil and Walter Peaks. Truly magnificent and awe-inspiring.

Gondola Quick Stats

• Bottom Terminal Elevation: 340m
• Top Terminal: 790m
• Vertical Rise: 450m
• Total Length: 730m
• Incline Angle: average of 37.1 degrees
• Average Speed: Variable to 3.5m/sec
• Capacity: 700 people/hour in twenty one 4 person cabins
• Operating Hours: Open daily from 9.00am until late

http://www.skyline.co.nz/queenstown/gondola/


Bungy Jumping:
You name it, you can jump off it. Now even if you are not in the market for thrill seeking, take a bit of time and go and watch someone else do it. It's almost as good and absolutly mesmerizing to play audience to.

http://www.everythingqueenstown.com/category/Bungy+Jumping

Milford Sound
Milford Sound is simply stunning. In Maori legend, the fiords were created not by rivers of ice, but by Tu Te Raki Whanoa, a godly figure who came wielding a magical adze and uttering incantations. Milford Sound (Piopiotahi) is without doubt his finest sculpture. Whatever the fiord’s mood, teeming with rain or with sun glistening on deep water, it will inspire you. Real Journeys offers a range of daytime and overnight cruises on Milford Sound as well as coach and flight connections .

http://www.realjourneys.co.nz/index.cfm

Shotover Jet:

It's an adrenaline rush you'll never forget! We call it Thrill Therapy, and it's actually good for you too! From the moment the accelerator hits the floor, your adrenaline hits the roof as you power through the Shotover River and deep into the Shotover River canyons!

It's an amazing ride, as the Shotover Canyon walls tower over you, and your driver skillfully whips the boat past rocky outcrops, and skims around crags and boulders.

Rock faces blur in your peripheral vision, the opaque water sprays into myriads of white crystals with every turn, and you grip the safety rail for comfort and reassuranc

e and then let out a whoop of excitement as the driver spins the boat around in its own boat length — wow, you've just experienced the 'trademark' Shotover Jet 360 degree spin! You'll stop briefly while your driver points out interesting landmarks or points of interest.

http://www.shotoverjet.com/index.htm


Winery Tours:

Each winery in the Queenstown region is a unique reflection of the pioneering spirit and passion for wine common to the local winemakers and viticulturalists. There are several vineyards in the Queenstown region. We choose the best vineyard combinations to provide an unhurried tour for each group on any given day.

A knowledgeable, fun and friendly guide will escort you from Queenstown into the wine country of the scenic Wakatipu region. At each vineyard you’ll meet a member of the vineyard for a close up perspective of the local wine. Whether your palate is well developed or simply enthusiastic, as long as you love wine, our tours will delight.

www.zqn.co.nz/winetrail/

http://www.queenstown-vacation.com/queenstown/wine/