Queenstown
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Queenstown FAQ's
Travel Advice
· Queenstown is a place famous for mountain hikes and hence, you are advice to carry out basic safety measures before you do so.
· Before going forward to do sports and activities like skiing and snowboarding, make sure that you receive the basic training so that you reduce the chances of major injuries.
· Obtain all tour permits and passes to hike on to the mountains.
· Do not litter anywhere and help in preserving the beauty of nature.
· Do not offend the Maori tribal culture and traditions in any way.
· Take care of your belongings and expensive articles when you go on hikes. Carry enough winter wear as the weather at high altitudes is extreme, especially at night.
· Make sure you have the police and emergency numbers written down with you.
Drinking Law
The minimum legal age to consume alcohol in Queenstown is 18 years of age, for all types of alcoholic drinks, be it beer or distilled spirits.
Our Recommendations: What you can’t afford to miss?
Queenstown Hill is a home to some of the best hiking routes in the entire country of New Zealand. This place is a native to the Maori tribe, which is famous all over the world for their culture and traditions. Once you go up to this beautiful mountain, you will get a breathtaking view of the Southern Alps, Lake Wakatipu and a mystique snow-clad mountains around you. You can also hire bikes in order to tour on this mountain.
Sky Gondola
Oozing out with splendid natural beauty and stunning views, the Gondola Skyline is on the Bob’s Peak, from where you can get some of the amazing views of the greatest nature around and also get to see the traditional Maori performance. You can take a luge ride and reach the peak and take the essence of the best nature around you.
Te Anau Glowworm Caves
If you believe in wonders of nature, this place is a perfect destination to visit. These caves have to be visited by a boat, which sails slowly on the waters inside the caves, making you feel like you are entering a mystery land. You will have beautiful limestone passages, rushing water, underground waterfalls and other natural formations around you to indulge yourself.
Shotover River
The Shotover River is a perfect place to visit if you want to experience sheer wilderness and excitement. If adventure is what flows in your nerves, this place has a big treat to offer you. With water sports activities like white water rafting and kayaking, speed boat ride, and river crossing, this river with blue water frothing white on its surface will give you an experience like never before. Head straight to Shotover River and have the adventure to last a lifetime.
Skippers Canyon
Once a gold-miners property, this place is now one of the most scenic sightseeing destinations in New Zealand. Offering some of the most stunning mountain views, river panoramas, and an unending sight of the blue skies, this place offers you a complete relaxation and rejuvenation. You can hike up over here or go through a guided tour so that you do not miss out on any famous spots. You will also be able to click a lot of beautiful pictures while you travel through Skipper’s road.
Kiwi Birdlife Park is a 5-acre wildlife sanctuary, created for the endangered furry brown kiwis as well as other exotic species. The conversation of these species is the main motto of this park and the scientists over here claim that these species have survived here for over 200 million years. You can drive to this park through beautiful scenic roads and spend time in the company of these amazing birds.
Lake Wakatipu
The sparkling Lake Wakatipu is the longest lake in New Zealand and is originally formed by melting of glaciers. The surrounding backdrop of beautiful mountains is famous for being a location for the shooting of the Lothlorien scenes from ‘The Lord of the Rings’. You can take a dip in this beautiful lake but keep in mind that due to atmospheric pressure, the depth rises and falls by 12 cm within a few minutes.
The Remarkables
The Remarkables, also known as the outdoor playground of New Zealand is a place located at a high altitude, surrounded by some of the best scenic views. Adventure activities like hiking, snowboarding, skiing and sledging can be perfectly enjoyed over here. There are many activities like play tunnels, trails and bouncy castles available for children to enjoy and if you are lucky, you can even see some professionals of snow-sports playing over here.
What you will like there?
Queenstown is a place which is blessed with some of the best landscape which is so stunning that you will feel like you are travelling in paradise. From crystal clear rivers and lakes, waters gushing and frothing over rivers, magnificent snow-clad mountains, and greenery, this place is like a canvas painted by nature’s God.
Adventure ActivitiesFrom hiking, skiing, bungee jumping, snowboarding to trekking, camping, and forest trailing, there is no end to the plethora of adventures which you can enjoy at this scenic destination. Adventures always make you feel happy and help you get out the best in you. So, you will love enjoying these activities over here.
Local tribal cultureQueenstown is a home to the Maori tribe, which is one of the longest surviving tribe in the world. This tribe has a very rich culture and tradition, which is displayed in front of tourists by them. You will love to witness all the culture and heritage attached to this place.
Organized tours to destinationsQueenstown is a destination where you will not get confused as to where to go or have a fear of getting lost, as there are a lot of affordable tour package options through which you can go around to places. You can book a tour package and enjoy everything in Queenstown completely. This is one of the best benefits of this place.
Recommended reads for destination (govt. websites, travel forum articles)?
Books
Adventure Guide To New Zealand
Straying From The Flock: Travels In New Zealand
When is the best time to visit Queenstown?
As per the geographical conditions of the place, it becomes very tricky to chalk out when is the best time to visit Queenstown. A basic conclusion is that you can visit the town anytime during the year. But,
- If you prefer to live in a quiet environment and climate conditions like hot weather, high humidity levels don't bother you then Wet season (November to April) is the best time for you
- If you cannot stand with high humidity levels and the crowd doesn’t bother you then dry season (May to October) is the best time for you to explore this part of the world.
How to reach Queenstown?
- By Plane: Queenstown International airport is your landing destination in order to arrive at this magnificent city. Almost all major airlines have operations in this airport and air connectivity to reach this destination is not at all an issue.
- By Bus: You can also reach Queenstown by using daily bus services from Christchurch, Wanaka, Invercargill, Te Anau and more. If you opt this method your trip will start with some wonderful sightseeing experience.
What are the things to do in Queenstown?
As mentioned earlier, the place is very well known for its adventurous activities. Thus, apart from sightseeing, there is ample scope for you to enjoy some amazing sports activities and lots more. Following are some of the activities which you will be surely enjoying during your trip to this city:
- Cruising
- Bike Tours
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Guided nature walks
- Luge
- Horseback riding
- Para-sailing
- Sky Diving
- Whitewater rafting
Above are just a few activities mentioned. You will come across much more of this. The list seems to be endless.
What is the local food of Queenstown? Which are the best places to taste this food?
Queenstown is simply a heaven for food-lovers. Almost every sort of cuisine, whether local or ethnic can be tasted here. Following are some of the popular dishes which one shall definitely try:
- Whole Flounder, Fishbone
- Southland Cheese Roll
- Ramen Bowl
You can try these eateries at almost anywhere in the metropolis. There are numbers of fine restaurants which cater world class service to its guests. Apart from dining, drinking is another side which you will surely enjoy a lot.
What is the best Public Transport to come around Queenstown?
- By Boat: Yes! This is one of the best modes of transportation to travel across the conurbation. Water taxi service of Queenstown is one the finest in the world.
- By Bus: Definitely, Bus is an option which is available in any part of the globe. You can roam around the city by bus at a very reasonable rate
- By Car: This is another healthy option which one may opt for. You can book a cab and explore breathtaking sightseeing which the destination offers.
While choosing your options you must be clever enough as Queenstown is a small walk around and things can be tricky at times.
What is the local language in Queenstown and which are the most commonly used
Although English is the widely spoken language in New Zealand, still in few places you may find locals speaking in Maori and French. You may also find that many signage written in Maori while enjoying your beautiful sightseeing experience. Thus, if you know some of the common Maori phrases beforehand, it is not a bad idea at all:
- Kia Ora means hello
- Kei te pai means good
- Ka kite an? means see you again
- Kei te p?hea koe? means How’s it going
Which are the best shopping places in Queenstown and what are they famous for?
There are plenty of shop and stores in the metropolis which offers the wide range of products. It is not an easy job to classify any one of them as the best shopping arena. All are good and best. In these stores, you will find things like Souvenirs, sheepskin and Possum fur products, knitwear, Greenstone and bone carvings and lots more. You also find several sports equipment or products like those needed by trampers, mountain bikers and more. Most of the stores remain open all seven days a week.
Which are the best trekking routes to take in Queenstown?
It is not possible that an adventure tour will not include trekking in its list. There are many trekking routes in this wonderful town which will allure many of the tourists. In these routes, they will come across some sheer beauty of nature. Easy, moderate, challenging all sort of difficulty level treks you can enjoy here. Some of the popular trekking routes of the place are as follows:
- Sunshine Bay Walk
- Tiki Trail to Skyline Gondola
- Frankton Arm Walkway
- Queenstown Hill “Time Walk”
- Ben Lomond Track
How is the nightlife in Queenstown?
As mentioned earlier, nightlife in Queenstown is mostly about drinking. As we know that this place is famous for some splendid wines and another sort of drinks, thus they dominate most part of the nightlife activities. You will find some exclusive pub, bars, clubs which caters all the basic needs to enjoy the nightlife. Many bars offer delicious food also. They have the license of keeping the shop open until 04:00 AM in the morning.
Live music or visiting DJ’s, expensive wine or wonderful cocktails, amazing food is the key to the happy hours you spend in the night. There are many destinations in the city which meets this requirement no matter which day of the week is it.
Where Can I enjoy Caving expeditions in Queenstown?
Spelunkers say that New Zealand has probably the most difficult and astounding giving in frameworks on the planet, however, even first-time cavers can make the most of our underground landscape.
- In the North Island, the best-known buckling region is Waitomo Collapses the Waikato district. There are hollows that you can just stroll through; there are holes you can coast through (this is called dark water boating); and there are caverns that require abseiling, climbing and pressing. Experienced administrators here know how to transform you into a caver in a solitary day.
- The South Island has a few folding ranges - you'll discover guided underground undertakings in Nelson, Fiordland and on the West Drift.
Where can I enjoy adventure activities in Queenstown?
There is no popular place in Queenstown where you can enjoy adventure activities. You can enjoy the activity almost in any part of the city. The best person to guide you in this regard will be your tour guide. You need to plan things as per your schedule and likings as there are hell lots of adventure activities to enjoy here. Professionals will assist you in this regard with best deals and fantastic service. Still, if you wish to know more, then plan your list of activities and explore the net where you will all information.
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