Queenstown
Queenstown New Zealand is party and adventure activity central. And as an added bonus, Queenstown is also a great place to go on a ski holiday!
Queenstown is located within a spectacular lakeside and alpine setting. The views are second to none, and you will never tire of looking at The Remarkables soaring above Lake Wakatipu. Photography buffs will have a field-day in this place!
Whilst the vistas are serene, the culture of Queenstown is anything but tranquil. Queenstown is a tourist and adventure activity mecca, and the hype associated with this is rather crazy. The size of the town has exploded to rapidly accommodate the increasing population of tourists. Whilst the town still tries to portray a relaxed feel, the more dominant feature is that of a glitzy resort town.
Ski Queenstown New Zealand
Tourism is “quieter” during winter when skiing becomes the main focus. Queenstown is within easy reach of
Coronet Peak ski resort (about 20 mins away) and
The Remarkables ski resort (about 40 mins away). You can also easily access
Treble Cone (about 90 mins),
Cardrona ski field (about 60 mins) and Snowpark.
The skiing at Coronet Peak, Cardrona and The Remarkables is not necessarily suited to powderhounds because the snowfall is quite low compared to
New Zealand ski resorts further north. On the plus side, Queenstown is great for fair weather skiers, and because the weather is much more stable, the ski resorts rarely close (unlike
Mt Hutt aka Mt Shut!). There’s a high likelihood of getting a tan and finding an opportunity to wear a cleavage top (boys you can do this too if you like!).
If you want the ultimate powderhound experience, there are various Queenstown heli skiing operations. The helicopter ride up in the spectacular Southern Alps is amazing, and then you also get to ski or board down the virgin snow. Bliss!
Queenstown Adventure Activities
If skiing is not enough for you, Queenstown is also known as the “adventure capital of the world”. You’ll be overwhelmed by the choice of non-skiing
Queenstown activities and if the snow conditions are not great at the ski resorts, you will never ever be bored. Tourist pursuits include scenic flights or winery tours. However Queenstown is most famous for its adrenaline-raising activities such as bungy jumping, white water rafting, and jet boating. The only problem is that many of the adventure activities are rather expensive, so you could blow your entire holiday budget in one day. Skiing seems like a relatively cheap endeavour in comparison.
The
Queenstown shopping is also fabulous, so ladies (and gents) make sure those credit cards have a healthy limit!
Queenstown Nightlife and Dining
Queenstown isn’t just abuzz during the day. Après drinks turn into a very vibrant nightlife that continues on well into the evening. Queenstown has hundreds of restaurants, nightclubs and bars, and with a melting pot of international tourists in Queenstown, there’s always something interesting happening.
Queenstown Accommodation
Queenstown accommodation options are prolific and range from 5-star resort hotels to a huge variety of Queenstown backpackers. Queenstown also has inexpensive motels, lodges, bed and breakfasts, and farm-stay options. When you’re spoilt for choice, at least you know you’ll be able to find a place that satisfies all your needs.
How to Get to Queenstown
Queenstown is in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. Getting to Queenstown is relatively easy as it has its own international airport located only 10 minutes from the town centre. Direct trans-Tasman
flights to Queenstown are available, although any cheap options tend to sell very quickly. An alternative is to fly to Christchurch and then drive or get a shuttle bus to Queenstown.
It’s possible to travel around Queenstown and get to the ski fields using buses and shuttles, but many prefer to hire a car to provide more flexibility.
See our
Queenstown travel page for more information.
Why Go on a Ski Holiday to Queenstown NZ?
Everyone who has visited Queenstown would agree that it is a very special place for a holiday. It's a great base for skiing, adventure and other tourist activities, partying, shopping and enjoying the majestic views. Queenstown even has a beach. This town has it all! OK the beach is just some pebbles on the shores of the lake, so it doesn’t really count!
Travel Agents & Tour Operators
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Blue Powder Tours - Snow Travel Specialists
Blue Powder Tours specialise in individual & group tours to your favourite ski destinations in New Zealand. We have personal experience of skiing at Queenstown & can tailor a tour to your budget.
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