Queenstown is an exhilarating year round alpine resort, perfect for adventurers and leisure seekers alike. Queenstown enjoys four distinct and captivating seasons with a true continental climate, and offers an infinite range of activities for visitors, all within easy reach of the compact town centre.

Queenstown’s reputation as the adventure capital of the world is well earned. Earth, water or air, there is something to test and thrill adventure seekers alike. Bungy jump from the world’s first commercial bungy site, white water raft or river surf, jet boat through canyons, tandem hang glide or parapente…..it simply doesn’t stop!

And for those that prefer a little bit quieter pursuits when on holiday there is the opportunity to sample some of the great Central Otago wines, visit historic Arrowtown, take a leisurely cruise across Lake Wakitipu on the TSS Earnslaw or enjoy an evening of fine dining at one of the many restaurants on offer.

As the owner of Indigo Journeys I recently spent a week in Queenstown sampling several of the great activities this not to be missed area of New Zealand has to offer. We landed at the Queenstown airport which has recently been renovated and easily hooked up with our rental car and were on our way to The Rees Apartment Hotel. The Rees is located halfway between Frankton (where the airport is located) and Queenstown. This newer property offers apartment style accommodations with large living areas, huge decks overlooking the lake and fully equipped kitchens. It was nice to have a rental car at our disposal but with the Connect A Bus system you can easily get around the area no matter where you are staying for a very reasonable amount. A five day pass which allows unlimited use of the Connect A Bus services is $35.00NZ per person.

Our first planned activity on Monday was to join Appellation Central Wine Tours for their Boutique Wine Tour, an afternoon discovering the boutique vineyards and spectacular scenery of the region. It was a great way to start the week as we were able to stock up on some wonderful Central Otago Pinot Noirs, Rieslings, Pinot Gris and Chardonnays that this cooler climate wine region is known for. Appellation Central offers two scheduled wine tours, the Boutique half day tour and the full day Gourmet Wine Tour as well as arranging private wine tours from 3 to 7 hours in duration.

On one of our “free” days we spent some time exploring the area by visiting Wanaka, a wonderful town located about an hour’s drive from Queenstown where the spectacular mountain and lake views literally take your breath away. The town of Wanaka is nestled on the shore of Lake Wanaka, an inspiring place of tranquility and beauty with plenty of action available. Unique wilderness areas, lake, river and alpine based activities, the renowned Mt Aspiring National Park World Heritage Area with magnificent tramping and climbing, three internationally rated ski areas and accommodation to suit everybody’s desires and budgets.

On Wednesday we joined Dart River Jet Safaris on their Wilderness Safari Adventure. Dar River Jet Safaris offer a unique combination of breathtaking “World Heritage” scenery, exhilarating wilderness jet boating, Maori heritage and inspiring adventure. As the only operator on the Dart River they offer a diverse adventure that starts in Queenstown and ends in the frontier township of Glenorchy at the head of Lake Wakatipu. You’ll explore little known areas inaccessible by other means and discover a unique and dramatic environment rich in both natural and cultural heritage and legend. If there is one Queenstown experience that delivers the diversity and essence of what is “New Zealand” – it is without doubt an adventure with Dart River Jet Safaris. And for those that want to enjoy an even more intimate exploration of the area they offer a combination wilderness jet boat experience with a funyak safari where you take your time as you paddle and drift your own Funyak (an inflatable canoe) downstream along with your specialist guide pointing out sights and sharing stories of this awe -inspiring area.

No visit to this region is complete without a stop in Arrowtown, a 20 minute drive from Queenstown and also accessible via the Connect A Bus system. Arrowtown is an authentic gold mining town where you can take a stroll along the Arrow River enjoying the self guided tour of the original Chinese gold mining immigrant’s settlement. Also a visit to the History Museum in Arrowtown is a must do activity. The Museum is a very interactive, hands on exploration of the area and will give you a true feel for the people that settled this region. Wonderful shops and cafes line the historic street so there are plenty of opportunities to pick up a handcrafted item from the area, enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as well.

A new activity to the area Segway on Q is a wonderful way to get oriented to Queenstown and also enjoy a fun and unique experience. After a little bit of instruction you will head off with your guide to wander the streets of Queenstown, hear about some points of interest, visit the Botanic Garden and try your hand at Frisbee Golf. By the end of the Segway experience you’ll be having such a great time I guarantee you won’t want to get off!

Dining in Queenstown is an experience in and of itself. Some of my favorites include The Cow Restaurant (fantastic homemade pizza), Fishbone Grill (the best seafood option in town), Bella Cucina (a new find this trip and recommended by our guide from Appellation Central – truly a locals hangout with amazing Italian fare), and then Gantleys (if you are looking for a special occasion dining experience – they will even arrange for your transportation to/from the restaurant so that you can indulge in a bottle of wine and not have to worry about driving yourself). As with all restaurants in New Zealand you will find menus located outside so that you can peruse what is on offer.

There are many other activities which can be arranged and experienced in and around the area. Fiordland Park is not to be missed and I highly recommend an overnight experience on either Doubtful Sound or Milford Sound, the Skyline Gondolas are a must do as well and several optional activities are available from the luge tracks to bungy jumping to the Ledge Swing, river surfing for the more adventurous, several helicopter tours originate in Queenstown, there are also various hiking trails from a couple hours to several days that get their start in the area. As you can tell a week is not long enough and I am already planning the activities for our next visit!

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