Queenstown

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Queenstown Regional Information

The popular resort centre of Queenstown is located in the south-west of the South Island, around an inlet on Lake Wakatipu.

Maori people first came to the site of present-day Queenstown in search of food, fibre and stone resources. Journeying from Southland and Otago, they hunted the moa, a large, flightless bird, and discovered sources of pounamu (greenstone). Welshman William Gilbert Rees was the first European settler in Queenstown, arriving on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in 1860. Two years later, gold was discovered in Skippers Canyon and a goldrush began, bringing an influx of goldminers to the settlement.

Following the shoreline of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is surrounded by dramatic scenery, from the backdrop of the majestic Remarkables Range to the lake's sparkling waters and the wide open skies. The city itself is a lively environment filled with shops, restaurants and cafes. At night, the downtown area's bars and clubs provide an exciting nightlife all year round.

As the largest urban centre in the Central Otago region, Queenstown is a popular resort town, with an excellent reputation as a destination for adventure tourism and snow sports. Whether you seek bungy jumping or jet boating, mountain biking or tramping, skiing or snowboarding, Queenstown can deliver the experience. The Winter Festival is one of the largest winter festivals in the world, announcing the arrival of winter, celebrating Queenstown and providing a mecca for snow sports enthusiasts.

For those taking life at a slower pace, Queenstown also has an enviable reputation as a cuisine and wine centre. Visitors are spoilt for choice; the city offers a selection of over 100 eateries that are complemented by 45 wineries in the Central Otago region. Winery tours and wine tasting at boutique wineries are a popular way to pass an afternoon or a day.

Just twenty minutes from Queenstown lies Arrowtown, a township infused with a sense of its own history. At the Lakes District Museum, exhibits paint a picture of the early Maori in the district, the pioneering settlers and the gold rush era of the 1800's. On the town's main street, historical buildings have been preserved and on the banks of the Arrow River, visitors can walk through the original village where Chinese gold miners lived as they eked out a livelihood.

Navigate with our great Queenstown map to stay on the right track and find what you're looking for when traveling in the region. While you're on the road, be prepared for all seasons with weather forecasts, reports and current information on Queenstown weather.

More information is available on the Destination Queenstown site.