Queenstown is located in the bottom-half of New Zealand’s South Island in the Southern Lakes area of Central Otago.
This breathtakingly beautiful town is set on the shores of the spectacular Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Southern Alps.
Known as the Adventure Capital of the World, Queenstown offers over 200 exciting outdoor activities including bungy jumping off Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge, canyon swinging 109m over the Shotover River, jet boating on the Dart River and whitewater rafting on the rapids on the Kawarau River, plus skydiving, paragliding, kayaking, rock climbing, canyoning, hiking, horse-riding and cycling, and it’s also a renowned winter sports destination with the opportunity to ski or snowboard on the slopes of The Remarkables and Coronet Peak from June to October.
Other things you can do in and around Queenstown include riding the Skyline Gondola up to the top of Bob's Peak where you can enjoy panoramic views of the Southern Alps and across Lake Wakatipu, discovering the historic gold-mining town of Arrowtown set on the banks of the Arrow River, relaxing at Onsen Hot Pools, exploring the vineyards of Gibbstone Valley by bike, experiencing a scenic flight or boat cruise across Lake Wakatipu and visiting the famous film locations of Glenorchy.
Summer in Queenstown is from December to February, with temperatures between 20°C-30°C. It’s a perfect time to experience long sunny days (Queenstown’s 45° south latitude means that dawn is as early as 5am, while dusk is around 10pm). Autumn is from March to May with temperatures between 5°C-25°C. Early mornings and evenings are quite cool, however the warm sunny days are perfect for exploring the region. Gold and red hues dominate the hills, creating a striking contrast with the blue of the lakes - making it a fantastic time to capture spectacular photographs of the landscape.
During winter, from June to August, you can expect temperatures between -2°C-8°C. During winter you can enjoy the spectacular lake and alpine scenery, and you can experience some of New Zealand's best ski and snowboard terrain. Spring is from September to November with temperatures between 8°C-22°C. This is a perfect time to enjoy longer warmer days, green valleys and snow capped mountains.
We recommend the 5-star Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel. This stylish hotel, with 19 luxurious rooms and suites, is surrounded by parkland and offers spectacular views of Queenstown’s majestic mountains. The hotel is located in the heart of New Zealand’s adventure capital – it is just a two minute walk across the park to the town and Lake Wakatipu making it a fantastic base from which to explore Queenstown and the beautiful Southern Lakes region.
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