Add or Update Destination (Login reqired)

Queenstown is an amazing town and requires a whole site on itself. We have however highlighted the more mportant points for you.

All types of accommodation is available in Queenstown ranging from budget rooms and motorhomes at the Queenstown Motor Park, to the deluxe 5 star living at the many high-roller hotels. Queenstown can probably be referred to as the St Moritz of the Southern Hemisphere. Eateries range in quality along with the accommodation. All the major fast food chains are available, McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hutt. Other cheap take aways are good for those who wish to save the cash (as we all do), but for the hot shots, the 5 star gourmet restaurants are available. A supermarket is close to the motorpark and motels for the cheapest eating. However, Queenstown is a resort in its own right and therefore prices are generally higher here than in the rest of the country so be prepared. When it comes to bumming in NZ, it is the food that probably drains most of your funds so learn to cook cheaply if you want to survive on a low budget.

Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world, meaning that snowboarding and skiing the local hills is not the only option. Queenstown is famous for its Shotover river in which the high speed Shotover Jet boats (PH: +64 3 442 8570 or 0800 802 804) take passengers at a million miles an hour up a crazy gorge cut out by the river (see photo at the top of the page). These boats are specially designed to perform high speed stunts such as spins and riding on only a couple of inches of water. They are most famous for skimming the rivers rock walls, with your head merely millimetres away from death. Remember to bring the KY Jelly for these rides.

Of course Queenstown is home to the biggest and best bungy jumps in the world ranging from 30 metres (100 ft) night jumps to the 102 metres (350 ft) Pipeline jump. AJ Hackett have also recently build a brand new bungee that stretches to 134 metres (402 ft).  The take-off pod for the bungee is suspended high in Skippers Canyon, supported by two thin wires.  To get to the take-off pod you need to take a gondola.  It certainly is a spectacular view.  Further, unlike the normal bungee procedure of getting out at the bottom, with this new bungee you are actually winched back up to the pod.

And also available is Heliboarding, Tandem Hangliding, Skydiving, Stunt plane joy flights, lake cruises, plane and helicopter joy flights and many more. To hook up with these awesome adventures, see AJ Hackett Bungy, or freecall 0800 BUNGY JUMP from within New Zealand.

AJ Hackett Bungee
Ph:  +64 3 442 7100
Email: bungyjump@ajhackett.co.nz
Web:  www.ajhackett.com

Another great ride in Queenstown is the Skyline Luge.  This is located above the Skyline Gondola.  There is a 2 metre wide concrete track that winds its way down the mountain.  It has banks, humps and drop-offs.  If you have a few friends with you this is a great place to check out as it is super fun racing each other.  The cost is $22 for a gondola ride and 5 luge rides.  Ph:  64 3 442 7860

Queenstown Visitors Centre
To find out more about Queenstown, call the Queenstown Visitors Centre on Ph: +64 3 442 4100.

Accommodation.

Budget Accommodation:

• Queenstown Motorpark
  - Plenty of campsites for vans and tents that have access to electricity, communal kitchen, TV room, Laundry, Toilets and Shower Rooms
  -  A few heated rooms containing beds and en-suites which also have access to the above
  - Board the World have stayed here 4 years in a row due to its rad location, great value and compfy facilities
  - Web site:  www.sp.net.nz/inde.htm
  - Ph:  +64 3 442 7252,    Fax:  +64 3 442-7253

• Bungi Backpackers
  - $20 beds
  - twin, doubles and bunks
  - 5 mins walk to town centre
  - 2 kitchens, full laundry
  - Spa, Video Library
  - Non Smoking
  - Ph:  +64 3 442-8725

• Thomas's Hotel on the Waterfront
  - From $65 Twin Share
  - Budget Rooms, Multishare Rooms, Group Room, all with bathrooms and TV
  - In town centre
  - Guest laundry, gear and bike storage, drying room, Cafe and bar
  - Also, 2 bedroom studio apartment with kitchen and laundry from $69
  - Ph:  +64 3 442-7180,   Fax: +64 3 441-8417

• The Black Sheep
  - Newly renovated lodge
  - 2 minutes walk from city centre
  - Heated Spa Pools
  - Ph:  +64 3 442-7289

• The Last Resort Queenstown
  - Near centre of town
  - Garden BBQ
  - Clean and comfortable
  - Ph:  +64 3 442-4320,   Fax:  +64 3 442-4330

• For more information on where to stay in Queenstown, call: - Snowave on 1800 677 669 (or + 61 800 677 669 from outside Australia)
  - New Zealand Tourist Board on +64 3 365 0296 (this is a New Zealand telephone number - therefore an international call from outside NZ)
  - For Australians, call the New Zealand Tourism Board office in Sydney on
  (02) 9247 5222

More Upmarket Accommodation:

• Colonial Village Motels
  - Self-contained units
  - Ensuites
  - Spa, pool, sauna
  - From $58 to $90
  Ph: +64 3 442 7629,   Ph:  0800 226 652
• The Rydges Hotel
  - Well appointed rooms
  - Ensuites
  - Spa and Pool
  - From $95 per room
  Ph:  +64 3 442 7600
• Cranbury Court Apartments
  - Well appointed apartments
  - Spas
  Ph:  +64 3 442 6483

Places to Eat.

As mentioned above, there are plenty of places to eat whilst you are in Queenstown.  Most are very pricey so we have listed a few good value places:

• McDonalds - Town Centre (no further explanation needed)
• Pizza Hut - Town Centre (no further explanation needed)
• Avanti Pizza -   in the bricked mall/lane in the town centre, Avanti offer resort priced Italian meals (not cheap but good food)
• Berkels Gourmet Burger - located opposite the Supermarket and BP servo, Berkels is the best place to grab a meal.   Although they specialise in Burger meals, they also offer your typical Steak and Chips etc.  The Burgers are the best:  BIIIIG; Tastey; and well priced with the Burkels Special (Burger, Fries and Beer) costing only $10.  Check this place out.
• The Queenstown Bakery - this is probably the best place for a cheap snack.  It is located at 15 Shotover St.  You can't miss it.
• Vudu Cafe - located in the centre of town, this is a pretty cool snowboarder hang-out.
• Pog Mahones Irish Bar - located down near the Queenstown water front, this place always has a good atmosphere and great things to eat.
• Grocery Store - If you are staying in a place that has a kitchen and want to save cash, then buy your food here and cook your, meals.

Night Life.

Like any other major tourist destination, Queenstown has a variety of nightclubs/pubs/bars which are usually packed with tourists. The tiny town of Queenstown puts the rest of New Zealand to shame. More partying happens here in one night than in the rest of New Zealand in one year. If you are looking for a mellow bar to hang with a few buddies, have a bit of a chat and play some pool, go to the Redrock Night Spot which has a bar that is the perfect venue for a mellow evening. If you choose to up the mood a little, head next door to The World Nightclub where semi naked people go ballistic on the dance-floor and where the local DJ pumps the coolest dance music.   If its picking up, tourists, and cheesy music you want, then head straight to the Casbar where DJ Fat Ferg plays the Spice Girls and similar tunes so you can get fired up and try and score for the evening. Its not a bad venue if a STD is what you want. Despite its total cheeseyness, the Casbar can also be a fun place if you are with a good bunch of mates and want to dance to something other than hard-core techno.   Alternatively head to Queenstown's newest dance venue, The Edge Niteclub, just up from Steep and Cheap Snowboard Shop.  The Edge tends to always be going off.   Probably one of the best bars in town is the Rattlesnake Room.   It is a funky bar with pool tables.

Queenstown's nightlife extends beyond these venues to include a couple of smaller bars and a few cafés. However, these four are the most popular and worth checking out. Also, after a big night out on the piss, head straight for the Queenstown Bakery opposite the Supermarket which opens at about 1:00am. Here you can pick up 2 week old greasy foods as well as freshly cooked baked produce (when your drunk, you won't care how it tastes!)

Transport.

Queenstown to Coronet Peak or the Remarkables

nzski.com offers ski shuttles from Queenstown to Coronet Peak and Remarkables.  The cost for an adult is $20 return or $50 for a family.  For bookings and timetables call 0800 652 227.  Alternatively check out their website at:

http://www.nzski.com/coronet/framesets/top_know.htm

Queenstown to Wanaka

Wanaka Connexions is the only way to travel between Queenstown and Wanaka.  The price is $35 one way.  Ph:  0800 879 926

Queenstown to anywhere else in New Zealand

There are two main services that run out of Queenstown to other destinations in NZ, including Christchurch:

• Atomic Shuttles
  Ph:  +64 3 322 8883
  Ph: 0508 108 359
  Web:  www.atomictravel.co.nz

• Kiwi Discover
  Ph: +64 3 442 7340
  Ph:  0800 505 504

Snowboard Shops.

Queenstown has the highest Snowboard Shop per Capita in the entire world.  There are at least 6 great snowboard shops within a 200 metre radius.  For the best deal, walk around and compare prices and the stock.  Some of the shops include:

• Board of Authority, Ph:  +64 3 442 8330

• NZ Shred, Ph:  +64 3 442 6311

• Steep and Cheap Snowboard Shop, Ph:  +64 3 442 9330

• Totally Board Snowboard Shop, Ph:  +64 3 442 4884

Hint and Tip:  Just remember, despite the NZ dollar being bad compared to most other Eastern currencies, buying gear there is very expensive.  Boards and bindings can be as much NZD$1,300.

Heli-Boarding

There are three major heli operations out of Queenstown:

• Harris Mountains Heli-ski
  HMH accesses 400 runs in 200 peaks across 7 ranges which is over 3000 square kms.   With this much terrain you are almost guaranteed to get the goods.
  Ph:  +64 2 442 6722
  Email:  hmhres@heliski.co.nz

• Southern Lakes Heliski
  Southern Lakes operates both around Queenstown and up around Ohau.
  Ph:  +64 3 442 6222

• Heliski Queenstown
  This heli service operates in the surrounding regions and specialises in ther Cardrona Bowls.  Prices start from $350.
  Ph:  +64 3 442 7733
  Ph:  0800 123 435 4754
  Email: heliski@flynz.co.nz

Getting There

The best way to organise a snowboard  trip to New Zealand is use a reputable travel agent who knows the mountains in NZ.  We use and recommend STA Travel for all your snowboard travel needs.  They offer an efficient, knowledgeable service with super competitive prices.  Contact them by email on info@statravel.com.au

Qantas and Air New Zealand have daily flights into QT from Australia and other overseas destinations.

Last updated on 12 June 2007.

Snow Report

The snow report is currently not available for this destination.

More snow reports...

Snow Cams

There are no resort cams available for this resort.

The Trail Map is currently not available

Queenstown

There are no comments available. Be the first to submit a comment.