Queenstown New Zealand | Ten Reasons to Visit
There is so much to do in Queenstown New Zealand it was hard to choose only ten reasons to visit. It was our first stop on the South Island and we fell in love with New Zealand the moment we stepped off the airplane on the open air tarmac. Every direction you look is beauty – mountains & nature. It was such an overwhelming feeling I almost wanted to cry. Everyone was taking photos before even trying to get to their luggage. We have done a lot of traveling to some amazing locations, but nothing has been more beautiful than our experience in Queenstown.
So if you’ve ever considered visiting New Zealand you should just go! And when you get to Queenstown, here’s a list to get you started on an amazing adventure.
#10 – The Thrills
For thrill seekers Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world, is the place to go! There’s bungy jumping, paragliding, whitewater rafting, canyon swinging, river surfing, sky diving and more. You should do at least one thing that scares you just a little. For me it was the luge ride, however Bill has added skydiving to his bucket list our next trip. I think I’ll just stay on the ground and take photos
#9 – The Luge
This is so much fun – don’t miss it! You take the Gondola up the mountain at Skyline Queenstown you will first enjoy incredible views of Queenstown, the mountains and Lake Wakatipu below. From there you take the chairlift a little higher, and after a quick tutorial you are racing down the track. The gravity-fueled luge carts are perfect for all ages and bring out the Mario kart driver in kids of all ages! We got a pass for 6 rides because “Once is never enough”
#8 – Bike Ride
We love to bike, leisurely, nothing too long or too difficult, and this was possibly one of the best rides we’ve ever taken. There are plenty of choices for bike rentals and routes. We rented from Outside Sports and they were wonderful, even cutting us a little slack when it took longer than we ran a little late. The route we rode started in Queenstown, through the park, out the Frankton Trail, and around the lake to Kelvin Heights before returning to Queenstown.
It was a beautiful day with wonderful views! We were quite tired by the time we returned the bikes, but so worth it!
#7 – The Food
We love good food and a good cup of coffee and Queenstown did not let us down. We enjoyed some great meals in the outdoor restaurants at Steamer Wharf overlooking the lake. But by far our favorite meal in Queenstown was breakfast at Bespoke Kitchen – amazing!
For a delicious treat stop at Patagonia Chocolates – Best ice cream ever!
#6 – Close proximity to Day Trips
We spent one afternoon in Arrowtown, a quaint village only a 20 minute drive from Queenstown. The pretty little town sprang from the 1860s gold rush in the Arrow River. Unlike many gold rush towns that died away, Arrowtown has been kept alive as a holiday place since the 1950s. It’s a lovely place to spend an afternoon walking through the town and visiting the cafes and shops.
There is some great history there including the Heritage town centre, the museum, and the Chinese Village as well as beautiful nature walks and a golf course.
The 19th century Chinese miners were poorly welcomed and they built their settlement separated by the river from the European shopkeepers and even had their own stores. As you walk through the Chinese Villages you see how small their homes were – they almost seem like children’s play houses.
We enjoyed a delicious meal of Fish & Chips on the outdoor patio of the The Stables Restaurant and of course, some more Patagonia ice cream! It was a fun place to spend an afternoon, and only one of many possibilities near Queenstown.
#5 – The Queenstown Gardens
We walked through this beautiful botanical garden every day from the Oak Shores apartment we had rented through Airbnb on our way into Queenstown.
#4 – Frankton Track
Trails in New Zealand are called tracks and they are everywhere! If you enjoy walking and hiking you can access some of New Zealand’s most scenic walks and multi-day hikes from Queenstown. The Frankton Track went right past our Airbnb. It was a lovely 20-30 minute walk along Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown.
#3 – Breathing in the scenery and the fresh mountain air
When you arrive in Queenstown you get off the plane on the tarmac. As one girl put it while taking in the 360 degree view of mountains and beauty – if I never see any more of New Zealand, this is enough.
#2 – The People
“ There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven’t yet met.” ~ William Butler Yeats
We have made so many new friends here! The people of New Zealand, also know as Kiwis, are incredibly hospitable. They love to yak (have a conversation with a friend). Often a complete stranger will stop to strike up a conversation, sometimes quite long and always full of laughter. I can’t get enough of the hilarious sayings and great sense of humor. No worries here – enjoy an afternoon tea or fizzy drink and a biscuit, a good cuddle, and you’ll bloody well get things
#1 – Get Married – Obviously, this is not going to be on everyone’s list. But, if you have ever considered a destination wedding – consider New Zealand! There are incredible choices for location. We chose Mount Nicholas Station. The High Country Farm is a 40 minute ferry ride and worth the trip even if you don’t get married there.
Because great photos were so important to me, our special day was planned around photographer Holly Wallace. Not only is she a wonderful photographer, but she knew what locations would be best for photos and led us seamlessly through the day. Thank you so much to everyone who worked to make our day so perfect including wedding planner Jan Edge at Pure NZ Weddings, who helped tremendously through Pinterest boards and online referrals, Lucy at Remarkable Physios who gave Bill a relaxing massage the morning of the big day; Claire at Beautiful Bridal Hair and Juliet at J.E.T. Makeup for making someone who rarely does her hair and makeup feel natural and pretty all at the same time; Our celebrant Judith Mitchell; Kate & Tish at Mount Nicholas Station who had decorated the stone lodge like a dream; Dave our helicopter pilot – it felt like we floated to the top of the mountain; and Bruce & Adrienne for having our little white house prepared for the night along with delicious food. Holly’s photography captured it perfectly!
So there you have it. The order may change and there are plenty of variations, but it’s a great place to start in Queenstown. If there is one country that should be on everyone’s bucket list, it’s New Zealand. Make some plans and go!
What comes to mind when you think of New Zealand? I always love to hear your comments!
