Winter is upon us, which means so too is New Zealand’s epic ski season. For those keen on heading to the snow, look no further than Queenstown, a small town, famous for its beautiful surrounds and energetic nightlife.
Queenstown is a world-renowned adventure sports destination, offering a huge variety of activities. In winter, snow sports take over, while in summer, the town attracts all manner of adrenaline junkies who come for bungee-jumping and paragliding.
Aside from the adventure sports, Queenstown and the surrounding area is famous for its pristine natural beauty and stunning scenery, so there’s plenty to keep visitors occupied. Below are some of our highlights.
Ski The Remarkables and Coronet Peak
If you’re visiting Queenstown in the depths of winter, make sure to make time to hit the snow. The two closest ski fields are The Remarkables and Coronet Peak. Coronet Peak features world-class runs, with excellent facilities and also offers night skiing at certain times of the season. The Remarkables offers skiing that is suitable for all levels of experience.
Sample Queenstown’s Nightlife
For some food and après-ski beverages, head for Smith’s Craft Beer House. Here you’ll find an excellent selection of craft beer, combined with a North American inspired food menu, featuring classics such as southern barbeque, po’boy sandwiches, and Canadian poutine. With your belly full, head across town to Cowboys, a bar with a name that says all you need to know. While you’re there, why not throw on a cowboy hat and try your luck with a ride on the bar’s famous mechanical bull.
Joe’s Garage
If you over indulged and got swept away by Queenstown’s boisterous nightlife, look no further than Joe’s Garage Cafe. Here you’ll find a hearty breakfast, guaranteed to cure you of any late night indulgence.
Queenstown Trail and Lake Wakatipu
After breakfast, take a brisk walk by the shores of Lake Wakatipu, following the Queenstown Trail. The breeze coming in off the lake will be sure to blow away the cobwebs from the previous night’s activities.
Fiordland National Park
When in Queenstown, making time to explore Fiordland National Park is an absolute must-do for every visitor. This is New Zealand’s famous breathtaking beauty at its most vivid and vital. There’s lots to see in the area, with two of our personal highlights listed below.
Te Anau
Te Anau is home to New Zealand’s second largest lake. Here you’ll also find a 200 metre-long cave, a beautiful underground experience, with sculpted rocks, waterfalls, whirlpools, and a plethora of luminous glow-worms that make the cave come to life. The amazing 12,000 year-old caves have been carved by the sheer force of the river that has been flowing through them for millennia. You can choose to travel through the limestone passages on foot, or by boat. Whichever way you choose to explore, you’ll experience an ancient grotto filled with thousands of glittering glow-worms. A truly magical experience.
Milford Sound
No matter what the weather, Milford Sound is always dramatic and always beautiful. As the weather changes, so too do the spectacular colours and skies surrounding the sound.
The very first time you lay eyes upon Mitre Peak is a special one. It is instantly mesmerising, an almost heartbreaking beauty that begs belief.
Milford Sound is New Zealand’s best-known fiord, and the only one that can be accessed by road. The head of the fiord lies approximately 16 kilometres from the open sea. Visitors can enjoy a cruise the entire length of the fiord, which takes around 1.5-2 hours cruising time.
Visiting Milford Sound is a thrilling experience, not to be missed. Without any exaggeration, this is a truly spectacular place, with scenery that has remained unchanged throughout the ages, inspiring and enthralling innumerable visitors.
Queenstown and its surrounds have so much to offer visitors, with stunning scenery and plenty of fun to be had along the way. Start planning your Queenstown adventure today.
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