Queenstown, New Zealand is a resort town in Otago, in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It has access to four world-class ski fields, and is surrounded by New Zealand's Southern Alps. The town was named because it was "...fit for Queen Victoria". New Zealanders often refer to Queenstown as "Vegas by the Lake".

According to the 2001 census the usually resident population of the Queenstown urban area (including Frankton and Kelvin Heights) 8535, an increase of 19.3% since 1996. The town is the largest centre in Central Otago, but for some administrative purposes is considered part of Southland.

Built around an inlet on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin "S" shaped lake in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, its neighbouring towns and districts include Arrowtown, Wanaka, Alexandra, and Cromwell. The nearest cities are Invercargill and Dunedin.

A typical resort town, Queenstown is a centre for adventure tourism. Skiing, jet boating, bungy jumping and tramping are all strong promotional themes.

Another reason that people travel to Queenstown is because of its reputation as a wine and food centre. Neighbouring Arrowtown features excellent restaurants and bars, and Queenstown lies close to the centre of a small wine producing region. Pinot Noir produced in this area fetches premium prices.

Along with Mount Ruapehu, Queenstown is a centre for snow sports in New Zealand, with people from all over the country and the rest of the world travelling to ski at the four main mountain skifields (Cardrona, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Treble Cone).

Transport

Queenstown airport was controversially upgraded to be able to handle jet aircraft, including international flights from Australia in the 1990's. A side effect was that Air New Zealand fitted 'hush kits' to its entire fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft. Queenstown airport is also New Zealand's busiest helicopter base.

Road access is via State Highway 6 which connects from Cromwell to the east via the winding and slip-prone Kawarau gorge, and to the south via the lake shore to Lumsden and Invercargill. A notoriously difficult road over the Crown Range leads to Cardrona skifield and Wanaka, and is New Zealand's highest public road.

Highlights

The Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown

• Lake Wakatipu - TSS Earnslaw, Kingston Flyer, Hydrofoil
• Adventure Tourism, jetboats, bungy jump, skiing
• Cricket (new One Day International venue) /Golf
• International Airport (NZ-Australia only)/Mountains - Flightseeing
• Skyline Gondola and luge
• Winter festival
• Goldmining, Arrowtown, Central Otago history, sheep farming and Walter Peak station.
• Southern Lakes District & Milford Sound/Homer Tunnel
• Glenorchy & Routeburn track
• Proposed cableway to Hollyford Valley (Extremely controversial issue due to significant conservationist and environmental concerns)

External links

• Queenstown Directory
• Queenstown Lakes District Council
• Tourist Information
• Chamber of Commerce