Queenstown New Zealand

In summer you are never far from a fruit stall for juicy cherries, peaches, apples apricots or nectarines.

Cromwell was established by gold miners, but now its treasure is stone fruit. Explore nearby ghost towns and soak up the tranquil lakeside scenery.

Located on the shores of Lake Dunstan, Cromwell has the appearance of a modern town, but its history stretches back to the gold rush days of the 1800s. Cromwell underwent a major transformation in the 1980s, when parts of the town were flooded (on purpose) during the construction of the Clyde Dam power station. The best of the town’s historic buildings were relocated to create ‘Old Cromwell Town’ – a feature attraction for visitors. Today, Cromwell’s major industry is fruit growing – if you’re here over summer, roadside fruit stalls are a delicious temptation. Old gold mining sites include Bannockburn and Bendigo, where you’ll find ruins of miners’ cottages.

Cromwell is strategically located for easy day trips to Queenstown, Alexandra, Arrowtown, Wanaka and Roxburgh.

One of the most picturesque settlements in New Zealand, Arrowtown sits alongside the Arrow River – once the scene of a frantic gold rush. The town retains its historic character – there are more than 60 restored buildings from the 19th century.

The gold days are long over (although you can still pan for gold in the river with some success), so Arrowtown's focus is on hosting visitors. Explore the Chinese miners’ settlement, visit the Lake District Museum, catch a few holes at the challenging local golf course or take a 4WD journey to Macetown, a ghost town accessible only by wagon track. Arrowtown has a range of cafes, restaurants and appealing shops.

The rustic town of Glenorchy, at the western end of Lake Wakatipu, is set against a background of native beech forest and towering snow-capped mountains. It is known as the gateway to the Routeburn, Caples, Greenstone, Rees and Dart Valley walking tracks.

It’s also the place to organise jet boating and kayaking on the Dart River. Call into the Department of Conservation Visitor Centre if you plan to walk any of the tracks. Horse trekking in the area comes highly recommended. The town has an assortment of lodges, one hotel and a few cafés. It’s a good idea to buy hiking supplies in nearby Queenstown.

Glenorchy lies near the borders of Mount Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park. The local scenery received worldwide attention when it was used as one of the settings in the first of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films. Vertical Limit was also filmed in the area.

Shaped like a lightning bolt, Lake Wakatipu is the third largest lake in New Zealand. The Dart River flows into its northern end; the Kawarau River, beginning near Queenstown, handles its outflow.

The lake occupies a single, glacier-carved trench and is bordered on all sides by tall mountains, the highest of which is Mount Earnslaw (2819 metres). Settlements around the lake shore include Queenstown and the villages of Kingston, Glenorchy and Kinloch.

Because of its unusual shape, Lake Wakatipu has a 'tide' (more correctly, an unusually large seiche or "standing wave"), which causes the water to rise and fall about 10 centimetres every 25 minutes or so. Maori legend links this phenomenon to the heartbeat of a huge monster named Matau, who is said to be slumbering at the bottom of the lake.

The T.S.S. Earnslaw cruises the lake every day. Complete with a bright red, 12 metre funnel, white hull and kauri timber decks, this vintage paddlesteamer is a New Zealand icon.

Lake Wakatipu offers year-round trout fishing - the mouths of the Greenstone and Lochy Rivers are particularly rewarding. In summer, the lake's beaches are popular for swimming.

Built around an inlet on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin "S"-shaped lake, its neighbouring towns and districts include Arrowtown, Wanaka, Alexandra, and Cromwell. Queenstown has access to four world-class ski fields (including Cardrona, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Treble Cone) and is surrounded by New Zealand's Southern Alps.

Cardona skifield ranges from 1670m to 1894m with good facilities for children. The distribution of slopes is 25% beginner, 55% intermediate and 20% advanced.

Coronet Peak is one of the last skifields in the Southern Hemisphere to lose its snow and is famous for its spring skiing. Night skiing and First Tracks mean Coronet Peak offers longer on-snow hours than any other ski area in the country.

The Remarkables are a mountain range with a 540 acres (2.2 km²) skifield and is located south of Queenstown. The mountains were allegedly named The Remarkables because they are one of only two mountain ranges in the world which run directly north to south.

Treble Cone boasts the longest vertical rise in the Southern Lakes and spectacular views over Lake Wanaka and Mount Aspiring. Fans of the field tend to be attracted there for the fairly steep and challenging terrain which they claim is some of the best in the country however recent initiatives ensure that intermediate and beginner skiers and boarders are fully catered to.

The resort town of Queenstown is sophisticated and fantastically scenic. Its lake and mountain landscape is suited to almost any kind of adventure; but Queenstown is just as well known as a place for indulgence.

Adventure activities include snow sports, bungy jumping, jet boating, horse trekking, river rafting and more.

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. Indulgent experiences include exceptional food and wine, lake cruises, spa treatments, boutique shopping and leisurely games of golf.

The area’s history is intertwined with gold. In 1862, two sheep shearers struck it rich at the edge of the Shotover River. The ensuing gold rush town was named Queenstown because '...it was fit for Queen Victoria'.