Central Queenstown - South Island, New Zealand

Nestled on the shores of deep blue Lake Wakatipu, central Queenstown is a small town, but has the energy and bustle of a small city. The town centre is compact and easy to explore on foot.

On the main streets of Shotover St, Beach St and the pedestrian Mall, you will find most of the facilities that cater for the 1 million visitors it draws annually.

Central Queenstown Activities

Queenstown is considered the adventure capital of the world and is a base for many adrenaline activities such as bungyjumping, caving, rafting, sledging, jet boating, skiing, sky diving and hanggliding to name a few.

If you are after a more sedate time, you are still spoilt for choice, with lake cruises on the elegant TSS Earnslaw, the last of the lake-steamers, or there is a wide choice of wine tours at the many award-winning local vineyards.

Around the town are many easy walks along the lakeshore, the hillsides and in particular Queenstown Gardens, an attractive park set on a peninsular extending into Lake Wakatipu.

The best views of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, the Remarkables and Cecil and Walter Peaks are from Bobs Peak, a steep hill right behind town that can be reached by the Skyline Gondola, or you can walk up to the peak in under an hour.

At the top you can enjoy the vistas from the fully licensed restaurant and cafe. Or you can take a paraglide, a bungyjump off the ledge bungy and swing, or you can take a luge ride (a wheeled plastic buggy) twisting your way down winding concrete tracks.

Queenstown has the best selection of cafes and restaurants outside the bigger cities. There are plenty of them from breakfast and snack places to top end expensive restaurants with adjoining late night bars.

With long sunlight hours in the summer, many are set outside, stretching along the waterfront so you can get a glimpse of the changing sunset colours on the lake and mountains.

There is no shortage of places to drink in Queenstown with a very healthy bar scene and late nightspots. Touring bands come through, but mostly local bands appear during the summer.

While early autumn is slightly quieter, Queenstown is popular all year round. Winters are packed with Kiwi and international skiers who descend on Coronet Peak and The Remarkables, two top skifields within 30 minutes of Queenstown.

There is no doubt that Queenstown is New Zealand's most commercialised resort and has fallen victim to ambitious property development, however it still remains an idyllic spot.

Adventure activities are what draw most people here, but your eyes will soon be opened to the fact that the region's breathtaking beauty is its most intense and alluring attraction.

LooknbookNZ can organise your Central Queenstown accommodation and Central Queenstown activities allowing you and your family/friends enjoy adrenaline pumping activities in the adventure heartland of New Zealand.