2 minute read
Out and about
With the array of inspiring activities on offer, Queenstown is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the great outdoors.
Photos: Destination Queenstown.
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HEAD FOR HEIGHTS Queenstown’s Skyline Gondola, sweeping 500m above the town is a must-do. Staggering lake and mountain views are the entree in a buffet of alfresco adventure that includes the adrenaline pumping luge, first-class mountain bike trails, zip-lines and tandem paragliding flights through beautiful blue skies. RIVER RUN Experience two of the country’s most famous rivers. Conquer the Shotover’s grade 3-5 drops and shoots in the historic Skippers Canyon, or cruise the more sedate, grade 2-3 Kawarau, finishing with the Dog Leg, one of the longest rapids in New Zealand. SADDLE UP With a backdrop of dramatic peaks, pristine lakes and rivers, the countryside, farms and stations across the Queenstown Lakes District provide the perfect setting for a journey on horseback. Horse riding is the ideal way to experience rural Queenstown and see the heartland and its people first hand. WATER SPORTS Mild mornings can give way to hot days, so where better to while away a hot day than out on the waters of Lake Wakatipu. As well as jet-boating, options include sailing above the water while parasailing, kayaking, or taking a lake cruise on a vintage steamship, state-of-the-art catamaran, or luxury yacht.
ABOUT OUTAN D
Mountainbiking, Coronet Peak. ra ft in g. Ka wa ra u R iv er
ON THE TOWN Sample local food and wine in sophisticated restaurants, then head out for live music and dancing in one of Queenstown’s many friendly pubs and bars. TO MARKET The Wakatipu Basin becomes a cornucopia of fruit, vegetables and produce in the warmer months, and markets sell locally produced art, crafts and souvenirs, to complement the fresh fruit and produce. On Saturdays there’s the Remarkables Market and the Creative Queenstown Market for ceramics, homeware, produce and art crafted by locals. ROAD TRIP! Looking north, Glenorchy sits at the headwaters of Lake Wakatipu and is highly regarded as a gateway to some of the Southern Lakes’ best walks. Heading south from Queenstown is the small settlement of Kingston, a town known for its salmon fishing — and a pub to linger at and have a meal in if the fish are not biting. EAT UP Sample world-class pinot noir, craft beer and luscious aromatic wines amongst the rugged landscape of the Gibbston Valley. Self-drive, join a guided tour, or cycle around the vineyards to get a taste of the terroir and indulge in delicious food alfresco.
Gibbston Valley. Queenstown nightlife.
