Queenstown, Queen of Adventure.

The “Lord of the Rings” and the “Narnia Chronicles trilogy” were filmed here In this exceptional setting, the slightest activity takes a different dimension.

The bungee jumping is popular, as well as paragliding or rafting. (to mention only few activities among so many others). And during the winter months the ski resorts attract skiing lovers from all over the world.

The city is a paradise for nature lovers in search of big thrills. But I guess you may not all be interested with the idea of jumping into the void while being only attached to an elastic cord at your feet?

Fortunately, Queenstown is much more than the Mecca for extreme sports as presented in travel guides most of the time. There is so much more to do!

If you do not want to test your limits with extreme sports, you’ll neither get bored nor disappointed. And if you seek calm above all, you may visit the beautiful cities of Wanaka or Arrowtown nearby.

To begin, we'll take some height and watch the city from the top of the nearest mountain.

I have prepared a daily program rich in emotions. However, you will have enough time to relax between the activities, and you can expect a few surprises...

On the closest mountains, we can spot the ski lifts. In summer, the Coronet Peak station remains open and hosts sensational bike competitions. The other station known as “The Remarkables” is famous for its black trails dedicated to great skiers.

The strange noise that we can hear in the distance comes from the summer luges that cascade down the mountain. The race is not only intended for children but also to adults who can buy tickets to participate. I have booked five tickets per person, because the descent of the 800 meters' tracks only lasts a few minutes each time.

When you swipe at ground level, the speed sensation is greatly increased. The track has panels just like on Formula 1 circuits.

Do not worry, the track is wide enough and overtaking another concurrent is quite easy. It is also possible to slow down and even to stop on the side in case of real trouble.

The only difficulty is to focus on the track without contemplating the extraordinary landscape. You have to negotiate bends and cross a tunnel to reach the finish line.

Some luges are faster than others, and there are two different tracks. The first track is dedicated to beginners, while the second one is a little bit harder (you may try it later, when you will be more confident with the luge driving).

The day has just begun and you have already adopted the Queenstown style. We are a little bit ahead on the program, so take your time to enjoy the scenery from the Skyline observation deck and buy some souvenir coins. I'll let you know when it’s time to descend the mountain to continue our adventures.

So, here we are in the city centre! Welcome to Queenstown, with its cobbled streets, its souvenir shops and so many cafes.

Except for few building facades, nothing remains from the colonial era. There is a kind of agitation in the air and many tourists are already booking the afternoon activities. Do not worry: I had the brilliant idea to organize everything on the Internet the day before.

You can enjoy the end of the morning to buy souvenirs at The Mall (the shopping district) and to explore the streets.

When the fresh air from the Lake will have whetted your appetite, come joining me at the Fergburger.

With such a name, you can easily guess the menu. Fergburger earned its great reputation by serving the most delicious burgers of New Zealand, year after year. Wait to see their gargantuan portions; you won't believe your eyes! The “Ferg” has become a real institution of the city, and even if you do not like meat, you may order a vegetarian sandwich which is equally delicious.

Queenstown's garden is the perfect place to relax on the grass and contemplate the mountains and the lake. I seize this opportunity to address the question for the afternoon program. Who among you is looking for extreme sensations?

Those who are not afraid to try bungee jumping will follow our friend Ben the Kiwi.

We shall meet up all together for the cruise on the Lake right after.

For those who do not know me yet, may I introduce myself: I am Ben the Kiwi. I joined the Kiwipal team to give practical advice at the end of each article. I’ve been doing bungee jumpings in New Zealand for more than fifteen years now, so you can trust me. Your first jump will only be a 47 meters one, but the bungee jumping platform is located in the mountain at 400 meters above Queenstown. I don't know any better way to create an immortal souvenir with a 10 seconds activity!

Time has come! everybody in the gondola to reach “The Ledge” where our jump is booked. During the short interval in the cabin, there is a little detail I must explain to you…

Usually when you perform bungee jumping, the buckles are attached to the ankles of the participant. But here, the elastic is attached with a harness at the waist and this makes a huge difference!

At “The Ledge”, you are no longer have to jump like a diver in a pool. You can even run and leap into the void. Feel free to invent the most extravagant jump. You see this camera above us? Your feat’s film awaits you at the end, so be creative!

You can perform a Tarzan’s scream to give you courage, it’s up to you... I’ll go first, so you can admire my original style (I’m quite proud of it). We'll meet again in a moment, so don’t make me wait too long and jump without thinking too much!

To be honest, the only danger with the Bungee jumping is to become addicted to it, because it’s quite expensive.

Now that you have overcome your fear, how about trying the Nevis? This fall from the top of a cable car cabin lasts 8 seconds (an eternity for a bungee jumping) and is New Zealand’s most extreme jump (134m).

No? Another time perhaps... It was nice to meet you guys! I’ll let you join the wharf near the Lake to continue the itinerary with Guillaume and the rest of the team.

Over time, the TSS has become the symbol of Queenstown and also the last ship of its kind still at service in the entire southern hemisphere. It can even be seen during a short time in the last Spielberg's Indiana Jones movie.

We will sail the Lake for an hour and a half then we will stop on the other shore.

Now that we have lifted the moorings, you can visit the old steam boat.

You can walk on the footbridge and contemplate the old pictures on the internal deck, but have you considered visiting the engine room?

You should see the crew feeding the chimney with a ton of coal every hour, this is quite impressive!

After what, you may sit on a bench to listen to a pianist with an outstanding landscape on 360° around you.

With its 80 km long and its 400m depth, Lake Wakatipu resembles the Loch Ness. And like his Scottish cousin, it has its own legend.

To release his bride, a Maori warrior set fire on a giant during his sleep. The fire melted the mountains’ snow and gave birth to the Lake. Till today, the water level varies from 20 cm at regular intervals (perhaps according to the still alive giant’s heart beat?).

Scientists explain this phenomenon by a change in atmospheric pressure. But I prefer the legend that fits well with the magical landscape. It's not a surprise if landscapes of the Lake are found in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy filmed in New Zealand.

The comfortable cruise took place as if we were in a dream. This peaceful journey offers a different point of view of the city and the surrounding mountains. A wonderful experience indeed, but there is an even faster way to explore the region...

The Shotover Jet is a jet boat propelled at 85 km/h. We’ll use it to descend a river at full speed. We can expect to be shaken or even soaked! But don't be too scared, this is not a dangerous adventure!

The principle is simple; water is aspirated under the hull and evacuated backward at a very high pressure. Time for action! You can embark in the mighty Jet boat. You should clamp the safety bar and prepare yourself for the imminent takeoff.

Off we go for a half-hour of sporty driving. The boat seems to float on the turquoise waters and the canyon carved by erosion over thousands of years scrolls at top speed.

Incredibly fast changes of directions, hairpin bends and surprise rotations at 360°! This is a mix of fright and fun at the same time. During the rare "calm" moments, you may try listening to the explanations of the driver.... not so easy when you take water on the face at the same time.

What a rush of adrenaline! And this is nothing compared to the rafting descents on the stormy waters of the Kawarau River. But it will be for another day, the sun is already going down (we are in a mountain region) and we have a nice restaurant planned for the evening.

As an appetizer, I recommend the green mussels cooked with white wine, perfumed with garlic, served with dried tomatoes and some crispy bread. If grilled lamb served with a Kumara puree tempts you, don't hesitate for a second! The Captains won the prize of the best meat restaurant of New Zealand!

The wine tastings are becoming increasingly popular. During the dinner, you must absolutely taste the Pinot noir. The region has seven major world-class vineyards. But in the old times it was not the vineyards which motivated people to dig the soil of Otago...

In 1862, Queenstown experienced a massive gold rush. The population increased from a handful of people to more than 8000 in few weeks. Precious metals could be found in the rivers more than anywhere else in the world.

The last prospectors abandoned the region in 1992, and adventure tourism saved the region from economic decline. The ghost town of Macetown can be visited, and you might find a forgotten gold nugget in a river bed...

With a million visitors each year, attendance is such that you have to book accommodation and activities well in advance.

But look at the bright side of things, It might get crowded, but the Jazz Festivals and the Queenstown carnival are even better with a dynamic atmosphere.

If you are really allergic to the crowd, you should consider visiting during spring or autumn to feel more comfortable.

To be honest, I must confess that Queenstown is becoming more and more expensive. The inventor of the formula “when you love you do not count”, surely didn't take his holidays here...

This explains a kind of Disneyland's atmosphere which reigns in the streets. Assuming this particularity to be a real problem (I personally don't care). Anyway, this is true in summer but Queenstown is far more peaceful the rest of the year. When snow covers the city and festive decorations are installed, this is a wonderful winter sports station.

Throughout the day I struggled to stay focused on my topic.

But I can't leave you without saying a word about Arrowtown.

Located a few kilometers away from Queenstown, it is surely the most beautiful village of the country, with its buildings inherited from the gold rush era.

And I must advise you to follow the road to Glenorchy! From Queenstown to Paradise Valley there are so many incredible landscapes on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. It was the filming location of the “Lord of the Rings” and Ron Howard's “Willow”.

If you loved Queenstown, you will surely appreciate Wanaka, which is less crowded, but perhaps even more beautiful. As for us, we will meet again in Dunedin, the capital of the Otago for the rest of our trip.

I leave you in the good company of Ben the Kiwi, international champion of bungee jumping and official mascot of Kiwipal. He will answer all your questions. Don't forget to send us your photos of Queenstown; we will publish them on the site! Last detail, the city also serves as a base camp for excursions in the Fiordland, and I recommend our articles about the Milford Sound and the Doubtful Sound for more information.