What Travelers Say About Queenstown
Queenstown is a tiny alpine resort town with an outsized reputation as the adventure capital of the world. Set on the shores of crystal-clear Lake Wakatipu beneath the jagged peaks of the Remarkables, it’s the birthplace of commercial bungy jumping and a non-stop menu of adrenaline: skydiving, jet boating, white-water rafting, paragliding, canyon swings and, in winter, world-class skiing. Even if you never strap into a harness, the scenery alone is staggering.
For all its thrill-seeking energy, Queenstown is also a place to slow down. Cruise the lake on the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw, ride the gondola up Bob’s Peak for the view and a luge run, sample Central Otago pinot noir at nearby wineries, or take the short drive to gold-rush Arrowtown and the staggering fiords of Milford Sound. The town centre is compact and walkable, ringed by lakefront gardens and humming with restaurants, bars and the world-famous Fergburger queue.
Queenstown is extremely safe — your biggest risks are on the slopes, the rivers and the bungy cords, all professionally run. The real catch is cost: as a premium resort town it’s pricey for food, lodging and activities, and it gets very busy in both the summer hiking and winter ski seasons. Mountain weather changes fast, so dress in layers, check forecasts before alpine excursions, and book marquee activities and Milford Sound trips well ahead in peak months.