Queenstown

Queenstown sits on the northeastern shore of Lake Wakatipu, a 77-kilometre S-shaped lake carved by glaciers and fed by the Dart and Rees rivers at its northern end. The Remarkables range rises on the eastern shore; Cecil Peak and Walter Peak frame the western side. The town is compact enough to walk end to end in 20 minutes, with most restaurants, bars, and activity operators concentrated within a few blocks of the waterfront. It is the most visited destination in the South Island and has built its economy almost entirely around outdoor activity and tourism.

Commercial bungy jumping began here in 1988 when AJ Hackett jumped from the Kawarau Bridge — the original site is still operating 25 minutes east of town in the Kawarau Gorge. The activity range has expanded considerably since: jet boats, white-water rafting, skydiving, paragliding, and several ski fields within 40 minutes of the town centre. The Skyline Gondola to Bob's Peak gives the best overview without requiring any activity commitment — the views across the lake and toward the Remarkables justify the cable car on their own. The TSS Earnslaw — a 1912 coal-fired steamship — runs lake crossings to Walter Peak Farm on the western shore and is the most distinctive transport experience in the town.

Arrowtown, 20 minutes east in the Arrow River valley, has the best-preserved gold rush streetscape in the South Island and a Chinese settlement precinct from the 1860s mining era. The Glenorchy road north of Queenstown along Lake Wakatipu's western shore is one of the most consistently scenic short drives in New Zealand. Halal dining in Queenstown is limited compared to Auckland or Christchurch; a small number of halal-certified restaurants operate in the town centre, and halal-certified meat is available at the main supermarket. NEXTRIP group tour departures include halal meals throughout.