Queenstown

Queenstown is often considered to be adventure sports capital of the world as well as one of the world's premier alpine resort towns. The town gained world wide fame being the birthplace of Bungee Jumping and the central location of the Lord of the Rings films. The greater Queenstown area has a population of around 22,000 with the population of Queenstown itself accounting for about half of that. In peak season Queenstown's population can increase to anywhere from 25,000 to 35,000 people due to an influx of local and international tourists.

Population: 22,000 in greater Queenstown area.

Airport: Queenstown International Airport [ZQN]

Attractions: Bungee Jumping, Gibbston Valley Wineries, Alpine Skiing, Skydiving, Snowboarding, Hiking, Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Cardona, Wanaka, Adventure Sports, Nightlife, Arrowtown, Jet Boating, Lord of the Rings Tours, Wanaka, Skyline Gondola, Routeburn Track.

Transport around city: Buses, ferries, taxis and car hire.

Recommended Restaurants: Saffron [Arrowtown], Captains Restaurant (Queenstown), Winnies (Queenstown Centre), Roaring Megs (Queenstown Centre), The Winehouse & Kitchen (Otago), Wai Waterfront Restaurant, Waitiri Creek Wines (Otago).

Recommended Bars: Bardeux (City), Sky Bar(Queenstown), 12 Bar (Queenstown).

Recommended Hotels: Sofitel, Novotel Gardens, Millbrook.

Climate: Warm summers, mild winters.

Culture: Being a resort town Queenstown is a cosmopolitan place with influences from most major countries around the globe.

Best time of year to travel: All year round: Winter sports season from July through to September. Adventure Sports season November through to March.