Queenstown, New Zealand sits beside Lake Wakatipu on South Island. Set beneath the dramatic peaks of the Southern Alps, it’s known for its ski fields, adventure activities like bungee jumping and rafting, and a breathtaking natural landscape. Visitors also enjoy exploring the lake by boat and touring the region’s Pinot Noir vineyards.
Queenstown: City Layout and Top Attractions
Queenstown’s compact settlement of boutiques, restaurants, galleries and hotels are nestled around the lake’s northeastern shore.
Use your IHG® Reward Club points to book your Queenstown accommodation at Crowne Plaza® Queenstown, and you’ll have an easy five-minute walk to Skyline Gondola, which carries visitors to Bob’s Peak for stunning views of the mountains, lake and town below. Across the street from the hotel, the historic TSS Earnslaw steamship runs guided lake tours.
Nearby, the region’s four ski fields offer world-class terrain and some of the Southern Hemisphere’s longest ski seasons. Cardrona’s alpine playground caters to all skill levels, while Treble Cone offers thrilling drops and off-piste adventures.
Eating out in Queenstown
There are great restaurants tucked into the charming streets and lanes of Queenstown. Lakefront bistros serve fresh seafood and BBQ in addition to regional cuisine. For something less formal, try Fergburger’s inventive hamburgers.
Central Otago is a successful wine region, known for its Pinot Noir. Tours of local wineries offer tastings, often pairing speciality wines with delicious local cheeses.
Culture and Nightlife in Queenstown
Queenstown’s lively nightlife scene caters to a lively visiting population of skiers, snowboarders and adventure-seekers in the laneways adjacent to the lakefront.
You can warm up with cocktails or a hot toddy after skiing in a jazz or wine bar, then later at night, head to clubs offering music from hip hop to rock and Cuban.
It’s worth timing your Queenstown holiday to catch one of the exciting winter festivals.
In June or July, the ski season kicks off with Winter Festival, which includes fireworks, live music and street parades. July’s NZ Mountain Film Festival screens international adventure sport films. Every August, the Peak to Peak adventure race sees competitors racing on skis, mountain bikes, kayaks, on foot and by bike.
Every second winter, the Audi quattro Winter Games features exciting displays of competitive skiing and slalom.
Shopping in Queenstown
Queenstown’s lakeside shopping precinct is easy to explore on foot and within walking distance of most Queenstown hotels. In the lanes running south of Camp Street, you’ll find a mix of international boutiques and shops offering New Zealand souvenirs. It’s a handy place to pick up sheepskin rugs, greenstone jewellery and high-quality wool and possum-fur clothing.
Nearby, the boutiques of gold rush settlement Arrowtown offer local art, designer fashion and speciality food and wine.
Adventure in Queenstown
Queenstown’s exhilarating range of adventure activities can be enjoyed in all seasons.
Best-known is Kawarau Bridge Bungy, where thrill-seekers leap off the suspension bridge down toward the Kawarau River. Kawarau Zipride lets visitors fly above the tumultuous water.
Both activities are a convenient 15-minute drive from the Holiday Inn® Queenstown Frankton Road hotel, where you can enjoy affordable “YOUR RATE” offers when you book direct through the IHG® website, app or by calling.
You can also get your kicks white water rafting, or riding the luge down from the Skyline complex, high above town.
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