Attractions in Queenstown are definitely centred on the great outdoors and that's no bad thing as the scenery is quite simply beautiful. Nestled by Lake Wakatipu the expanse of water is one of the best in New Zealand, couple that with the impressive backdrop of the southern Alps and you have all the right ingredients for the most picturesque setting. The Remarkables are another awe inspiring landmark that rest opposite the town on the other side of the lake. What makes the mountains so remarkable is the way they're clustered in a saw-toothed formation that really is unique.
With the onset of snow in winter the mountains offer excellent runs for either skiing or snowboarding. Another cool experience, quite literally, are the glacier tours which can be walked with a guide if needed or for outstanding aerial views take one of the trips by helicopter. Queenstown is also where much of the Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed and the company HeliWorks at Queenstown Airport offer flights with some of the pilots that were actually involved with the filming. Let them guide you around the areas of the epic battle scenes and provide their insiders account of the famous shots from the films.
Conversely in warmer months the area is filled with hiking trails or a leisurely way to explore the region is by horseback. A multitude of companies promote riding tours and all the Queenstown hotels have pamphlets that explain about the different excursions that are available. Trips generally work their way past farmland and vineyards and Queenstown is home to the world's southernmost grape growing region.
New Zealand produces excellent award winning wines and the Queenstown Wine Trail takes people to the esteemed Bannockburn and Queenstown wineries. On the tour visitors are taken through how the grapes are cultivated along with the stages of production. Of course at the end there's also the chance to sample some of the distinguished wines.
Right in the town centre is another comprehensive winery in Wine Tastes. Titled the ‘New Zealand Wine Experience' the centre is dedicated to local and nationally produced wines. As many as 80 plus wines can be tried, all from New Zealand and you even get to specify how much you want to drink. The wines are dispensed at a touch of a button with options for tasting, half glasses or a full glass as needed. Once you've chosen a few favourites, you can then opt for the international door-to-door service and have them shipped overseas. That way there's a bottle ready as a reminder when you make it back home. With around 700 wines that can be bought by the bottle this is also among the world's largest selection of wines for tasting. They also provide a wide selection of cheeses which is the perfect accompaniment as you sink into the comfortable chairs in the wine lounge.
After sampling New Zealand's finest wines opt for a trip to the Onsen Hot Pools. The pools are wooden baths made with cedar which is also decked around the walls and each one is shut off with its own shower and changing area. The baths are set facing the mountains so the views are breathtaking and are also open at night. At this time of day the wooden enclave frames the sky all lit up with stars and there probably isn't a more romantic spot anywhere else in the city. A trip to a winery followed by the baths makes a good combination as they don't actually allow alcohol in the private pools and the two together can make for a soothing end to the day.
Lek Boonlert is an editor and content reviewer at DirectRooms and is responsible for all Queenstown Hotels content.
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