Introduction to Queenstown

404km (250 miles) SW of Franz Josef; 263km (163 miles) SW of Mount Cook; 117km (73 miles) S of Wanaka; 172km (107 miles) NE of Te Anau

Queenstown has over one million visitors a year and you don't have to be a genius to figure out why. We've all heard the endless hype about it being the adventure capital of the world, and there are certainly enough crazy activities here to challenge the strongest, but Queenstown offers much more. Don't be put off by comments that it's touristy, un-Kiwi, crowded, and overrated. Sure, the streets are dominated by booking offices, but Queenstown has excellent shopping, restaurants, cafes, and clubs as well. And in many adrenalin-seeking ways, it encapsulates much of what New Zealand is about.

Famed for its international winter ski profile, Queenstown is also a brilliant spring, summer, and fall destination. This is when you get the best of its scenic beauty, easy walks, and endless opportunities to relax. Thrill seeking may be touted as the major attraction, but you can just as easily go fishing, golfing, gold panning, wine tasting, or boating. One thing is certain: You won't run out of things to do.

It seems as though the whole world suddenly wants to live in Queenstown, and the town has experienced a phenomenal growth in development in the last 5 years. The inner commercial area has several new retail, office, and restaurant complexes, with more under construction. Residential expansion is also obvious, although the current worldwide economic recession has stalled a number of major developments, including the new town of Five Mile, which was being developed near the airport at Frankton. It has gone into receivership, and there is a question mark over the future of the large hole in the ground that sits unattended. The big news of the moment, though, is the uncertain future of the NZ$1-billion Kawarau Falls Station hotel development that was to see four major hotel chains -- Quay West, Westin, Quadrant, and Intercontinental -- entering the Queenstown accommodations market. It went into receivership in May 2009, and at time of writing, no decision had been made about the completion of stage one of the development, which was to see the Quadrant opening at the end of 2009 and the Westin in April 2010.