Shopping

Queenstown has an excellent range of New Zealand-made goods, from sheepskin products, leather, and outdoor wear to fine crafts, pure wool hand-knits, and jewelry. Most shops are open daily to 10pm, and many offer overseas packaging and postal services. Pick up the free Queenstown Dining & Shopping Guide at the visitor center.

Several new upmarket shopping complexes have opened since 2007, and you can expect much more in the next 2 years as new shopping centers and town developments come on-stream.

O'Connells Shopping Centre, Camp and Beach streets (tel. 03/442-7760), has 25 stores offering everything from food and fashion to knitwear, jewelry, and contemporary art. If you missed Canterbury New Zealand (tel. 03/442-4020) in other major centers, you'll find it here.

Bonz Gallery, upstairs in Bonz New Zealand, 8-10 The Mall (tel. 03/442-5398; www.bonz.com.au), is a top outlet for original designs in 100% merino wool hand-knit sweaters and jackets. Goldfields Jade and Opal, top of The Mall (tel. 03/442-9356), and the Opal Centre, Beach and Rees streets (tel. 03/442-8239; www.opalsnz.com), have the finest collections of investment opal jewelry.

For one of the biggest selections of sheepskins, woolen jerseys, leisurewear, jewelry, wooden carvings, confectionery, and local honeys and jams, go to DF Souvenirs, 32 The Mall (tel. 03/442-5275). Another good source of all of the above is the Mountaineer Shop, Beach and Rees streets (tel. 03/442-7460). And if you have a sweet tooth, don't miss the British Lolly Shop, Church Lane (tel. 03/441-2274; www.thebritishlollyshop.com), which seems an awfully long way from home to me, but some among you may be glad of that. You'll find another very cute little gift store at Vesta, Williams Cottage, 19 Marine Parade (tel. 03/442-5687), which is hardly bigger than a doll's house, yet manages to present some excellent New Zealand art, design work, and a tiny cafe.

Untouched World, The Mall (tel. 03/442-4992; www.untouchedworld.com), is a fabulous source of exclusive men's and women's apparel -- especially merino mink garments that combine 100% New Zealand merino wool with possum fur for pure luxury. If you'd like to take home a special memento of your time in New Zealand, visit Toi o Tahuna Fine Art Gallery, Church Lane, Queenstown (tel. 03/409-0787; www.toi.co.nz), which has a great range of original art, sculpture, ceramics, glass, and jade.