Orientation

Queenstown is a compact town, with most shops, restaurants, and amenities within easy walking distance. There is no public bus system, but the Connectabus provides excellent all-day service. The central shopping area is bordered by Marine Parade on the lakefront, Camp Street to the north of that, and Shotover Street, which runs into Lake Esplanade. Focus on Beach Street, Rees Street, and The Mall for shopping. If you have a car, keep in mind that parking in Queenstown is limited and expensive. Save yourself a lot of time and frustration and head straight for the new carpark on Man Street (beside the Sofitel). It has space for 400 vehicles and everything is within easy walking distance.

The historic village of Arrowtown is 20km (12 miles) to the northeast. A calm counterbalance to the frenetic pace of Queenstown, Arrowtown is one of New Zealand's last little frontier towns. Glenorchy, now billed as the "Gateway to Paradise," is a 45-minute drive around the west arm of Lake Wakatipu.

Visitor Information

The Queenstown i-SITE Visitor Centre, Clocktower Centre, Shotover and Camp streets (tel. 0800/668-888 in NZ, or 03/442-4100; fax 03/442-8907; www.queenstown-vacation.com), is open in summer daily from 7am to 7pm, and from Easter to the end of October from 7am to 6pm. It sells stamps; sends faxes and e-mail; exchanges currency; and makes reservations for accommodations, transport, and activities. The Real Journeys Queenstown Visitor Centre is on the Steamer Wharf, Beach Street (tel. 0800/656-503 in NZ, or 03/442-7500; fax 03/442-7504; www.realjourneys.co.nz). The Department of Conservation Information Centre, 37 Shotover St. (tel. 03/442-7933), is the place to go for information on walking trails and national parks.

While at the visitor center, pick up a copy of the Queenstown Today & Tonight brochure. For a critical lowdown on what to do, get Itag and the Backpackers’ Guide to Queenstown. Also look for the two free tourist papers, The Mountain Scene and Qt Visitor Information.

Get an online introduction to the area at:

  • www.newzealand-vacation.com
  • www.queenstown-nz.co.nz
  • www.queenstownadventure.com
  • www.queenstownvisitorguides.com
  • www.arrowtownnz.com
  • www.centralotagonz.com.

Fast Facts

American Express -- The office is at 59 Beach St. (tel. 03/442-7730).

Area Code -- The telephone area code (STD) for Queenstown is 03.

Currency Exchange -- Try Thomas Cook, 34 Camp St. (tel. 03/442-6403), or BNZ Bureau de Change, 11-13 Rees St. (tel. 03/442-5810).

Dentists -- For 24-hour service, call tel. 03/442-7274, 442-8580, or 442-2711.

Doctors -- The Queenstown Medical Centre is at 9 Isle St. (tel. 03/441-0500).

Emergencies -- For police, fire, or ambulance services, dial tel. 111.

Internet Access -- Internet Outpost, 26 Shotover St. (tel. 03/441-3018), open daily from 8:30am to 11:30pm, charges NZ$6 per hour. Budget Communications, above McDonald's in O'Connell's Mall (tel. 03/441-1562), is open daily from 9am until 11pm and charges from NZ$3 per hour.

Pharmacy -- Bradley's Pharmacy, 19 Rees St. (tel. 03/442-8338), is open daily from 8am to 10pm. After hours call tel. 03/442-9140.

Post Office -- The post office is tucked away behind the Pig & Whistle on Ballarat Street (tel. 03/442-7670). It's open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 8pm, Saturday from 9am to 8pm, and Sunday 10am to 6pm.

When to Go

Climate

Queenstown’s ski season runs from June to early October. Average winter temperatures (June-August) are between 0°C (or colder) and 8°C, with clear blue skies, frosts and snowfall. In summer, the sun rises as early as 5am and the light fades around 10pm. Summer (December-February) daytime temperatures range between 20C and 30C.

Special Events

The visitor center can provide details on a vigorous program of special events held in the area throughout the year. Here's a small sampling of what you can expect.

In January, riders from all over the South Island participate in the famous Glenorchy Races, which include bareback riding and attract thousands of spectators. The Queenstown Jazz Festival (tel. 03/442-9516; www.asbjazzfest.co.nz), presents 10 days of top jazz. The Arrowtown Autumn Festival (tel. 03/442-0809; www.arrowtownautumnfestival.org.nz) runs the week after Easter. The festival celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2009, and it features market days and street entertainment celebrating the gold-mining era. The Queenstown American Express Winter Festival (tel. 0800/337-8482; www.winterfestival.co.nz) is the perfect excuse for 9 days of unadulterated madness and mayhem in July. It features a big opening ceremony and Mardi Gras, ski events, and street entertainment, and just about anything goes. The Spring Carnival (tel. 03/442-4615; www.nzski.com), held in mid-September at the Remarkables Ski Resort, presents a feast of snow-related sports and social activities.

Getting There

By Plane

Queenstown is well serviced by Air New Zealand National and Air New Zealand Link (tel. 0800/737-000 in NZ; www.airnewzealand.co.nz) from such cities as Christchurch, Auckland, Wellington, and Rotorua. Air New Zealand also has a weekly flight from Sydney year-round and a weekly flight from Brisbane during ski season. The Air New Zealand Travel Centre is at 41 Shotover St., Queenstown (tel. 03/441-1900). Qantas (tel. 0800/808-767 in NZ; www.qantas.com) also has a weekly flight direct from Sydney and Brisbane in winter. Jetstar (tel. 0800/800-995 in NZ; www.jetstar.com) also flies into Queenstown. Pacific Blue (tel. 0800/670-000; www.flypacificblue.com) has flights between Queenstown, Auckland, and Sydney year-round and from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane in winter. Visit www.queenstownairport.co.nz for more flight details.

Super Shuttle (tel. 03/442-3639; www.supershuttle.co.nz) will drop you off downtown for NZ$20 per person; the Connectabus (tel. 03/441-4471; www.connectabus.com) goes between the airport, Queenstown, Arrowtown, major attractions, hotels, shopping centers, and Millbrook Resort. A Day Pass costs NZ$17 for adults and NZ$12 for children 14 and under; buses run from 6am to midnight. A taxi (tel. 03/442-7788) to the town center costs NZ$25 to NZ$35 depending on your final destination.

By Coach (Bus)

InterCity (tel. 09/623-1503) runs between Queenstown and Christchurch, Dunedin, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef, Invercargill, Milford Sound, Mount Cook, Te Anau, and Wanaka. The InterCity depot is at the visitor center, Camp and Shotover streets (tel. 03/442-2800). Kiwi Experience (tel. 09/366-9830), Magic Travellers (tel. 09/358-5600), and Backpackers Express (tel. 03/442-9939) all service Queenstown as well.

The Original Arrowtown Bus (tel. 03/442-1900; www.arrowtownbus.co.nz) provides transportation between Queenstown and Arrowtown. Queenstown pickup is outside O’Connell’s Centre on Camp Street at 9:45am, 11am, 1pm, 3:15pm, and 5:15pm; in Arrowtown catch the bus behind the Museum on Ramshaw Lane at 8:30am, 10:30am, noon, 2pm, and 4:30pm. The round-trip costs NZ$25, and they make two photo stops along the way.

By Car

Allow 6 hours from Christchurch, 3 1/2 hours from Dunedin, 5 1/2 hours from Franz Josef, 2 1/2 hours from Te Anau, 5 hours from Milford Sound, and 2 1/2 hours from Invercargill. All roads leading into town are excellent. All major rental-car companies have offices in Queenstown.

By Taxi

Call Queenstown Taxis (tel. 03/442-7788) or Alpine Taxis (tel. 03/442-6666). Fares from the town center to most accommodations are between NZ$5 and NZ$15.

Getting Around

Orientation

Queenstown is located on the edge of Lake Wakatipu. The heart of the town is around Camp and Shotover Streets and the Mall. There is a good public bus network, and during the winter mountain shuttles operate from downtown Queenstown to the ski resorts of Treble Cone, Cardrona, the Remarkables, Coronet Peak, Snow Farm, and the Snow Park. The bus service also operates to the nearby tourist centers of Wanaka and Arrowtown.

Getting Around

Travel Passes -- The Day Unlimited Travel Pass is a smartcard ticket that allows travel on any Connectabus for the whole day. It will also take you to Arrowtown. You can buy it from the driver.

By Bus -- The local bus service, Connectabus, is an easy and affordable way to explore the Queenstown area and operates from 6am to 11:30pm daily. Connectabus services all major hotels and motels every 20 minutes, and also includes Queenstown Airport on its routes. Look for the bright yellow buses.

More Information

http://www.connectabus.com

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