Queenstown, South Island

Queenstown is an international resort town in the south-west of the South Island. It is built around an inlet on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin lake formed by glacial processes that is shaped like a staggered lightning bolt, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains – Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Treble Cone.

Lake Wakatipu (The Remarkable Mountains  in background) near Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand.  Photo Image © Karen Toh

If you enjoy the outdoors, you should come to Queenstown. This is the ultimate destination, from skiing, to white water rafting, jet boating, horse back riding, bungee jumping, skydiving, hot air ballooning, you name it.. they’ve probably got it!

View of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu & The Remarkables, South Island, New Zealand.
Photo Image © Karen Toh

In addition, Queenstown and the surrounding area contains many locations used in the Lord of the Rings Film trilogy. For example, Anduin River “Pillars of the Kings” was located on the Kawarau River, which drains the Lake Wakatipu. The Dimrill Dale, the western exit from the dwarven mines of Moria, where the Fellowship camped after the loss of Gandalf, was taken at the Remarkables.

"Tranquility on the Horizon", Kawarau River, South Island, New Zealand.
Photo Image © Eden Brackstone

"Remarkables", Frankton Marina, Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand.
Photo Image © Peter Sundstrom