Top Queenstown scenic highlights
From the moment you wake up until the moment the sun slips behind the mountains,
Queenstown delivers full strength alpine scenery. Your camera is going to be exhausted
by the end of this holiday.
Selected highlights at a glance
You're right in the middle of Middle-earth
If you've see the Lord of the Rings trilogy, you're already familiar with some
of Queenstown's most picturesque places. Rugged mountains, lush beech forests,
golden hill country and crystal clear waterways made Queenstown, Glenorchy and
Arrowtown perfect for many Middle-earth locations. Fans will recognise the Ford
of Bruinen, Dimrill Dale, Ithilien, Isengard, Lothlorien, Amon Hen and the Pillars
of the Kings.
Several operators conduct specialised tours of Lord of the Rings filming sites.
These tours are increasingly popular with LOTR fans; they're also great for those
who just want to see the magnificent back country.
Take a walk through history in Arrowtown
Less than half an hour from Queenstown, Arrowtown is home to the superb Lakes
District Museum, often described as one of New Zealand's best small museums. Much
of Arrowtown's history is very much alive and in daily use. Wander the banks of
the Arrow River and discover life as it was for the Chinese gold miners - their
humble village can still be seen tucked into the riverbank. The main street, Buckingham
Street, is testament to the town's determination to preserve its illustrious past.
Historic buildings house a stylish shopping and dining precinct. Pick up a directory
of historic buildings from the museum and spend an afternoon exploring Arrowtown's
unique history. In April and May, the town's trees are a magnificent sight - one
of the best autumn displays in the country.
Glenorchy - the gateway to paradise
Bordered by a World Heritage area, the frontier village of Glenorchy at the northern
tip of Lake Wakatipu is completely surrounded by mountains, glacier fed rivers
and beech forest. The road to Glenorchy promises breathtaking views of Lake Wakatipu
and glacial geological formations, including sheer mountain sides and hanging
valleys. 20 kilometres further on is Paradise, a tiny farming settlement where
the road evolves into a 4WD track and, eventually, a walking path. Many of New
Zealand's great walks start or finish just beyond Glenorchy. You can walk across
the great divide via the Routeburn, Greenstone or Caples tracks or across the
Mt Aspiring National Park on the Dart/ Rees Track.
Skippers Canyon - the road to high adventure
From the 1860s until quite recently, Skippers Canyon was the centre of gold mining
activity in the Queenstown region. Historic sites still exist today, so it's easy
to imagine the harsh life of a gold digger. A number of original gold mining workings
are being progressively restored.
Hand carved out of solid rock, the Skippers Road is an adventure in itself. Pause
to take in the stunning views - looking down is likely to make your toes tingle.
There are several adventure operators making good use of the road and the canyon.
Depending on your appetite for thrills, you can take a ride on the flying fox,
go white water rafting or get a vertical view of the canyon attached to a bungy.
Less terrifying options include blasting along the Shotover River in a jet boat,
walking across a historic pipeline or a visit to Winky's Museum.
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Journals
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www.newzealand.com Pages
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Other Sites
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Seasonal Tips
DURING YOUR VISIT
Snow transforms the region into a pristine alpine playground for skiers and snowboarders. The six commercial snow areas are stunningly beautiful – there’s something for every level of ability. The roads to the ski areas are fantastically scenic at this time of the year – even if you don’t ski, catch a shuttle bus up to see the panorama.
For a serious feast of alpine views, organise a scenic flight or go heli-skiing in the Harris Mountains.
| Flightseeing – a birds eye view of filming locations. |
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