Queenstown sits on the shore of Lake Wakatipu, ringed by the jagged Remarkables mountain range, and has built a global reputation as the adventure sports capital of the world, the site of the first commercial bungee jump, and still the base for an enormous range of adrenaline activities.
Adventure Sports
The Kawarau Bridge, site of the original 1988 commercial bungee jump, still operates today, alongside the higher and more dramatic Nevis Bungy, suspended 134 metres above a canyon.
Beyond bungee jumping, Queenstown offers jet boating through narrow canyons, skydiving over the lake and mountains, and world-class skiing at the Remarkables and Coronet Peak in winter.
Milford Sound and Lake Wakatipu
Milford Sound, a fjord carved by glaciers into the Southern Alps, is a long but spectacular day trip from Queenstown, a boat cruise on the sound itself, past waterfalls and resident seal colonies, is the highlight.
The TSS Earnslaw, a century-old coal-fired steamship, still operates cruises on Lake Wakatipu, a slower and more contemplative way to take in the same alpine scenery that fuels the town's adventure tourism reputation.
Recommended Stay · Queenstown · Lake Wakatipu
Matakauri Lodge
A lodge set on its own peninsula above Lake Wakatipu with unobstructed views of the Remarkables, suites designed to bring the alpine scenery directly into the room.
