Categories: [Australia and Oceania] [Mountains]
[Lakes]
Links/source:
http://en.wikipedia.org,
www.queenstown-nz.co.nz
Last update: November 10, 2007. Number of views: 426
Queenstown LOCATION
Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South
Island. It is built around an inlet on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin lake shaped
like a staggered lightning bolt, and has spectactular views of nearby mountains.
There are various apocryphal accounts of how the town was named, the most
popular suggesting that a local gold digger exclaimed that the town was "fit for
Queen Victoria". It is sometimes disparagaingly referred to as "Vegas by the
Lake" for a perceived fixation on commerce-oriented tourism, especially
adventure and ski tourism. It is popular with young international and New
Zealand travellers alike.
The town is the largest centre in Central Otago, but for some administrative
purposes it is considered part of Southland. According to the 2001 census, the
usually resident population of the Queenstown urban area (including Frankton and
Kelvin Heights) is 8535, an increase of 19.3% since 1996.
Its neighbouring towns and districts include Arrowtown, Wanaka, Alexandra, and
Cromwell. The nearest cities are Dunedin and Invercargill.
Queenstown TOURISM
A resort town, Queenstown is a centre for adventure tourism. Skiing, jet
boating, bungy jumping, mountain biking and tramping are all strong promotional
themes.
Along with
Mount Ruapehu, Queenstown is a major centre for snow sports in New
Zealand, with people from all over the country and many parts of the world
travelling to ski at the four main mountain skifields (Cardrona Alpine Resort,
Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Treble Cone).
In recent years Queenstown's hostels have become a popular destination for young
Australian and American tourists. Queenstown provides adventure tourism during
the day and a vibrant nightlife scene during the evenings.
Locally, Queenstown has a reputation as one of New Zealand's wine and cuisine
centres. Neighbouring, historic Arrowtown features excellent restaurants and
bars, and Queenstown lies close to the centre of a small wine producing region,
reputed to be the world's southernmost. Pinot noir produced in this area fetches
premium prices.
Queenstown Airport has scheduled flights to Auckland, Christchurch and Sydney
year-round and Wellington, Melbourne and Brisbane seasonally.
Queenstown and the surrounding area contain many locations used in the filming
of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy.
Queenstown INTERESTING FACTS
Facts on Queenstown
The oldest person to Bungy at the Kawarau Bridge Bungy is 94.
The first person to bungy into the year 2000 was Colin Basterfield from the UK who jumped off the Nevis Highwire Bungy at midnight.
Built by J.McGregor and Co in Dunedin, the TSS Earnslaw cost twenty thousand eight hundred and fifty pounds to complete in 1912
Queenstown's first businessman, Bendix Hallenstein gave the Queenstown gardens to the public in 1866
The sunniest month ever recorded was November 1937 with 302.3 hours of sunshine
In July 1995 snow fell for 11 consecutive days in Queenstown and lay on the ground for 14 days
Maori Point in Skippers Canyon is where two Maori miners, Rangiora Ellison and Hakaria Haeroa discovered gold in 1862
During the gold rush there were four main hotels in Skippers Canyon and many Sly Grogs (tent pubs)
One of the first industries established in Queenstown was a brewery beside Horne Creek where the Novotel Gardens now stands
The Frisbee Golf course in the Queenstown gardens was the first of its kind established in New Zealand
The first ever Queenstown Winter Festival was held in 1974
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust and the District Plan protect the historical heritage of more than 70 buildings in Arrowtown
In September 1999, President Clinton was the first US president ever to visit Queenstown
There are 19 different types of endangered birds living at the Kiwi and Birdlife Park including 5 kiwi
Snowmaking was introduced to Queenstown skifields in 1991
At the height of filming the Lord of the Rings, over 500 people a day queued outside the casting rooms in Queenstown
NZ Fighter Pilots Museum curator Ian Brodie is the author of the much acclaimed The Lord of the Rings Location Guidebook published by HarperCollins.
The Skyline Gondola and Luge hit the 10 million mark this year. On 28th March 2006 visitors Erika Hansen and Scott Patefield were the 10 millionth passengers to ride the gondala since it opened back in 1968.
There are 82 registered wineries in Central Otago
Of the 978 hectares of land used for wine production, 756 hectares - that's 77% - of them are for Pinot Noir.
Along with
Mount Ruapehu, Queenstown is a major centre for snow sports in New
Zealand, with people from all over the country and many parts of the world
travelling to ski at the four main mountain skifields (Cardrona Alpine Resort,
Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Treble Cone).
Locally, Queenstown has a reputation as one of New Zealand's wine and cuisine
centres. Neighbouring, historic Arrowtown features excellent restaurants and
bars, and Queenstown lies close to the centre of a small wine producing region,
reputed to be the world's southernmost. Pinot noir produced in this area fetches
premium prices.
