Yahoo! Australia: Yahoo! Australia
10 April 2012 - Yahoo! Australia
For a town internationally renowned for its adventure sports, it was never going to be ideal visiting Queenstown while seven months pregnant.
I wasn't about to jump out of a plane, although I wouldn't have minded trying my hand at parasailing with the Remarkables as the stunning backdrop.
But there is still plenty to be done in the tourist town even if adventure is not high on your list of priorities - be it through lack of desire or ability.
If you're not a keen skier, then visiting in the summer months means you will get to take advantage of daylight saving. With dusk settling close to 10pm, there is absolutely no excuse not to make the most of your days - and nights - in the tourist mecca.
But the beautiful thing about Queenstown is that, despite the number of international visitors, it does not feel overrun with tourists. Rather, it is a cosmopolitan, bustling centre that has a great atmosphere any night of the week. And we were there during one of the industry's slow periods.
It is built around the spectacular Lake Wakatipu and no visit to Queenstown is complete without a ride up the gondola to make the most of the view. Once you get to the top of the mountain there is plenty to keep you occupied - I was more than happy to watch the bungee jumpers and sky swingers from a safe distance away rather than do it myself.
Otherwise you might be interested in the luge run where no one has to act their age when they jump into a toboggan. There is a selection of different paths to go down, with many having the Queenstown skyline as their backdrop.
If you're a biking enthusiast, there's a multitude of shops around Queenstown which hire out bikes. You can then put your bike on to the back of your gondola and take it up to the peak before mountain biking back down.
Once you're down, the Kiwi Birdlife Park or Mini Golf are across the road from each other and are an easy way to while away a few hours.
The centre of the CBD is just around the corner and if the shops don't tickle your fancy, you can enjoy the sights of Lake Wakatipu, watch buskers or simply take your time and watch the world go by.
There is plenty to do on the lake itself, from fishing charters to cruising the lake on board the steamship TSS Earnslaw.
It is well worth hiring a car for at least a day or two. On a clear day, take the winding road up Coronet Peak just for the view, which is usually bustling with skiers in winter but pretty quiet in summer.
The historic gold mining town of Arrowtown is just 20 minutes from the centre of Queenstown and is packed in daylight hours but becomes almost a ghost town at night. It is a pretty spot to stop for lunch and walk the main street.
Right on Arrowtown's doorstep is the prestigious Millbrook Resort Hotel and Spa. Voted Best Golf Resort in Australasia at the 2011 World Travel Awards, the resort is built around a 27-hole course and offers stunning accommodation.
With the strong Australian dollar, the one-bedroom suites are value for money and provide a great way to relax, go golfing or visit the day spa. For the golfing enthusiasts there are also great courses at Arrowtown and Queenstown.
DON'T BE A JERK ABROAD
If adventure isn't your cup of tea, then sampling some of the sensational fare in Queenstown is a must-do. The Central Otago wine region is within spitting distance (no pun intended) and worth stopping at for some tasting if you feel like a drive. Amisfield Wine Company boasts some highly rated wines and its Trust the Chef menu at $55 a head is a great way to spend a leisurely lunch.
For a fine dining experience, then the Botswana Butchery in Queenstown is a great restaurant for meat lovers. But if you're looking for something at the opposite end of the spectrum, the queues outside the legendary Fergburger are worth joining.
The Cow Restaurant, tucked away in one of Queenstown's many laneways, is worth a visit for its pizza but don't leave without ordering its garlic bread. While it's not for the diet-conscious, the home-cooked loaf covered with garlic and served with a slab of garlic butter is heavenly. But bring your breath mints.
Patagonia Chocolates is a must visit if you have a sweet tooth - some of its ice-cream flavours are top notch and the truffle selection is a chocoholic's dream.
If you're looking for a good coffee and all-day breakfast, VuDu Cafe has two locations, including one on the waterfront, if you're lucky enough to jag an outdoor table.
While Queenstown definitely wasn't at the top of my must-visit list, a friend's wedding in the picturesque town was the perfect excuse to make the trip over - our first time visiting the Land of the Long White Cloud.
But after spending a week there, it has jumped to the top of our list of places we must go back to, if only to see the town at its most beautiful, when snow caps the mountains and it matches the picture postcards that everyone has of Queenstown.
And next time, just a smidgen of adventure might be thrown in.
I wasn't about to jump out of a plane, although I wouldn't have minded trying my hand at parasailing with the Remarkables as the stunning backdrop.
But there is still plenty to be done in the tourist town even if adventure is not high on your list of priorities - be it through lack of desire or ability.
If you're not a keen skier, then visiting in the summer months means you will get to take advantage of daylight saving. With dusk settling close to 10pm, there is absolutely no excuse not to make the most of your days - and nights - in the tourist mecca.
But the beautiful thing about Queenstown is that, despite the number of international visitors, it does not feel overrun with tourists. Rather, it is a cosmopolitan, bustling centre that has a great atmosphere any night of the week. And we were there during one of the industry's slow periods.
It is built around the spectacular Lake Wakatipu and no visit to Queenstown is complete without a ride up the gondola to make the most of the view. Once you get to the top of the mountain there is plenty to keep you occupied - I was more than happy to watch the bungee jumpers and sky swingers from a safe distance away rather than do it myself.
Otherwise you might be interested in the luge run where no one has to act their age when they jump into a toboggan. There is a selection of different paths to go down, with many having the Queenstown skyline as their backdrop.
If you're a biking enthusiast, there's a multitude of shops around Queenstown which hire out bikes. You can then put your bike on to the back of your gondola and take it up to the peak before mountain biking back down.
Once you're down, the Kiwi Birdlife Park or Mini Golf are across the road from each other and are an easy way to while away a few hours.
The centre of the CBD is just around the corner and if the shops don't tickle your fancy, you can enjoy the sights of Lake Wakatipu, watch buskers or simply take your time and watch the world go by.
There is plenty to do on the lake itself, from fishing charters to cruising the lake on board the steamship TSS Earnslaw.
It is well worth hiring a car for at least a day or two. On a clear day, take the winding road up Coronet Peak just for the view, which is usually bustling with skiers in winter but pretty quiet in summer.
The historic gold mining town of Arrowtown is just 20 minutes from the centre of Queenstown and is packed in daylight hours but becomes almost a ghost town at night. It is a pretty spot to stop for lunch and walk the main street.
Right on Arrowtown's doorstep is the prestigious Millbrook Resort Hotel and Spa. Voted Best Golf Resort in Australasia at the 2011 World Travel Awards, the resort is built around a 27-hole course and offers stunning accommodation.
With the strong Australian dollar, the one-bedroom suites are value for money and provide a great way to relax, go golfing or visit the day spa. For the golfing enthusiasts there are also great courses at Arrowtown and Queenstown.
DON'T BE A JERK ABROAD
If adventure isn't your cup of tea, then sampling some of the sensational fare in Queenstown is a must-do. The Central Otago wine region is within spitting distance (no pun intended) and worth stopping at for some tasting if you feel like a drive. Amisfield Wine Company boasts some highly rated wines and its Trust the Chef menu at $55 a head is a great way to spend a leisurely lunch.
For a fine dining experience, then the Botswana Butchery in Queenstown is a great restaurant for meat lovers. But if you're looking for something at the opposite end of the spectrum, the queues outside the legendary Fergburger are worth joining.
The Cow Restaurant, tucked away in one of Queenstown's many laneways, is worth a visit for its pizza but don't leave without ordering its garlic bread. While it's not for the diet-conscious, the home-cooked loaf covered with garlic and served with a slab of garlic butter is heavenly. But bring your breath mints.
Patagonia Chocolates is a must visit if you have a sweet tooth - some of its ice-cream flavours are top notch and the truffle selection is a chocoholic's dream.
If you're looking for a good coffee and all-day breakfast, VuDu Cafe has two locations, including one on the waterfront, if you're lucky enough to jag an outdoor table.
While Queenstown definitely wasn't at the top of my must-visit list, a friend's wedding in the picturesque town was the perfect excuse to make the trip over - our first time visiting the Land of the Long White Cloud.
But after spending a week there, it has jumped to the top of our list of places we must go back to, if only to see the town at its most beautiful, when snow caps the mountains and it matches the picture postcards that everyone has of Queenstown.
And next time, just a smidgen of adventure might be thrown in.
Source: Yahoo! Australia
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