What's on in Queenstown

Queentown's latest Sightseeing, Tours and Events
Hotels and Accommodation in Queentown

Safari of the Rings 4WD Tour

This is a must tour for both Lord of the Rings fans and lovers of beautiful landscapes.

For the Four-Wheel Drive tour visits many of the areas you see in the Lord of the Rings trilogy of movies.

They include The Ford at Bruinen, The Misty Mountains, Isengard and Lothlorien (Skippers Canyon, Macetown and Paradise).

Taking the trip of a lifetime you will drive through New Zealand's magnificent high country and see where some of the greatest movies ever made were shot.

The tours operate daily from 1 April to March 31 and will cost adults $US184 and children under 12 $US108.

Shotover River Rafting

Not only will your senses be overwhlemed by this little activity, but while getting there you'll have a history lesson as well!

Go by coach from Queenstown through the historic goldminers' trails into Skippers Canyon.

At the Shotover River you'll get a detailed safety lesson and be shown how to paddle your craft. Then it's off to test your courage on the fast-flowing Shotover River.

You'll start off on some nice calm waters before heading towards the white-knuckle rapids in the lower Canyon. Along the way you'll learn why the Rock Garden, Sharks Fin, Toilet, Pinball, Jaws, Sequel and the unforgettable 170-metre Oxenbridge Tunnel are so revered among the white-water rafting set.

Afterwards it's time for a hot shower, sauna and tea or coffee before being going back to Queenstown.

The seasons for Shotover River rafting is between 1 April and 30 September, and then 1 October and 31 March.

There are two starting times for the white-water adventures - beginning at either 8:30am or 1.30pm.

Prices are $US112.00 per person from April to September and $US from October to March. There are no children's prices and those under 12 are not allowed to take part.

Dart River Jet Safari

If you love untouched natural wilderness - or are a Lord of the Rings fan - then this safari will be right up your alley. It includes a jetboat ride along the lower and upper reaches of the spectacular Dart River, a four-wheel drive through the alpine landscapes used during the LoTR series and a walk through ancient New Zealand forests.

You can see where the Elven wood of Lothlorien and the area where Isengard were set, and along the way feast your eyes sparkling waterfalls and spectacular snow-capped peaks.

The six-hour Dart River Jet Safari departs twice daily at 8:00am or 12:00 noon.

Costs are $US138 for adults, $US69 for children between 5 and 15. Children under 5 are free. (Those under two years old cannot join the tour.)

Discover Milford Sound

Spend 12.5 hours in paradise journeying through the 8th Natural Wonder of the world - New Zealand's Milford Sound.

From Queenstown take a coach ride alongside Lake Wakatipu beneath the mighty Remarkables mountain range, to Te Anau and then on through the Fjiordland National Park and on to Milford Sound.

There you hop aboard a Red Boat for a cruise that will take your breath away.You will sail beneath the Towering Mitre Peak and beside the massive Stirling, Fairy and Lady Bowen Falls.

Milford Sound is a must see.

Boutique Wine Tour

Wine lovers can take a relaxing five hours out of their schedule to visit some of New Zealand's finest wineries.

You'll be able to sample 15 great wines, have a gourmet lunch platter and tour the historic Old Cromwell Town.

Tours are daily from noon and cost $US85 for adults and bookings must be made 48 hours in advance.

Queenstown City Stopover

Spend three days and two nights in New Zealand's world famous adventure capital of Queenstown. The town lies in Queenstown Bay on the blue water of Lake Wakatipu, which 'breathes' - rising and falling 7.5 centimetres (3 inches) every quarter of an hour.

Dominated by mountains, Queenstown is a year-round tourist attraction filled activities and things to do.

On your first day you can bungy jump, go white-water rafting, or just plain relax. The next day you take a coach ride to Milford Sound where you can take an afternoon cruise through the Sound, one of New Zealand's most spectacular tourist spots.

Whatever the time of year, Queenstown is one place you must visit.

Queenstown to Mt Cook and Christchurch

Take the picturesque road from Queenstown to Christchurch in a luxury coach. Throughout the 10.5-hour journey you'll be stunned at the scenery, stop for lunch at New Zealand's highest peak at Mt Cook and then take a break at the memorable Church of the Good Shepherd.

Tickets for this one-way tour are $US95 for adults and $US48 for children between 3 and 13. A small price rise has been advertised after 30 September 2004.

Doubtful Sound Tour

If you have a taste for true wilderness then hop aboard for the Doubtful Sound Tour deep into the protected rugged Fiordland National Park. Ten times the size of its Milford Sound cousin, Doubtful Sound contains rainforests, towering peaks, huge waterfalls and tranquil waters.

You begin by Lake Wakatipu and travel to Pearl Harbour, Manapouri, where you catch a boat and cruise the pristine waters of Lake Manapouri.

Then it's a coach trip two kilometres down a spiral tunnel deep beneath a mountain to the Manapouri Power Station machine hall.

From there you hit the peaks of the Wilmot Pass and a number of photo opportunities of the extraordinary New Zealand alps.

Next up a three-hour guided cruise from Deep Cove through the most dramatic scenery of Doubtful Sound. Watch for bottlenose dolphins, fur seals and keep you eyes peeled for the rarest penguins in the world.

Tickets are $US201 per adult and $US101 for children.

Discover Milford Sound and Fly Back

This luxury coach trip from Queenstown will take you some of the grandest landscapes in the world - the Remarkables mountains and the Fiordland National Park.

Ancient beech forests, and waterfalls will tantalise photographers and you can stop at the Mirror Lakes for picture taking.

The next highlights on this tour are the Christie Falls and the 1.2-kilometre Homer Tunnel, which was hewn through solid rock, and the view of the Cleddau Valley as you descend into Milford Sound.

Take a Milford Sound Red Boat cruise on the majestic Milford Sound, see the 1200-metre Mitre Peak, and the waterfalls that cascade from hanging valleys.

At the end of the cruise hop aboard a light aircraft for a scenic flight over Milford Sound and the Southern Alps before flying back to Queenstown.

This is an unbelievable tourist experience.

Tickets are $US312 per person.

Shotover Triple Challenge

This is the challenge of a lifetime for adrenaline junkies.

You will head to the Shotover River for a white-knuckle ride in the famous Shotover Jet Boats. They will race you at high speeds through towering, rocky canyons and then spin you through a full 360 degrees in its own length.

Before you can recover your breath you'll change into a wetsuit and go on a helicopter rollercoaster flight up Skippers Canyon.

At Deep Creek you'll get a lesson in rafting safety and how to paddle and then it's a white-water ride through some of the most exciting rapids in the world.

To recover there's a hot shower and sauna and then a peaceful trip back to Queenstown.

$US228 per person.

Shotover Jet Boat Ride

The Shotover Jet Ride is legendary among thrillseekers as you cling on to a powerful boat travelling at frightening speeds only inches from the steep walls of a towering canyon. And, if you really want to get worried, at times you'll only have three inches of water underneath the bottom of the boat!

$US64 per person.

Walter Peak Sheep Station

Now this sounds like heaven. Take a steamboat across Lake Whakatipu to a colonial homestead at the Walter Peak High Country Sheep Station.

Be entertained along the way with some old-time songs around a piano and, if you feel like it, join in the fun yourself.

At the Colonel's Homestead you can indulge in home-made food and take a wander along the lake's shore. Visitors say the scenery is unbelievable!

Included in the journey to Walter Peak is a farmyard walking tour, viewing the livestock including sheep, highland cattle, deer and goats. You'll see sheep dogs in action and watch people demonstrating wool spinning.

Then its back on to the TSS Earnslaw and the return trip to Queenstown.

$US43 per person.

Gourmet Wine Tour

Central Otago produces some of New Zealand's finest wines and this tour will take you to five leading wineries in some of the country's most spectacular landscapes. Aside from tasting the wines you can see New Zealand's biggest wine cave and sample local cheeses. At lunchtime it's a Mediterranean platter at the hiughly thought of Oliver's of Clyde.

$US108 per person.

Queenstown Ducks

Hop aboard a Word War II amphibious Duck for an amazing tour around Queenstown. For 90 minutes you'll be on both land and water seeing some of the most spectacular scenery around. Highlights include excellent photo opportunities of Coronet Peak and the Shotover River.

The Duck heads out every day, except Christmas Day, at 9am, 11am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm and 5:30pm (October to March only).

You need to book your trip 48 hours in advance.

Tickets cost $US47 for adults, $20 for children between 5 and 16, and little ones under four are free.

Picture courtesy Destination Queenstown