Queenstown – A Beautiful Town in New Zealand

Queenstown, a town on New Zealand’s South Island, has more visitors than residents most days of the year.

Why? It’s in a remote alpine region with no major industry except tourism and since it’s surrounded by mountains, building here is tricky (and really expensive), so the population stays small.

But people love coming here (especially me) and it’s been that way since the 1860s, when Queenstown first boomed during New Zealand’s Gold Rush. Today there’s a lot less gold pans and a lot more gondolas. 

A must visit is Skyline Queenstown, where you can get panoramic views of Lake Wakatipu, a glacier carved lake that according to Māori legend was formed by a sleeping giant whose heart still beats, causing the water to rise and fall.

If you’re planning a visit, I went in autumn (April) and the colors were unreal, though closer to winter, you’ll most likely get rain or even snow. And if you’re into skiing, this is one of NZ’s best winter spots. I’ll be back to check it out in the winter for sure. 

When would you visit?