Queenstown sits in the south-west corner of New Zealand's South Island, a diverse region of mountains, lakes and lush lowlands. The home of extreme activities, bungy jumping was pioneered here, it's a bustling centre for outdoors types with caving, rafting, jetboating, canyon-swinging and white water sledding on offer, as well as all your more everyday sports of biking, sailing, kayaking and hiking. A little further afield is the Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site with Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound to explore – the trails through the area, the Fiordland Great Walks, provide the backdrop for some world-class endurance racing events. The area around Glenorchy, just west of Queenstown, was the set for Lord of the Rings and is the gateway to several world-famous multi-day hikes, including the Routeburn Track, one of New Zealand’s Great Walks. Lake Wanaka close to the remote Mount Aspiring National Park lies to the east. The River Dart and River Wilkin within the park are popular spots for jetboating. If you're on two wheels, the Southern Lakes area is perfect for off-road cycling. The Around the Mountain Trail is a grade 2 (intermediate), 175-kilometer cycling trail. Taking in lake-side trails, thick beech forests and the foothills of the Remarkables ranges it's a must-do for mountain bikers.
Queenstown
The adrenaline capital of the southern hemisphere, anything is possible in New Zealand's Queenstown. Sitting on the banks of the sparkling clear blue waters of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by the snow-capped Remarkables, on offer is a to do list of activities that will leave you exhilarated and with bragging rights over your mates for years to come.
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- Written by: David
