404km (250 miles) SW of Franz Josef; 263km (163 miles) SW of Mount Cook; 117km (73 miles) S of Wanaka; 172km (107 miles) NE of Te Anau
Queenstown/Tahuna welcomes nearly four million visitors a year, many drawn by its reputation as “the adventure capital of the world”. There are certainly enough crazy and/or heart-pumping activities here to give adrenaline addicts the rush they’re craving. But Queenstown also attracts more sedate travelers, drawn by the prosepect of long leisurely days spent amongst the vineyards in the Gibbston Valley, in the perfectly preserved historic towns of Cromwell or Arrowtown or beautiful and outdoorsy Glenorchy, plus alpine walks, and boat trips across Lake Wakatipu.Famed for its international winter ski profile, Queenstown is a year-round destination—although locals will tell you the best time to visit is in the fall, when there’s less chance of rain, visitor numbers are lower, it’s not quite as expensive, and the trees turn brilliant shades of red and orange.
