Getting There & Getting Around

By Plane -- Queenstown is well serviced by Air New Zealand National and Air New Zealand Link (tel. 0800/737-000 in NZ) from such cities as Christchurch, Auckland, Wellington, and Rotorua. Air New Zealand also has a weekly flight from Sydney year-round and a weekly flight from Brisbane during ski season. The Air New Zealand Travel Centre is at 41 Shotover St., Queenstown (tel. 03/441-1900). Qantas (tel. 0800/808-767 in NZ) also has a weekly flight direct from Sydney and Brisbane in winter.

Super Shuttle (tel. 03/442-3639) will drop you off downtown for NZ$20 (US$14/£7.20) per person; the Connectabus (tel. 03/441-4471) goes between the airport, Queenstown, Arrowtown, major attractions, hotels, shopping centers, and Millbrook Resort. Day Passes for unlimited travel are NZ$15 (US$11/£5.40). A taxi (tel. 03/442-7788) to the town center costs around NZ$25 (US$18/£9).

By Coach (Bus) -- InterCity (tel. 03/442-2800) runs between Queenstown and Christchurch, Dunedin, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef, Invercargill, Milford Sound, Mount Cook, Te Anau, and Wanaka. The InterCity depot is at the visitor center, Camp and Shotover streets (tel. 03/442-2800). Kiwi Experience (tel. 09/366-9830), Magic Travellers (tel. 09/358-5600), and Backpackers Express (tel. 03/442-9939) all service Queenstown as well.

The Original Arrowtown Bus (tel. 03/442-1900) provides transportation between Queenstown and Arrowtown. Queenstown pickup is outside O'Connell's Centre on Camp Street at 9:45am, 11am, 1pm, 3:15pm, and 5:15pm; in Arrowtown catch the bus behind the Museum on Ramshaw Lane at 8:30am, 10:30am, noon, 2pm, and 4:30pm. The return trip costs NZ$15 (US$11/£5.55).

By Car -- Allow a full day (6 hr.) from Christchurch, 3 1/2 hours from Dunedin, 5 1/2 hours from Franz Josef, 2 1/2 hours from Te Anau, 5 hours from Milford Sound, and 2 1/2 hours from Invercargill. All roads leading into town are excellent. All major rental-car companies have offices in Queenstown.

By Taxi -- Call Queenstown Taxis (tel. 03/442-7788) or Alpine Taxis (tel. 03/442-6666). Fares from the town center to most accommodations are between NZ$5 (US$3.55/£1.80) and NZ$15 (US$11/£5.55).

Orientation

Queenstown is a compact town, with most shops, restaurants, and amenities within easy walking distance. There is no public bus system, but the Connectabus and The Shopper Bus (tel. 03/441-4471), provide excellent all-day service. A Shopper Bus Day Pass costs NZ$15 (US$11/£5.55) for adults, NZ$12 (US$8.50/£4.30) for children. The central shopping area is bordered by Marine Parade on the lakefront, Camp Street to the north of that, and Shotover Street, which runs into Lake Esplanade. Focus on Beach Street, Rees Street, and The Mall for shopping.

The historic village of Arrowtown is 20km (12 miles) to the northeast. A calm counterbalance to the frenetic pace of Queenstown, Arrowtown is one of New Zealand's last little frontier towns. Glenorchy, now billed as the "Gateway to Paradise," is a 40-minute drive around the west arm of Lake Wakatipu.

Visitor Information

The Queenstown i-SITE Visitor Centre, Clocktower Centre, Shotover and Camp streets (tel. 0800/668-888 in NZ, or 03/442-4100; fax 03/442-8907), is open in summer daily from 7am to 7pm, and from Easter to the end of October from 7am to 6pm. It sells stamps; sends faxes and e-mail; exchanges currency; and makes reservations for accommodations, transport, and activities. The Real Journeys Visitor Centre is on the Steamer Wharf, Beach Street (tel. 0800/656-503 in NZ, or 03/442-7500; fax 03/442-7504). The Department of Conservation Information Centre, 37 Shotover St. (tel. 03/442-7933), is the place to go for information on walking trails and national parks.

While at the visitor center, pick up a copy of the Queenstown Today & Tonight brochure. For a critical lowdown on what to do, get Itag and the Backpackers' Guide to Queenstown. Also look for the two free tourist papers, The Mountain Scene and Qt Visitor Information.

Get an online introduction to the area on the New Zealand Vacation website, the Queenstown NZ website, the Queenstown Adventure website, the Queenstown Visitor Guide website, and the Arrowtown website.

Special Events

The visitor center can provide details on a vigorous program of special events held in the area throughout the year. Here's a small sampling of what you can expect.

In January, riders from all over the South Island participate in the famous Glenorchy Races, which include bareback riding and attract thousands of spectators. The Queenstown Jazz Festival (tel. 03/442-9516), presents 10 days of top jazz. The Arrowtown Autumn Festival (tel. 03/442-0809) runs the week after Easter. Now in its 22nd year, it features market days and street entertainment celebrating the gold-mining era. The Queenstown Winter Festival (tel. 0800/337-8482) is the perfect excuse for 9 days of unadulterated madness and mayhem in July. It features a big opening ceremony and Mardi Gras, ski events, and street entertainment, and just about anything goes. The Spring Carnival (tel. 03/442-4615), held in mid-September at the Remarkables Ski Resort, presents a feast of snow-related sports and social activities.