Auckland, Rotorua, and Queenstown are tagged as the “Big Three” tourist destinations in New Zealand but it is the third destination that deserves extra special mention.

Queenstown is the most popular tourist place in New Zealand. It is in the South Island of New Zealand, close to the Southern Alps, and also covers the areas of Fiordland and Milford Sound. Queenstown is actually a small but very lovely town that is surrounded by serene, deep blue waters and gorgeous snowcapped mountains. This combination of water and mountains makes it the perfect destination to visit all year round, whether it be summer, winter, spring, or fall.

Queenstown may be in a remote area, but because of its immense popularity with tourists, getting there is a piece of cake. There are airlines that fly from places in New Zealand’s North Island straight to Queenstown everyday of the week so travelers with money but no time to spare can take this route. Driving to and from Queenstown can take two days or more but with the beautiful sceneries and landscapes that you will be passing by, the time you will spend driving will just fly by quickly. There are also many equally beautiful places that you can stop and visit such as Dunedin, Te Anau, Greymouth, and Christchurch. Take some time out of your driving schedule to take a look around in these places and you will definitely appreciate the break.

Once in Queenstown, there is a wide variety of hotels, inns, and resorts to choose from. Anything from backpacker style accommodations to mid-priced motels to luxurious expensive hotels exist in a tourist place such as Queenstown. Since the town is surrounded by beautiful views of the lake and mountains everywhere, finding a room with a view shouldn’t be too hard. Travelers will also find it easy to pick a hotel that suits their needs, whether it be somewhere in the heart of town where all the shops and bars are or somewhere just along the outskirts of Queenstown where it’s quiet and peaceful.

The tremendous number of things to do in Queenstown has earned it the title “Adventure Capital”. Thrill seekers can go for the more exhilarating and action packed activities such as jetboating in the Shotover Jet, skiing in the winter, paragliding over Queenstown, rafting, or kayaking. Those who are more daring can opt to go bungee jumping. Queenstown is the place where bungee jumping was developed and first introduced to the public by a company called AJ Hackett.

Others may prefer a more relaxing day tour to Milford Sound where they can take a cruise along the Tasman Sea. A visit to the historic town of Arrowtown or to any of the excellent wineries in the area is a great way to spend the day. You can also take a gondola ride up to the Skyline Restaurant where there is an observation deck with a wonderful view of Queenstown.

Queenstown is just full of places to see and things to do that a visit to just this town makes your entire trip to New Zealand worthwhile.