RegionOutline guide

Queenstown-Lakes

Territorial authority district in Otago, New Zealand

Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Alex2104 assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Queenstown-Lakes is the far inland district of Otago in the South Island of New Zealand. The major lakes of the district are Lake Wakatipu, Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea.

Getting there and around

Getting there

Queenstown Airport (ZQN) is served by Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia.

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Getting around

There are connecting buses between centres. Otherwise private vehicles are the main mode of transport in this area.

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Airports and nearby hotels

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Queenstown Airport

Queenstown · International · ZQN

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Cities

Mount Aspiring National Park

Mount Aspiring National Park is a national park that lies in the Southern Alps of New Zealand's South Island, in the headwaters of Lake Wanaka. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of South West New Zealand, or Te Wahipounamu, which includes Fiordland National Park (to the south), Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park and Westland Tai Poutini National Park (both to the north).

Read before you go to Queenstown-Lakes

Articles and travel topics about Queenstown-Lakes and New Zealand.

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Full travel guide

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Settlements

UnderstandChoc-full with lakes, mountains, vineyards centred around the tourist capital of New Zealand, Queenstown, the Queenstown-Lakes area is a popular destination for travellers and Kiwis on holiday.

Get inQueenstown Airport (ZQN) is served by Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia.

Get aroundThere are connecting buses between centres. Otherwise private vehicles are the main mode of transport in this area.

SeeThe region's lakes, valleys and mountains provide all the scenery you could want. Mt Aspiring National Park near Wanaka is a popular destination.

DoSkiing is the main winter pastime at a number of ski fields in this region. During summer, Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea are popular for boating (Lake Wakatipu less so because of its colder temperature).

EatQueenstown has dozens of great restaurants. Wanaka and the other population centres also have their fair share. Many of the regions vineyards also have restaurants.

Stay safeThe region always gets snow in winter. Some of the roads, especially the alpine passes, become icy in winter and road closures (especially of the Crown Range between Queenstown and Wanaka) commonly occur.

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Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Queenstown-Lakes" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Queenstown-Lakes District", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Alex2104 assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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