Queenstown and Wanaka are the main bases for Central Otago skiing and snowboarding, and both are blessed with scenery that is out of this world.

Ski or snowboard against a backdrop of blue lakes and sky, then get your kicks paragliding, skydiving, jet boating or daring to jump off a 109-metre cliff while harnessed to a canyon swing! To wind down, try golf, shopping and the fabulous local cuisine. Queenstown and Wanaka are thriving resort towns year round, but in wintertime they really take off! That means there are plenty of places for visitors of all budgets to stay, eat and entertain themselves – but it also means you should book well ahead to ensure a place to sleep after a hard day on the slopes! Smaller towns like nearby Arrowtown provide more laid-back bases for exploring the slopes. Wherever you spend your days, the scenery is amazing; icy lakes vie with snow-capped mountains for your attention. And the weather is crisp and settled, typically with clear blue skies. Queenstown is the original home of that archetypal adrenaline rush – bungy jumping – but if jumping off a bridge doesn’t take your fancy, there are plenty of alternatives. Mountain biking, walking, shopping, café-hopping or cruising the lake: the trouble is finding time to do it all!

Queenstown

With beautiful Lake Wakatipu sparkling next to the bustling town centre and mountains towering around, Queenstown is a picture-postcard alpine resort. During winter, Queenstown attracts powder-hungry skiers and snowboarders from all over the globe, and the party doesn’t stop till the end of the season.

Years of experience ensure the town is equipped to accommodate the annual pilgrimage. You’ll find heaps of great eating places and accommodation to suit every budget – including some of New Zealand’s best-known exclusive resorts. This could well be the perfect place to splash out and stay somewhere unforgettable! Remember though, this place is popular and even if you’re the spontaneous type, this is one occasion when it pays to book ahead.

Just about every type of skiing and snowboarding imaginable can be experienced from your Queenstown base. In addition to the major fields, you can ski in backcountry wilderness accessible only by helicopter at Invincible Snowfields near Glenorchy, or try heli skiing for the ultimate off-piste adventure. Every winter the snow is celebrated with a ten-day frenzy of mad-cap activities and events – the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival. In 2011 it runs from 24 June to 3 July – don’t miss it! And if you have time to spare, visit a local vineyard, raft a river or experience the adrenaline rush of dangling from a bungy cord over a turbulent river.

Arrowtown

Just a 25-minute drive from Queenstown is Arrowtown. Once a bustling gold rush town, it is now a peaceful and picturesque village, featuring heritage buildings, a tree-lined main street, and inviting cafés, restaurants, boutiques and galleries.

Wanaka

The town of Wanaka is nestled amongst spectacular mountains on the shores of Lake Wanaka. Home to two of the country’s best alpine ski areas – Treble Cone Ski Area and Cardrona Alpine Resort, a base for heli skiing and within easy reach of cross-country skiing at Snow Farm Ski Area and the freestyle ski and board Mecca of Snow Park NZ, it’s the perfect spot for your snow-based holiday.

Popular with Kiwis as well as international visitors, Wanaka is growing rapidly. This means there is a great range of accommodation to suit every wallet – from luxurious lakeside resorts to backpacker accommodation and holiday homes to rent. Eating out is a highlight in Wanaka, with plenty of awesome cafés and restaurants to choose from, as well as nightspots ranging from country pubs to swanky lounges. Don’t miss paying a visit to Cardrona Hotel on Crown Range Road. This historic hotel was established in 1863 and has been serving cold beer to locals and visitors for decades.

After a long, cold day of skiing and boarding you might want to check out Wanaka’s quirky Paradiso Cinema, where you can cuddle up in airline seats or even in an old Morris Minor. Off the slopes there are plenty of activities to keep you amused – from cultured entertainment like wine tasting at a picturesque local vineyard, to nutting your way out of a brain-twisting maze at Stuart Landsborough’s Puzzling World, or the best of New Zealand’s outdoor pursuits. You’ll also find New Zealand’s third largest national park – Mount Aspiring National Park – right on the doorstep. And whether you’re shopping for a souvenir to keep Grandma happy or looking to update your ski gear, the streets of this little town have plenty of reasons to keep your credit card in action. But even though it’s getting bigger, Wanaka is fiercely proud of its identity and will always remain Queenstown’s more laid-back cousin.

Need to Know

Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Snow Farm Ski Area, Snow Park NZ, Cardrona Alpine Resort, Treble Cone.

Population Lakes District 28,200. Average July temperature 4.1˚C. Main centres Queenstown, Arrowtown, Glenorchy, Cromwell, Wanaka, Hawea.

Air Queenstown Airport, 10 min from town, offers domestic and trans-Tasman flights. Wanaka Airport, 8 min from town, has flights to/from Christchurch and Queenstown. Road Christchurch is 6 hours, 55 min from Queenstown and 6 hours, 5 min from Wanaka. Queenstown and Wanaka are about 4 hours from Dunedin. Coaches provide regular services.

Wanaka and Queenstown are perfect for exploring on foot, but buses and taxis are available. Queenstown’s Connectabus (www.connectabus.com) provides transport to and from the airport, city and attractions. Airport shuttles and tourist bus services also run regularly. Wanaka ConneXions (www.time2.co.nz) provides coach services connecting Wanaka with South Island main centres. The Arrowtown Scenic Bus (www.arrowtownbus.co.nz) operates between Arrowtown and Queenstown.

(Towns) From Queenstown to: Wanaka 1 hr, 40 min; Arrowtown 20 min; Glenorchy 40 min. (Ski areas) From Queenstown to: Coronet Peak 25 min; The Remarkables 45 min; Snow Farm New Zealand 1 hr, 5 min; Snow Park NZ 1 hr; Cardrona Alpine Resort 1 hr; Treble Cone 1 hr, 40 min. From Wanaka to: Coronet Peak 1 hr, 15 min; The Remarkables 1 hr, 30 min; Snow Farm New Zealand 40 min; Snow Park NZ 35 min; Cardrona Alpine Resort 35 min; Treble Cone 30 min.

Online www.destination-nz.com, www.queenstown-nz.co.nz, www.lakewanaka.co.nz. By phone Queenstown +64 3 442 4100, Wanaka +64 3 443 1233. In person Queenstown i-SITE Visitor Centre Clocktower Building, Cnr Camp Street & Shotover Street; Wanaka i-SITE Visitor Centre 100 Ardmore Street.

Defining Experiences

Don’t miss the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival – ten days of mid-winter partying from 24 June till 3 July.
Try bungy jumping in Queenstown, the place where it was invented.
Catch the NZ Mountain Film Festival in July or watch a film at New Zealand’s quirkiest movie theatre, Cinema Paradiso, in Wanaka.
Experience the thrill of jet boating in a rugged river gorge.
Brave a white-water jet boating adventure on a local river.
Grab a coffee at Joe’s Garage (a well-kept locals’ secret).

Winter Highlights

Take a guided family tour on snowshoes Ice skating at the Queenstown Ice Arena Rest and relaxation at Onsen Hot Pools
Spine-chilling adrenaline: heli skiing, bungy jumping or jet boating
Dog Sled Tour or snowshoeing at Snow Farm New Zealand Ice-climbing with Aspiring Guides
Southern Alps snow kiting camp Cuddle up in an airline seat at Wanaka’s quirky Cinema Paradiso

Events

American Express Queenstown Winter Festival (Queenstown) 24 Jun – 3 Jul 2011
Quiksilver Slopestyle Invitational (The Remarkables) 3 Jul 2011
NZ Mountain Film Festival (Wanaka) 1 – 5 Jul 2011
Base Triple Comp (Treble Cone) 16 Jul 2011
World Heliski Challenge (Wanaka) 27 Jul – 11 Aug 2011
Gay Ski Week NZ (Queenstown) 23 – 31 Jul 2011
Burton NZ Open (Cardrona Alpine Resort) 8 – 13 Aug 2011
The North Face Peak 2 Peak (Queenstown) 6 Aug 2011
100% Pure NZ Winter Games (Queenstown) 13 – 28 Aug 2011
100% Pure NZ Winter Games Slopestyle Freeski/Snowboard (Snow Park NZ) 14 – 21 Aug 2011
Wanaka Sled Dog Festival (Snow Farm NZ) 29 – 31 Aug 2011