If you’re planning on traveling to New Zealand, chances are you’ve heard of Queenstown – a town fondly considered the ‘Adventure Capital’ of the country. Anyone who’s the slightest bit ‘NZ-savvy’ will probably inform you it’s the place you simply have to visit. They would be correct.
The city itself is special all year round, but there’d be a strong case for arguing it’s at its best in one particular season; the spirit of winter is embraced in Queenstown like nowhere else in the country. To be more accurate, Queenstown is not only the Adventure Capital of NZ, but the ‘Winter Wonderland’ too. Alas, we present to you, 7 reasons Queenstown is the ideal winter wonderland of the pacific.
1. The world-renowned ski-fields
The obvious reason for Queenstown being such a prime winter destination are the ski-fields. When it comes to choices, you’re spoilt – and be assured that none skimp on quality.
Within 20 minutes from downtown you’ll be at the foot of Coronet Peak, and within 35, The Remarkables – a moniker you’ll find is well deserved. If these two impressive fields aren’t quite enough, Wanaka is only an hour away (home to the equally awesome Cardrona and Treble Cone fields).
All of these boast jaw-dropping views (more on that later), and perfect conditions for hitting the slopes. As far as snow seasons go, Queenstown’s is quite long, with opportunity for skiing & boarding lasting well into September. The snow itself? Plentiful, dry and fluffy – just as it should be. Drifting through the soft powder makes for a truly satisfying run! The Queenstown fields are blessed with a varied terrain, so while there’s something for the learners, there’s still a whole lot for the intermediate and experienced.
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What’s more, the facilities at Coronet and The Remarkables fields are state of the art. The chairlifts are comfortable and numerous with the lift pass-scanning all automated. Queues move smoothly, quickly, and without confusion – so you can spend more time carving up the trail and less waiting in line. If the season happens to be particularly short on snow – the snow guns are ready to get the trails up to scratch! After a few runs you’ll probably find yourself a bit peckish, so make sure to stop in at any of the fabulous restaurants and cafes on offer.
Once you’ve carved up the slopes of this Winter Wonderland, you’ll wonder why you’d do it anywhere else.
2. Night-skiing
If there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to get your snow fix, why not make use of the night?
Coronet Peak is special in that it offers something none of the other fields in NZ do: night skiing. If you haven’t been lucky enough to give night skiing a go yet, this is something you shouldn’t miss! Make no mistake, the experience is entirely different and can’t be compared to regular old day skiing – something you’ll realise pretty promptly when you have the stars and moon shining brightly above you. In summary, it’s absolute magic.
The flood lights only illuminate the main trails, which brings a whole new exhilarating element to the typical run. Let’s just say when you go off-piste, things get very interesting. You may think this actually sounds terrifying, but with the rush of the unknown comes a sort of calm. When you don’t think so much about what’s ahead, you just let yourself go – and this kind of excitement doesn’t come in the day time.
Another perhaps more obvious benefit to the nocturnal ski is the sharing of space. Although it has increased in popularity, the number of bodies on the slopes is significantly less at night, so there’s a bigger slice of pie for everyone (more room on the slopes). If you want to make wider turns without feeling obtrusive, night skiing is for you.
Essentially, night skiing is something you have to try, and Coronet Peak is the [only] place to do it! Just make sure you add an extra layer and bring a hot choccie for the ride.
3. The views
While amazing in their own right, the ski-fields aren’t what puts Queenstown so prominently on the international map. It’s probably safe to say the iconic reputation of the city is owed to the jaw-dropping views that pop up just about anywhere.
Queenstown is nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, which is itself nestled in the mountainous Otago region. Thanks to the varied landscape of Otago, everywhere and everything is a sight to behold, be it the jagged mountain ranges or deep blue lakes.
Of course, jagged mountain ranges and deep blue lakes are present in every season, but winter transforms them into something truly spectacular. Snow blankets the peaks, and in the best winters, the city itself. It’s not uncommon for the town to look like it popped right out of a fairytale.
4. The food
If you’ve spent a day on the slopes, or even just a day in the crisp winter air, it goes without saying a delicious hot meal is a necessity.
Lucky enough, Queenstown is a hot-spot on the foodie scene because it makes the best of both worlds. It knows there are heaps of travelers on a shoestring budget that just want something quick and simple – but the number of wealthy residents is on the rise too. Renowned chefs are opening some impressive establishments so those with finer tastes are catered for as well. The list of options is endless, so here are a couple great spots…
If you’re of the former group, we suggest heading to the iconic Fergburger. It’s become a cliche of sorts – you’ll find Fergburger mentioned in just about every Queenstown guide. Don’t let this deter you. The burgers are juicy, succulent, fresh, large… should we go on? There is a huge range of options, so choose wisely! Hot tip 1: make sure you call and order beforehand for the chance to pick up at the side window. The queues are staggering most hours of the day so you’ll be thankful you planned ahead! Hot tip 2: take your burgers lakeside, or to the lovely village green round the corner (just beware of the inquisitive ducks).
If you have a bit more dough to spend, book a table at Rata. Since its opening in 2012, the restaurant has been the recipient of rave reviews, largely thanks to its founder Josh Emmett (NZ’s own Michelin-star awarded chef). The decor is tasteful, but more importantly, so is the food. As far as the menu goes, expect what NZ does best: tender kiwi lamb and beef, or freshly caught fish. Perfection!
5. The activities
“The Activities” is perhaps a vague title, but for good reason. Queenstown is brimming with things to do (on and off the mountain), and these span from the more thrilling to the more relaxing. A lot of what’s on offer is available throughout the year, but there are some that are an absolute winter-must.
For those that want to get the heart racing, Queenstown has mastered the art of instilling the adrenaline rush. You might find this dose of adrenaline while plummeting from the skies, or rocketing downhill atop a gravity-fuelled cart, or whizzing via jet-boat to within inches from the canyon walls. You might also find it when your head is dunked underwater after leaping from the bridge above. No matter how you do it, you will almost certainly lose your breath.
Again, these can be done in any season, but the winter adds an enchanting element to the experience. Skydiving is magic when snow blankets the landscape below. A sightseeing helicopter ride over The Remarkables should almost exclusively be a wintertime activity.
If you like your heart rate just as it is, then we’d suggest a dip in the cozy waters of the Onsen Hot Pools. There’s something immensely satisfying about reclining in a hot-tub while snow rests on the ground around you. You can even visit at night, for absolutely magical moments like the one pictured above.
6. Because it brings the world together
As you can see already, Queenstown is a magnificent place to be. Because the whole world is still catching on to that fact, it makes the city wonderful for another reason.
Queenstown boasts a buzzing tourist population, and with it, a hodgepodge of cultures. This is something to be celebrated. It’s a beautiful thing that the world comes together to collectively admire the beauty of this remarkable place. If you want a destination that is welcoming to all people, then look no further.
It’s almost guaranteed that if you’re open to making friends in Queenstown, you will do exactly that – and it’s never truer than in the wintertime. When the snow falls, everyone has the same thing in mind: hitting the slopes. Skiing by yourself is fun, skiing with a whole bunch of enthusiastic, friendly strangers is even better – and Queenstown is the place to do it.
7. The Queenstown Winter Festival
To really prove that Queenstown embraces winter like nowhere else, the city hosts an annual festival to celebrate the beginning of the snow season.
In 2017, the 3-day festival will run from the 22nd to the 25th of June and provide entertainment, games, food and one of the most impressive fireworks displays around. Above is the show from 2015, and 2016 was no less incredible.
It’s not just the local residents and tourists that get involved either. Businesses from all over NZ come together to take part in competitive events like mountain-bike racing on the snow, the dog derby, dodgeball and more.
Because it’s a whole heap of fun, and because the Queenstown winter is definitely something worth celebrating, make sure you attend the 2017 Queenstown Winter Festival.
