Queenstown is a party town during high seasons. if you plan on getting a good nights sleep, then you might consider staying slightly out of town. It is common to see people on the street up to 5am in the morning, coming back from the disco or pub. If you are looking for a relaxing scenic holiday, Wanaka (an hour drive) is smaller and more tranquil (with less of a party atmosphere).
''Lakes Weekly Bulletin'' is an additional source of second hand items for sale, community noticeboard, employment vacancies, film/gig guide, flatmates and rentals. [http://www.lwb.co.nz]
In 1947, New Zealand's first commercial skifield Coronet Peak opened and since then the town has grown into a world class tourist resort. There are now 4 commercial skifields within easy driving of Queenstown.
Queenstown has an international airport which is served by two large carriers, Qantas and Air New Zealand. There are connecting flights from all New Zealand's major centres and, during the ski season, direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in Australia.
Queenstown airport is known for it's spectacular approach, the snow-covered mountains of New Zealand's Southern Alps surround it on four sides and there is a complicated path to the runway. Low cloud and cold weather can close the runway, especially in winter, resulting in cancelled flights.
Queenstown airport also provides for private jets and other aircraft, and there is a huge number of helicopter take-offs and landings each day. Scenic flights and heli-skiing are a popular attraction for the region.
Queenstown is an expensive airport and it can be cheaper to fly to Dunedin or Christchurch and drive the 3 1/2 or 6 1/2 hour journeys.
From the airport, the cheapest way into town is on the Connect-a-bus service 11/12, which runs every 30 minutes (check that it's going straight into town and not via Arrowtown) and costs $5 one way - pay the driver when boarding. Taxis into town cost about $20-25 while shared shuttle vans work out almost as cheap as the bus if you can get a big enough group together and will take you straight to your accommodation.
[http://www.newmanscoach.co.nz/ Newmans Coach Lines] operates a premium sightseeing tours to Queenstown from Christchurch and from the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers.
[http://www.intercity.co.nz/ InterCity Coachlines] is New Zealand's national coach company and operates over 150 services to more than 600 destinations nationwide. Daily services in and out of Queenstown connect throughout the South Island.
[http://nakedbus.com/ nakedbus.com] is the cheapest way of getting to Queenstown with fares starting at $1 if you book early enough.
Many international tour companies carry holidaymakers into Queenstown by coach.
There are a number of tour operators to be found in downtown Queenstown. Transport from downtown Queenstown to adventure activities is often part of the tour package. Some operators may even pick up from your tourist accommodation.
'''Boats'''
A number of boat tours depart from the Queenstown Wharf at the bottom of the Mall - including the historic steamship TSS Earnslaw, affectionately known as the "Lady of the Lake" [http://www.realjourneys.co.nz]
There is now a water taxis service.
'''Connectabus'''
Queenstown also has a small local bus service operated by Connectabus. There are three routes - the most useful for tourists being services 10/11 which run every 30 minutes to the airport and the Remarkables Park shopping centre and alternate services continue to Arrowtown. Fares are expensive e.g. $6 single/$10 return from the airport to Queenstown, or $13 for a network day pass. All buses stop on Camp Street outside the O'Connell shopping mall.
'''Night Bus'''
A door to door night bus [http://www.queenstown.net.nz/index.php?title=Night_Bus night bus] now operates in the weekends from in front of O'Connell shopping mall to Frankton, Arrowtown and Kelvin Heights. The times are: Every hour on the hour between the hours of 12.00 to 5.00am<br> This provides a economical alternative to taxis.
The spectacular mountain scenery and Lake Wakatipu dominate the view from many parts of town. Most attractions in Queenstown make the most of the view. It is enough reason to spend time in Queenstown if you choose not to do anything else.
One of the best views is from the top of Bob's Peak reached by the Skyline Gondola [http://www.skyline.co.nz]. Breathtaking views of Coronet Peak, The Remarkables mountain range and across Lake Wakatipu to Cecil and Walter Peaks. It's truly magnificent and awe-inspiring!
The drive to Glenorchy, 50 minutes north up Lake Wakatipu, is rated as one of the top scenic drives in the world. The Gibbston Valley wine area is 20 minutes drive from Queenstown by the ancient Kawarau Gorge.
For visitor information and brochures, call into the official Queenstown i-SITE office [http://www.queenstown-vacation.com] on the corner of Shotover & Camp Streets. Ph 03 442 4100 Email: info@qvc.co.nz
:* <do name="Queenstown Wine Trail" url="http://www.queenstownwinetrail.co.nz/"> operate daily departing guided wine tours to renowned Queenstown & Bannockburn wineries </do>
Top quality knitwear, Sheepskin and Possum Fur products, Greenstone (Jade) and bone carvings, and fine New Zealand wine is available for a price.
Outdoor suppliers are plentiful, with equipment for trampers (hikers), mountain bikers, skiiers and snowboarders, and many others who use Queenstown as the launching-pad for expeditions into the nearby National Parks.
There are a handful of convenience food stores in the town centre, most open until midnight and beyond. Two large supermakets are on the outskirts of town.
Most of the stores in Queenstown are open until 8pm or 9pm, 7 days a week.
Fine restaurants serve world-class seafood (local mussels, oysters and deep sea fish such as blue cod), game, red meat (farmed venison, lamb and beef).
The wineries of the Gibbston Valley (20 minutes drive) are open for lunch.
There are cheap bars popular with backpackers and young locals, and sophisticated and expensive wine, cocktail and imported beer bars. Many bars and pubs have sunny outdoor courtyards in the summer months, and roaring open fires in the winter. Major sports events are normally to be found on screen somewhere in Queenstown.
There are two small casinos and one "massage parlour" for adult entertainment.
Many bars do not offer food.
Accommodation ranges from backpacker camps and inns to luxury lodges, bed and breakfasts, apartments, and hotels. A new hostel is currently being built right in the centre of town. It's been designed as a "flashpackers" hostel and has plenty of private rooms that will be hotel standard.
The most common offense committed against tourists in the Queenstown are car break-ins. Remember to always lock your doors and do not leave valuables in your vehicle.
Although limited in number, the police in the Queenstown area are intolerant of disorderly behaviour and are prepared to arrest for quite minor offences. As with anywhere in New Zealand, they have no tolerance for possession of drugs.
Other emergency services in the area operate on a volunteer basis.
Rental car companies have restrictions in their rental agreements to prevent their vehicles being operated on some high country roads. New Zealand's skifield roads also take many visitors by surprise, but driving to the conditions means no real risk.
More distant tourist destinations such as Te Anau and Milford Sound are a day trip away, with many tour operators providing bus tours and flights.
Visit the Fox Glacier -the biggest and less crowded West Coast Glacier. Located approximately 4.5 hours drive north of Queenstown.