Queenstown is where the scenery stops you in your tracks. Set on the shore of the deep blue Lake Wakatipu, ringed by the jagged peaks of the Remarkables, this small South Island town is one of the most beautiful places on earth, and one of the most exhilarating. It's the self-styled adventure capital of the world, the birthplace of the commercial bungy jump, where you can throw yourself off a bridge, jet-boat through canyons, ski in winter and hike in summer, all against a backdrop that looks lifted from a film (and often was, this is Middle-earth country). When you're not chasing adrenaline, it's a place to soak up lake views, sample superb local wine, and simply breathe the clean alpine air.
Here's the honest budget picture: Queenstown is one of New Zealand's more expensive towns, and New Zealand itself isn't cheap, so accommodation, eating out and the famous adventure activities all carry real price tags. The headline thrills, a bungy jump or a skydive, are a serious spend. But the brand promise holds strongly here, because Queenstown's greatest asset, its jaw-dropping natural beauty, is completely free. The hiking trails, the lakefront, the mountain views and the gardens cost nothing, and they're the real reason the place is special. Pick one or two big adventures to splurge on, lean on the free outdoors for the rest, and Queenstown is far more achievable than its thrill-seeker reputation suggests. We'll show you how.
