Queenstown
The Call of Adventure
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The call of adventure is strong in Queenstown. The magnificent landscape is an extra bonus.
In an almost mythic setting of glacial lake, river torrents and snow-capped ranges, Queenstown in New Zealand's South Island has that picture-postcard look of unreality.
But it's real enough, mate, and Queenstown throbs with the excitement of active leisure sports — and adventure! — whatever the season.
Where the action is
Mostly, visitors travel to Queenstown, 479 kilometres away from Christchurch by road, for the lure of its wide range of activities.
A large number of overseas visitors to the South Island fly to Christchurch (unless they cross over from the North Island by ferry). From there, they travel southwest past Mt Cook through Wanaka to Queenstown. An alternative route is to cut across to the West Coast and travel south passing the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers.
Whatever the route, for the adventurous of spirit, Queenstown is where the action is.
Choose your thrill
Like falling from a great height tethered only by a piece of rope to save you from a bone-crunching end? Bungy jumping is practically a New Zealand invention, with the world's first commercial bungy jumping operation started in 1988 by New Zealander A J Hackett at the old Kawarau Suspension Bridge about 23 kilometres from Queenstown.
Two years earlier Hackett did a bungy jump off the Eiffel Tower in Paris, showing the world how to jump from a great height with only a long rope to break the fall.
There are at least three bungy jump operations in and around Queenstown. Mate, choose your thrill.
Next page: The Lay of the Land
