Lake Wakatipu, this Z-shape lake, hemmed in by high hills, has an area of 293 sq.km. It is some 80km long, barely 5km across at its widest point, and up to 378m deep.

Queenstown was named because '...it was fit for Queen Victoria.' Certainly it's lived up to that expectation. Today it's an exhilarating alpine resort, perfect for both adventurers and leisure seekers.

Scenic route to Queenstown - along the highest sealed road in New Zealand over the magnificent Crown Range road,

Nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and overlooked by the majestic Remarkables Range, Queenstown is the perfect destination all year round.

chinese crab apple tree

The town follows the shores of Lake Wakatipu, a deep blue pool of pure mountain water.

William Gilbert Rees Statue(1827-1898) Founder of Queenstown, who with his wife Frances settled near this point in 1861 and built the first buildings by the lake.

When gold was discovered in 1862, Rees was paid compensation of 10,000 pounds for the part of his farm that included Queenstown and he moved to Kawarau Falls.

A life sized statue of Queenstown Founder William Rees is situated on Steamers Wharf. Rees was a sheep farmer and the first European settler in Queenstown Bay. The statue was erected to honor him as the Founder of Queenstown and for being a humanitarian of fine character.

The first Europeans reached Lake Wakatipu in 1853, and some years later the whole lake was surveyed. The Otago gold rush of the 1860s brought thousands of prospectors into the area. In those days there were 30 or 40 passenger ships, including four steamers, plying on the lake. One old steamer, the Earnshaw (1912), is now one of the lake's tourist attractions.

 People have always been drawn to the beautiful lake and alpine areas around Queenstown, starting with early Maori who came in search of Pounamu (greenstone). European settlers eventually followed, with sights set on fertile grazing land. They discovered a whole lot more when shining gold lit up the region’s waterways! A gold rush sprang up overnight in the 1860s; the origins of an ongoing international fascination with the Queenstown region.

Framing the picture is The Remarkables range with its purple-brown peaks topped with snow. Swathes of green decorate the area between town and mountain top.

Around 1.9 million visitors are drawn to Queenstown each year to enjoy their own unforgettable travel experience. Visitors come to experience the awe-inspiring scenery, to search for adventure, to seek out relaxation and rejuvenation, or simply to breathe pure mountain air.

According to a Maori legend the lake came into being when a sleeping giant was burned to death. His heart still beats, however, at the bottom of the lake, causing variations in the level of the lake, which can rise or fall by several centimeters within 5 minutes.

A cableway, the Skyline Gondola, runs up to the summit of Bob's Peak (446 m; 252), from which there is an overwhelming view. Immediately below is Queenstown; beyond this is Lake Wakatipu; and beyond this again, forming a striking backdrop, are the peaks of the Remarkables.

Reputed to be the steepest lift in the Southern Hemisphere, the gondola carries visitors high above Queenstown to the Skyline complex located on Bob's Peak.

The best vistas in the region are found here, spread out in a spectacular 220 degree panorama. Gondola Quick Stats•Bottom Terminal Elevation: 340m•Top Terminal: 790m •Vertical Rise: 450m•Total Length: 730m•Incline Angle: average of 37.1 degrees•Average Speed: Variable to 4m/sec •Capacity: 1000 people/hour in thirty five 4 person cabinsOperating Hours: Open daily from 9.00am until lat

Numerous observation decks around the complex offer breathtaking views of Coronet Peak & The Remarkables, over Queenstown and across Lake Wakatipu to Cecil and Walter Peaks.

Cotoneaster horizontalis

Don't miss historical Arrowtown with its quaint, tree-lined streets, miners' cottages and shops preserved as they were during the 19th century gold rush era, just a 20 minute drive away.

Sound: Kiri te Kanava - Moe Mai E Hine; Hoea Ra John Rowles - Island in the sun Maori Kapa Haka - Medley

Text: InternetPictures: Internet

Sanda Foişoreanu Doina Grigoraş

Arangement: Sanda Foişoreanu