Queenstown is mainly known as the city of extreme sports. Ziplining, skydiving, rafting, jet boating, paragliding, or even catapults – that’s just a fraction of the thrills you can experience in the area. And for true connoisseurs, there’s bungee jumping.
In 1988, AJ Hackett and Henry van Asch kick-started bungee jumping on the Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge. Inspired by the ritual vine jumps performed by the people of Vanuatu, they decided to try it themselves – first in Auckland, and then (why not) from the Eiffel Tower. That’s how Kawarau became a mecca for bungee jumpers. For those scared before the jump, at least the view on the way down is guaranteed to be spectacular.
A further journey along the Kawarau River can also bring additional attractions. Close to the bridge, one of the iconic scenes of The Lord of the Rings was filmed. The Argonath, or Pillars of the Kings on the Anduin River, were created in the picturesque Kawarau Gorge. The Kawarau River “played” the Anduin, and the monumental statues of Isildur and Anárion were added digitally. Luckily, you don’t need to risk your life on extreme sports to see it, a short drive to a viewpoint is enough.
Back in Queenstown. although the town presents itself as the adrenaline capital, you can also… just go for a walk. For me, however, this was quite an extreme option. I felt more adrenaline dodging hundreds of tourists who seemed to have all agreed to arrive at the same time as me 😉
It’s hardly surprising, Queenstown may be small, but it’s spectacularly set on Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by mountains. The lakeside promenade and the gondola up Bob’s Peak are the busiest spots, where everyone gathers to admire the same views and test their tolerance for crowds.
Fortunately, just a little further out, New Zealand suddenly becomes… more intimate. On the route between Queenstown and Wānaka, it’s worth stopping at the Cardrona Bra Fence – a fence hung with hundreds (actually thousands) of bras. It’s not too crowded, and the display creates quite a personal atmosphere. Why bras? I have no idea, and I’d rather not ask… 😉
The Queenstown area is also home to two towns that once thrived on gold rushes. First, Arrowtown, just a short drive from Queenstown, looks like it was lifted straight from the Wild West. Gold was discovered in the Arrow River in 1862, and suddenly prospectors flocked to the area.
Today, Buckingham Street is lined with wooden buildings, old shops and pubs, and on the outskirts, a Chinese settlement has been reconstructed, a reminder of the miners who worked for half the wages of Europeans and were far from welcome.
The second town, Cromwell, was once a gold mining hub and is now known for fruit growing. In the 1980s and 90s, the town underwent a major transformation with the construction of the Clyde Dam. When the dam was completed in 1992, the valley nearby was flooded, and the old town centre sank beneath the water.
Fortunately, some historic buildings were relocated to higher ground, while those that couldn’t be moved were rebuilt.
Today, in Cromwell Heritage Precinct, you can wander the 19th-century streets and admire old stables, cottages, shops, and grain warehouses. In front of the restored centre, a wharf provides departures for tours of Lake Dunstan aboard a beautifully restored 1929 wooden motor launch.
Queenstown and its surroundings are a mix of spectacular nature, history, and absolutely bonkers attractions, from bungee jumping, to cinematic Lord of the Rings pillars or a fence decorated with thousands of bras. In the town itself, adrenaline and crowds dominate, but just a few kilometres out, you’ll find quaint, intimate towns with a Wild West vibe and a rich gold mining history.
