Where to stay in Queenstown

The eastern suburb between the airport and the town centre: the most affordable accommodation in Queenstown, with budget hotels and hostels. The Frankton Arm of Lake Wakatipu has calmer water than the main lake - good for paddleboarding and kayaking. The Remarkables ski field access road starts from Frankton. The Remarkables Market (Saturday year-round) is the best farmers market in the region.

The small but lively town centre on the shore of Lake Wakatipu: the Skyline Gondola rises from the edge of town to Bob's Peak (1,748m, $40 NZD return - the view over the lake and the Remarkables is the postcard image of Queenstown; the luge runs back down from the top). The Queenstown Gardens on the lake peninsula (free, rose garden, disc golf) and the central beach are both walkable. The pedestrian Mall and Beach Street have all the adventure booking offices, restaurants, and the bars of the "Queenstown strip".

The gold rush village 20km northeast of Queenstown: a perfectly preserved 1860s gold mining town with the Arrow River (gold panning still possible, free), the Lakes District Museum ($15 NZD), and the Chinese Settlement (the gold rush-era Chinese quarter, free - the most intact 19th-century Chinese settlement in New Zealand). Arrowtown is the finest destination in the region outside Queenstown - in autumn (April-May), the poplars and willows turn gold and the village becomes extraordinary. Excellent restaurants at lower prices than Queenstown.

The gorge wine region 35km east of Queenstown: Central Otago is the southernmost commercial wine region in the world, producing some of the finest Pinot Noir on earth (the cold temperatures, long days, and schist soils create extraordinary intensity). The Gibbston Valley Winery (the largest in the gorge, cave cellar tours $35 NZD), Amisfield, and Peregrine (the best cellar door in the region, the hawk-wing architecture) are all here. The Queenstown Trail cycling track runs through the gorge (bike rental $50 NZD/day).

The village at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu, 45km from Queenstown: the road along the lake is one of the finest scenic drives in New Zealand. Glenorchy was a primary filming location for The Lord of the Rings (the Forest of Lothlorien, Amon Hen, the Pillars of the Kings). Paradise (the farm beyond Glenorchy) is the filming location for Isengard. The Routeburn Track starts from Glenorchy - the finest multi-day walk in New Zealand (3 days). The Dart River jet boat (a white-water wilderness experience, $170 NZD) runs from Glenorchy.

The two main ski fields flanking Queenstown: the Remarkables (25km south, 8km vertical in the mountain range visible from town, the most dramatic ski terrain in New Zealand) and Coronet Peak (18km north, better groomed runs and the best night skiing in New Zealand, Friday nights in peak season). Both are accessed by shuttle from Queenstown ($40 NZD return). A combined ski pass for both fields costs $120-150 NZD/day in peak season. Heli-skiing in the wider Mount Aspiring National Park region (from $800 NZD for 3 runs) is the ultimate upgrade.