Queenstown, New Zealand. Adventure Playground

Queenstown, New Zealand

Queenstown was our last stop in New Zealand, before returning to Australia. Apart from its obvious natural beauty, Queenstown is also a destination for all kinds of adventure sports, and general partying.

Clustered on the edge of Lake Wakatipu, and set against the dramatic Southern Alps, Queenstown is a perfect vacation location for every season of the year, and is a photographer's dream.

The Remarkables (so called because they are, well… remarkable) tower over Queenstown, 

rising to a height of 2319 metres. 

This was the sunset view from our room at the hotel we stayed in.

…and this was the view directly opposite our room

TSS Earnslaw, the vintage steamer on Lake Wakatipu

We often saw this vintage steamer as it travelled up and down the lake, taking visitors on a leisurely cruise. Known as The Lady of the Lake, the TSS Earnslaw was first commissioned in 1912 by New Zealand Railways, as a service to isolated farming communities. She was rescued from the scrapyard in 1968 by Real Journeys, and put to work once again.

Another view of the Remarkables

…and another…

…and yet another

One surprising fact about Queenstown is that it is a must-stop place for burger lovers.  Fergburger, commonly known as Ferg’s, always has a seemingly unending queue stretching down the street. You’d think that a burger is a burger is a burger! But Ferg’s has at least 20 different types of burger on their menu. Of course there’s the standard Fergburger, but also ones like Southern Swine (beef, bacon, avocado), Chief Wiggum (pork belly), Bun Laden (falafel), Codfather (cod) and Holier than Thou (tofu).

Queues outside the Fergburger.

So our trip to New Zealand finally came to an end, but in the words of the Terminator, “I’ll be back!”

Elizabeth Coughlan