Highly disagree with Fergburger- very overrated tourist trap. Burger was dry and bun was crusty. Save your time and $ and go next door to Fergbaker, pick out a meat pie and one of the best Boston cream donuts you’ll ever eat. You won’t be disappointed!
As for the rest of the review- I only had a few days, but I wish I had a few weeks. Q-town was amazing, filled with shops, food, and endless activities. And absolutely gorgeous. Been around the world and it’s one of the few places I can’t recommend enough and hope to get back to someday.
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For a respite from the energy of Queenstown, you must head to Glenorchy, an amazing drive just 40 min away where you'll arrive in the foothills of Lord of the Rings rugged beauty. A must see is Camp Glenorchy, which includes Mrs. Woolly's, the sweetest General Store you will find in New Zealand. Well-curated gifts, many New Zealand-made, and gourmet foods. The best part? The pastries and food truck! My friend and I have become addicted to their homemade, flakey savory hand pies. Don't miss trying their affogato - espresso over rich, house-made gelato. You will be in heaven!
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You missed mentioning Tacomedic (https://tacomedic.co.nz/): a hole in the wall joint that truly satisfies your taco urges! Also, the Remarkables in winter (June-July) is exceptional. Don't miss the bus trip to Milford Sound. We had a French-NZ driver who played a short double-role of 'Boromir' because Sean Bean is terrified of heights ... interesting people there!
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Wish they hadn't mentioned Glenorchy. There went the neighborhood!
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The most exhilarating experience I had in Queenstown was boarding a 4 wheel drive (with an experienced driver) and spending the day on the winding roads along Skippers Canyon. The roads are narrow and winding on the sides of cliffs, so only go with an experienced driver.
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We have relatives in Auckland & Christchurch, and have been planning a trip to N.Z. for some time. We've decided to put it off until the Covid-19 picture becomes clearer.
We're just one small example of how the situation is effecting international travel and the world economy. But, like unsuspecting travelers in Europe right now, who wants to find themselves suddenly quarantined in a hotel because somebody there tested positive for the disease?
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Do not do the shotover jet if you get sick on roller coasters. Learn from my mistake. Pure misery.
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No article in the NYTimes is complete without bringing in the Race FACTOR https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_origins_of_New_Zealanders
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You’re in a gorgeous country, surrounded by beautiful scenery. Do you really want to spend time with throngs of adrenaline-fueled thrill-junkies who remind you of “Jersey Shore”?
Get out of Queenstown as quickly as you can. Head to Glenorchy, about 40 minutes north, and rent an eco-friendly 4WD vehicle. Tour the Dart River Delta in absolute silence. Bring a picnic lunch and chillax amid snow-capped peaks.
When you get back to town, have a quiet dinner somewhere, then stroll with your sweetie through Queenstown Gardens, nearly forty acres of native and exotic plants and trees. Have a late-night glass of wine and go to bed.
You’ll thank me.
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Our government has very strict rules regarding the environment so it cannot be ruined. Tourism is New Zealand's biggest income earner. Here is the winter festival web site. I'd advise to book early as accommodation books out fast. It's a unique experience and happy crazy! People from all over the world travel to NZ for this festival.
https://www.winterfestival.co.nz
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My wife and I were privileged to enjoy ALL of these once in a lifetime experiences (and views!!) while on our Honeymoon. If you ever have the great fortune to visit the South Island of New Zealand, I wholeheartedly recommend that you take a helicopter ride to the top of the Franz Josef Glacier. To stand on top of a glacier and look out over the ocean is THE MOST exhilarating nature related experience I have ever been privileged to enjoy!
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If you're famous you can roam around NZ unrecognised as most kiwis treat all visitors equally and keep our distance from famous people; unlike in the USA. Someone whose famous in the USA would be unknown in Queenstown NZ. We don't idolise famous people in NZ and treat everyone on the same level. So you could go to the Queenstown winter festival and people wouldn't even know who you are!
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Queenstown, on the South Island of New Zealnad is just beautiful and if you have an opportunity to travel there, please seize the opportunity. I built housing with Habitat for Humanity on the North Island and traveled extensively throughout both islands. It will take your breath away! While it is essential to keep in mind limiting a carbon footprint, I was there- with my own donation money and sweat equity- to help an indigenous Maori family live with a better quality of life through housing ...I think of them from time to time and hope they are doing well! These are the things that make my life worthwhile while creating memories for a lifetime.
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I had the best 48 hours in Queenstown ever. It was Christmas eve to Christmas: Shot over Jet was the day prior which was awesome. But on the Eve: Mountain biking, worlds 3rd largest bungee jump, Fergburger breakfast and lunch. Then we spent the night in a bar with our hostel mates singing Christmas songs till the clock hit midnight with a more exciting countdown than any new years eve party. Lights went on. Everyone poured into the street singing Christmas and commonwealth soccer chants. Groups marched to the lake and people jumped in the frigid waters off the pier to celebrate. Christmas morning it was up the gondola for a view, down hill luge racing, zip lining and then swimming and soaking in the sun at the lake till dinner on the pier with an amazing sunset. Queenstown is beautiful, Queenstown is rad, go to Queenstown!
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@Hunter
The lake may have been cold, but remember it is summer in NZ at Christmas.
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I highly recommend skydiving here. It’s so beautiful, the air so crisp and the views breathtaking. I went about a year ago and it was fabulous.
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Which subway do I catch to get there?
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A well written article. I think you can fly direct to NZ from New York, now. Then get a flight to Queenstown. Very popular in winter with the Winter festival and lots of people fly direct from Australia as well.
I live in Christchurch and the Banks Peninsula, is beautiful as well, if you like walking and tramping. I live about a 15 minute drive from Cass Bay and that is very popular with people who paddle board and kayakers. There are also buses that go over there as well. There's a cute historical boat shelter there that our local Council owns and I keep my kayak there. Only $150 a year in rent to keep your row boat or kayak there. Very cheap! Nice walks with ocean views around the sea cliff face.
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@CK But don't fly to NZ (Auckland, probably) and then fly right to Queenstown. If you are traveling with a couple of people, rent a car and drive through this amazing place. The North and South islands are amazing. Or, if you are traveling alone, as I was, take the InterCity Bus lines and check out the scenery. The NZ travel bureau is amazingly helpful, and helped me book B&Bs for the whole thing. I met all sorts of interesting people and had many great serendipitous experiences. I met some terrific Maori carvers; the Museums are great, the food hip and delicious. And don't sweat the long flights; Air New Zealand and Qantas really know how to do this. I flew out from LA and arrived in Auckland as the sun came up. No jet lag but tired. Fine in 36 hours. And I am an old guy.
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The picture of the jet boat on the Shotover river really kind of bummed me out. Is this what we've come to - turning every place into Disneyland?
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@Ladybug This is not Disney,this is REAL!
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@Holly Pagg it was so much fun!!!! no Disney in the Canyons!!!
Far too many visitors who cause far too much damage to the environment which destroys what was beautiful in the first place and far too many worldwide travelers who's carbon footprint accelerates climate change need to just stay home for a while. Limiting non New Zealanders from purchasing property in New Zealand is a start. New Zealand must also greatly reduce the number of tourists and those tourists who appear to be extremely self centered need to stay home for a while and pester their neighbors instead of others throughout the planet. Lastly, the New York Times Travel section should be eliminated. It hypes up too many places with natural beauty and directly causes damage to the environment by encouraging wealthier people to travel far and wide.
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@John OBrienj What's wrong with enjoying travel stories? i have visited very few of the destinations listed, and none of them outside of the U.S.; why should the section be "eliminated"?
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@John OBrienj
Oh no, don't eliminate the NYT travel site. It may fuel the dreams of the wealthy but it also keeps the rest of us happy in our stay-at-home vacations. While I have been to New Zealand a few times on business and on vacation, I still love to read about the stays others are having in one of my favorite places in the world.
There are places covered by the travel section, I will never be able to see in person. So keep the travel section for those who are planning travel and those who can only pretend.
I must say wealthy people are not the only ones who damage the environment. Many people are working hard to stop a foreign mining corporation from mining close to the Boundary Waters National Park between Minnesota and Canada. The political divisions are deep between those who prioritize jobs which will keep them in their home county and those who want a clean environment. The threat is greedy foreign corporations helped by greedy locals.
I do oppose the activities which damage natural beauty which should be passed on to future generations. Off-trail hiking, snow machine riding, car racing and other vehicle use of parks is very damaging. Many activities include heavy use of alcohol and drugs which discourage paying attention and care to the environment,too.
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@John OBrienj Maybe we should all sit inside, moving and breathing as infrequently as possible.
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