Sure, when it comes to travel research, you can find out what the weather’s like, what currency to use and the best way to get around with a simple Google search. But what about the other info you’d only realise when you hit the ground? The things that take you by surprise, but locals might think is common knowledge? This is Know Before You Go, a series where we share all the important info about a place you might not otherwise be told, so you can be better prepared.
Driving around a bend, halfway up a mountain, I gasped at the scenery in front of me. A navy lake framed by 40-odd pine trees in the foreground. A row of mountains stood proudly in the distance, some topped with snow, others hidden behind wispy clouds.
You’ve probably heard that everywhere you look in Queenstown, a ski resort town on New Zealand’s South Island, is fitting for a postcard. But until you visit you can’t predict how it will make you feel.
I recently visited on a four-day whirlwind trip taking advantage of the three-hour direct flights from Sydney (it’s 3 hours 10 minutes from Melbourne and 3 hours 25 minutes from Brisbane). It was my third time visiting but my first solo trip.
Queenstown’s towering mountain ranges reminded me how powerful nature is — and how beautiful nature can be when humans don’t get in the way. The town’s mostly moody winter weather — “If you don’t like the weather, just wait 20 minutes and it’ll likely change”, a local told me on the trip — made me feel all kinds of emotions, including elation and sadness. The scenery made me feel so small it prompted me to ponder my life so far.
But that’s how being in Queenstown’s postcard-worthy scenery felt for me — it might be completely different for you. While you can’t predict its impact, you can be prepared for a visit to Queenstown with these tips ahead — a few important things I wish I had known before I visited.
Get a Window Seat
Queenstown has to be one of the most special cities in the world to fly in and out of, so request a window seat on the plane. Flying above Queenstown’s well-known mountain range The Remarkables and the snaking, jade-green Kawarau River felt like I was on a scenic heli ride.
I must have taken about 30 photos of the scenery from the window — and applauded myself mentally for choosing the window seat.
If you miss out on getting a window seat on the plane (and you have some cash to splash), book a scenic chopper tour with Over The Top. The tour will see you flying over the Remarkables mountain range with a bird’s eye view of Coronet Peak and Lake Wakatipu. You can choose where you drop into – a winery, farm or goldminer’s cottage.
Flight Delays Are More Common Than in Other Places
Like many ski towns, Queenstown experiences wintery weather issues that can cause flight delays so make sure you leave yourself enough time for transfers and car pick-ups, and be prepared to make alternative plans if needed.
New Zealand Is Relatively Isolated So Its Habitat Preserved
One of the most fascinating parts about visiting New Zealand is how isolated and relatively untouched it is.
The first people to arrive in New Zealand were ancestors of the Maori, reports New Zealand’s Immigration. They are believed to have arrived from Polynesia between 1200 and 1300 AD. Fast forward to 1642, and the first European, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, arrived in New Zealand. It was later explored by Captain James Cook in 1769. Queenstown’s first settler was William Rees who established a high country farm at the site where the town is today in 1860.
Because New Zealand is such a relatively undeveloped and isolated country, concerted efforts are being made to retain its natural environment and rid it of introduced animal and plant species. There are few towns and cities where this can be done — for most, the damage has long been done.
You can see 20 of the native species at Kiwi Birdlife Park and within and around Queenstown, you’ll see plenty of planting of native species.
Give Yourself Time to Explore
Admiring views in Queenstown is an activity on its own. Yes, there are enough activities to do in the town to fill up a week, but you should also leave time in your itinerary to wander on foot, by car or by bike.
A highlight of my trip was the 45-minute drive from Queenstown to the town of Glenorchy. I stopped to take in the scenery several times along the way, once standing on grey rocky shores with clear water lapping at my feet, feeling an immense sense of gratitude. (Bonus tip: if you’re planning to drive around Queenstown, be sure to get a SIM card so you can use a maps app on your phone or get a car with a navigation screen.)
I also rented an e-bike with bike tour company Around The Basin, which I used to get from Queenstown to Arrowtown. I weaved around mountains, crossed narrow bridges and passed curious alpacas (obviously stopping to pat them).
I also woke one morning to a fiery orange and red sunrise display, which I admired for 30 minutes from my balcony at Kamana Lakehouse. You’ll get the essence of Queenstown just by being there, so don’t feel you need to cram your day.
Queenstown’s Aiming to Be Carbon-Zero By 2030
In 2023, Queenstown announced its plan to achieve a carbon-zero visitor economy by 2030. “Other cities around the world have goals to cut carbon emissions by 2050, but we set the goal of 2030 to start taking action now,” a local told me. “We’re not leaving the problem to the next generation – we’re taking action to deal with it now.”
Carbon-netural means balancing carbon emissions. For instance, you might plant trees, which release oxygen, to offset carbon emissions. Carbon-zero, on the other hand, means no carbon is emitted from the start. So, no carbon needs to be captured or offset.
The goal is a massive undertaking, and as we near the 2030 deadline, it will be fascinating to see tourism businesses do their part to make it happen.
Related: 7 National Parks in New Zealand That Will Leave You Speechless
Related: 7 Mistakes You’re Probably Making During a Winter Trip to New Zealand
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