Queenstown is the 'Adventure capital of New Zealand'. It is an all year round resort with the summer months  having tramping, sailing, sightseeing, bungy jumping, jet boating, paraponting, horse riding and 4wd activities. In the winter the main activities centre round skiing and snowboarding, with several ski fields ( the closest being The Remarkables and Coronet Peak ) being nearby. The TSS Earnslaw ( left ) still plies on Lake Wakatipu and it is well worth taking  a ride on her. If you are older than her, you can have the ride with no charge ( She was constructed in 1908! ) The Remarkables ( mountains ) can be seen in the background.

A forty minute drive from Queenstown will bring you to another year round tourist attraction. The town of Wanaka, sits on the southern end of the lake of the same name. It is less developed than Queenstown, but has water activities, centred on the lake. The picture on the right shows the main swimming beach, and the town is tucked behind the willow trees!