Queenstown

Queenstown, New Zealand, is a spectacular resort town that’s perched on the shores of South Island’s Lake Wakatipu. Visitors flock here for intrepid alpine adventures during the Southern Hemisphere’s icy winters, and to pursue gentler outdoor activities in the warmer months of the year. With its cinematic backdrop of majestic mountains, enviable waterfront location and unabashed indulgence, Queenstown has made a name for itself when it comes to adventure sports. Here, you can spend your days skiing crystalline Coronet Peak, or the exhilarating Treble Cone, before dining on freshly caught lobster and farm-to-table lamb at a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Hit Queenstown in spring or summer for jet boating adventures down the turquoise Shotover River, an 18-hole epic course at Clearwater Golf Club, or panoramic hiking on the Ben Lomond Track. Autumn delivers a visually compelling aesthetic to the region with its crimson and gold foliage and flamboyant Arrowtown Autumn Festival. A road trip to a local winery is also a must.