Queenstown (New Zealand)

	Queenstown
	Geographical location
Coordinates	45 ° 2 ′ S , 168 ° 40 ′ E Coordinates: 45 ° 2 ′ S , 168 ° 40 ′ E
Region ISO	NZ-OTA
Country	New Zealand
region	Otago
District	Queenstown-Lakes District
Ward	Queenstown - Wakatipu Ward
Administrative headquarters	Seat of administration for the Queenstown-Lakes District
Local foundation	1863
Residents	12 141 (2013)
height	312 m
Post Code	9300
Telephone code	+64 (0) 3
UN / LOCODE	NZ ZQN
website	www.queenstownnz.co.nz
	Photography of the place
	; Queenstown at dusk

Queenstown is a city in the Queenstown-Lakes District of the Otago regionon the South Island of New Zealand . The city is the administrative seat of the district.

geography

Queenstown is 173 km northwest of Dunedin and around 42 km west of Cromwell on the central section of Lake Wakatipu and on the eastern foothills of the New Zealand Alps . To the northwest of the city rise the up to 2300 m high Richardson Mountains and to the east The Remarkables .

climate

Queenstown has a decidedly continental climate by New Zealand standards . The New Zealand Alps act here as a protective wall against the cool westerly winds of the so-called Roaring Forties . For example, the average maximum temperature in Queenstown in summer is two degrees higher than that of the capital Wellington, which is located to the north (closer to the equator) . It is not without reason that the Queenstown hinterland is considered one of the best wine-growing locations in New Zealand. In direct comparison with Germany, the weather is rather mild and balanced. In spring (Sept., Oct., Nov.) the temperatures are between 5 ° C and 16 ° C, in summer (Dec., Jan., Feb.) at a mild 10 ° C to 22 ° C, in autumn (Mar. ., Apr., May) between 6 ° C and 16 ° C and in winter (Jun., Jul., Aug.), which is quite frosty for New Zealand conditions, between 1 ° C and 10 ° C. Precipitation can be expected in all seasons. However, this is rather moderate with a total of 840 mm of rain per year thanks to the rain shadow of the New Zealand Alps.

history

William Gilbert Rees

William Gilbert Rees (statue by Minhal Al-Halabi, 2001)

Māori

Before Europeans came to the Queenstown area , the area was well known to the Māori . The first European to see Lake Wakatipu was Nathanael Chalmers , who was led over the Waimea Plains and up the Maaura River by Reko , the chief of the Tuturau , in September 1853 .

European settlers

William Gilbert Rees and Nicholas von Tunzelmann were the first Europeans to settle in what is now Queenstown . Rees , who as founder of Queenstown is true, put together with his wife in 1861 a farm on the site of today's city center on, but gold discoveries in 1862 in the Arrow River brought Rees to abandon sheep farming and instead a hotel called The Queen's Arms to open up the After its renovations, it still exists today as Eichardt's Private Hotel . Many of Queenstown's street names are still reminiscent of the gold rush days.

population

In the 2013 census, the town had 12,141 inhabitants, 12.0% more than in the 2006 census.

Queenstown on Lake Wakatipu (view from the skyline observation deck )
Downtown Queenstown

economy

Tourism is by far the predominant industry. Not only is Queenstown a winter sports destination, it also attracts many visitors during the other seasons. The boom has triggered brisk construction activity and numerous complexes with holiday apartments are currently under construction or being planned.

Infrastructure

Road traffic

Queenstown is connected to the New Zealand State Highway 6 via the State Highway 6A junction , which bends south from Cromwell at Frankton and connects Queenstown with Invercargill .

Air traffic

The airport of Queenstown was expanded in the 1990s to be operated by larger passenger jets can as well as international flights from Australia . The airport is also an important helicopter base in the country.

tourism

Queenstown is a hub of adventure tourism and extreme sports. Skiing, jet boating, mountain biking and hiking are the main activities that can be enjoyed from the city, shotover jets and various paragliding, slope gliding and bungee jumping are available for people looking for the thrill and the kick . Well-known ski areas are Coronet Peak and The Remarkables .

Attractions

The gondola lift ( Skyline Gondola ) takes you to a mountain station on Bob's Peak , from where you have a good view of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu . The best way to explore the lake is by old steamer MSS Earnslaw , with regular trips to Walter Peak High Country Farm .