Eight Must-Do Things in Queenstown

Lake Wakatipu is the third largest lake in New Zealand and one of the highlights of a visit to Queenstown. The 80-kilometer-long S-shaped lake is surrounded on all sides by mountains. In clear weather, the clear waters of the lake glint a strange bluish-green in the sunlight! Although you can also take a steamboat or jet boat to explore Lake Wakatipu, it is generally recommended that you pick a long sunny afternoon and spend half a day walking the shores of Lake Wakatipu. At one end of the lake, everything is lively and loud, but at the other end it is quiet and calm. The serenity and tranquility of this area is part of the unique beauty of Queenstown. Even if all you do is sit at a café by the lake and have a drink, or lie on the lawn and do nothing at all, every minute you spend here is a scene of precious bliss.

The Queenstown Sky Cable Car is located on the top of Bob's Peak and is the steepest cable car track to be found in the southern hemisphere. This is the perfect location from which to look down on the center of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the distant mountains. It is also a good place for a variety of outdoor activities such as scootering, bungee jumping, high-altitude ziplining, and paragliding. At the top of the mountain, there is a famous restaurant known as the Skyline Restaurant, which US television company ABC labeled the "World's Top Restaurant with a View." At Skyline Restaurant you can look down on the beautiful scenery of Queenstown while enjoying a delicious buffet of New Zealand seafood. There is also a Maori cultural performance every night, which you absolutely shouldn’t miss. At night you can also stargaze from the top of the mountain, if the sky is clear and cloudless. There are professional guides to tell what you to look for and professional stargazing instruments to ensure that you will have an unforgettable night.

Take a trip on Lake Wakatipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw, followed by a visit to the Highland Ranch to see a sheep shearing show, something that every visitor to Queenstown absolutely should not miss out on. This steamship, which was built the same year as the Titanic, has a history of more than 100 years. During the 90-minute steamboat cruise, you can visit the engine room, watch the huge steam engine at work, browse historical photo compilations in the mini museum, look out from the bridge of the boat, or sing along to music played by the pianist. If you choose to disembark at the Walter Peak Highlands Ranch, you can participate in a variety of farm activities, including sheep shearing, close contact with various animals, horseback riding, an English afternoon tea, and an outdoor barbecue.

Fergburger is arguably the most popular restaurant in Queenstown. Some even think that if you haven't eaten a hamburger at Fergburger, it's like you haven't been to Queenstown at all. The burgers there are so delicious, they cannot be called any ordinary burger! All different kinds of big burgers are cooked to order, with the hamburger meat grilled on the spot. The meat, accompanying vegetables and sauces are all very special, and each bite is overflowing with flavors and juices! Furthermore, the size of each burger is huge, at least the size of a person's face (unless that person has a very, very large face)! As one of Queenstown’s iconic eateries, the restaurant will always be crowded with people, no matter what time it is. In the second season of Chinese reality TV show "Where Are We Going, Dad," Huang Lei took his child on an excursion to South Island and they went to eat at this famous burger joint.

Queenstown, the birthplace of bungee jumping, is best known for the Kawarau Bridge Bungee, which was the first bungee jumping site in the world. In 1988, bungee jump history began here, at a height of 43 meters above the beautiful Kawarau River, and every year since then it has attracted thousands of explorers and spectators. If you want to touch the water, you can ask the bungee jump staff so that they can make a slight adjustment on the bungee cord. You can ask to just touch the water, to submerge your head in the water, to have half your body go into the water, or to have your whole body go into the water! If it is summer with the hot sun beating down, this is a very seductive possibility! Even if you aren't brave enough to go yourself, watching the handsome guys and beautiful ladies jump from the green mountains to the green waters is also very good. Friends and relatives who are accompanying bungee jumpers can take a shuttle bus to watch the jumpers for free!

Jet boating is one of Queenstown's most characteristic outdoor activities. It is also popular throughout the rest of New Zealand. The jet boat first absorbs water, then sprays it out, and uses the water spray to drive the boat forward, through the narrow rocky canyon. From time to time it will rotate a full 360-degrees, which makes for a thrilling ride, but one that is still suitable for people of all ages. There are three speedboat companies in Queenstown (Shotover Jet, Kawarau Jet and Skippers Canyon Jet), offering speedboat trips that last around 1 hour. The three companies have different routes and the prices are slightly different.

Nzone Skydive is the only high-altitude skydiving company in Queenstown and the first commercial parachute company in New Zealand. Their skydiving safety is absolutely guaranteed. You will fly over snowy mountains and lakes by plane, then jump from more than 10,000 feet and free fall at a speed of 200 km/h. Overlooking the mountains and lakes of the Southern Alps, you can view the beautiful scenery and leave all your fears behind you! Skydiving height is divided into three levels, from low to high: 9000 feet (about 2700m), 12,000 feet (about 3600m), and 15,000 feet (about 4500m). The free falling time is 25 seconds, 45 seconds, and 60 seconds, respectively (from low to high).

In China, Queenstown’s St Peter's Church is famous because it is the place where actress Yao Chen had her wedding. Afterwards, many Chinese people chose this as the site for their wedding. Some dates are already booked two years in advance. Because there are so many marriages here, the church is a little busy. In this regard, Yao Chen jokingly said: "The priest used to talk slowly, but now he must officiate weddings as fast as possible." The church itself isn’t very big, it’s small and quiet, and if you are interested in church architecture, it is recommended that you come and visit.