Queenstown Park Hotel

More about Queenstown

Photos

Beautifu Walter peak station

Winnies Winnies

A 'handle' of beer

View from pass at Crown Range Summit

Forum Posts

Queenstown and Southern Traverse event.

by breasly

Will be travelling by hire car to Queenstown during November.
Our planned schedule has us arrive in Queenstown during the southern traverse event.
My questions are:-

Will Queenstown be packed out and accomodation hard to find over this weekend.

If we can change our itinery what is some good self catering accomodation around
$NZ90-100 per day.

Thanks.

Re: Queenstown and Southern Traverse event.

by KiwiJes

Hi - it won't be packed as ski season will well be over. Also, most holidays will be taken in December by the locals.

In terms of accommodation, try here: http://www.jasons.com/New-Zealand/Queenstown/accommodation/ for some options. You won't get "good" accommodation, but you will get "reasonable" accommodation for that price.

Re: Queenstown and Southern Traverse event.

by Kakapo2

Queenstown will be packed as there will not only be the competitors of the Southern Traverse but also their support crews, families and friends, TV and other media, etc. And do not forget that you will not be able to move around freely as they will run and cycle on the roads around Queenstown, so there will be traffic delays.

I am sure you will find accommodation because Queenstown has an incredibly high number of guest beds but I do not know if you want to experience it the way it will be during the event.

To get an idea about the numbers you could contact the Tourist Office

http://www.queenstown-nz.co.nz/information/contact/

The official website lists 78 self-catering accommodation, so this would be a good website to start with:

http://www.queenstown-nz.co.nz/information/Accommodation/

Of the self-catering places, my husband has stayed at Alexis Motor Lodge and Apartments, and would recommend it but this costs $ 150. Queenstown isn's a cheap place... But you can find cheaper places than this.

And do not forget: The Tourist Office is also there to help.

Travel Tips for Queenstown

Seasons and Weather

by Kakapo2

Queenstown has four distinct seasons, and all of them are beautiful in their own way.

Spring begins in September with trees blossoming. In November the lupins begin to bloom. This is especially nice along the road to Glenorchy. The weather is not settled, you always have to expect showers.

Summer is from December to February. This, of course, is the best time for the great outdoors, with hot and dry weather, and long days. Now Queenstown can be rather crowded, with the summer tourism in full swing. New Year’s Eve is wonderful here, with spectacular fireworks over Lake Wakatipu.

Autumn (March to May) are golden in the Queenstown region, with all the exotic trees, mostly poplars and willows, changing the colour of their foliage. The region does not have a lot of evergreen native flora, so this season is spectacular. After the summer heat this is a perfect season for hiking, the weather is rather settled now.

Winter days in the region are crisp and cold, with blue skies. It is the second big holiday season, with skiers hurrying to the big ski resorts at Coronet Peak and the Remarkables. A third fabulous ski region, the Cardrona Range, is not far away – but, at times, not easy to reach. Be prepared to difficult road conditions and the one or other heavy dump of snow which can make travelling on the roads impossible. The main event is the famous Winter Festival in late June/early July.

Although the mountains are not as high and the snow base not as thick as at Mt. Hutt (near Methven, Canterbury), Queenstown is, thanks to its plethora of tourist activities and exclusivity, Australasia’s winter sports capital.

Weather changes are possible without further notice, no responsibility is taken ;-)))

Weather links:

http://www.metservice.co.nz
http://www.weatherinfo.co.nz

What to bring

by grkboiler

Bring good hiking shoes if you plan to climb the hills around town. If you are coming in winter, you will need to dress warm - it is cold during the day and can be freezing here at night. You should be able to find what you need in town. If you forget to bring your good camera, you are wasting your trip. You can still buy a disposable camera or film if you run out.

Boing, boing, boing......

by grets

Once I am over the edge, it is all plain sailing from there. In fact, there is only one way to go - down! The best bit is at the bottom when you stretch the elastic and bounce back up again, the worse is when you reach the top again, the leastic goes slack and you start going down again.

Lake Wanaka

by travelteacher

If you are travelling from Queenstown to the Glaciers, be sure to stop for a bit at Lake Wanaka. The tourist/consevation center is really cool; and there is all kinds of infomation about the area and its activities.

Great Lunch Spot

by viczqn about Eichardt's House Bar & Cafe

Small and cozy with great lake views and a nice open fire, great when you have just come off the mountains skiing in the winter. In the summer lunch in the courtyard. This is a great way to enjoy some excellent Eichardt's hospitality without the expense of staying at the hotel. The food is great and changes regularly, the wine list is very local and the cocktails are the best in town. Defiantly worth a visit, as many locals know. Lunch severed from 11 to 2.30pm. Sadly they don't do dinner but you can still get nice platters in the evening. The Chowder, why just because it is great.