The main airport servicing Queenstown is the Queenstown International Airport in New Zealand. Located about 15 minutes from the city center and offers a wide range of transportation options.

If you have not booked a private transfer through us, your options are rental cars, buses, taxis, and shuttles.

The cheapest option to get from the airport to your hotel is the Connectabus services, buses run every 15 minutes and the approximate cost is NZ$12 per adult and NZ$5.50 for children for a one-way trip. Tickets can be purchased from the Tourism Queenstown kiosk in the terminal or onboard the bus. Bus stops can be found outside the terminal. For more information visit www.connectabus.com/services/Connect-Wanaka

There are a few taxi companies that operate from the airport including Queenstown Taxis and Green Cabs, taxi stands are located outside the terminal and cost approximately NZ$30 for a ride into downtown Queenstown. For more information visit www.queenstown.bluebubbletaxi.co.nz or www.greencabs.co.nz.

Shuttle services are offered by Super Shuttle at the airport, they provide door to door services from the airport to your accommodation. The cost is around NZ$10 per person and the journey takes around 30 minutes and is normally a shared ride with other passengers. For more information visit www.supershuttle.co.nz or call 0800 SHUTTLE.

Rental cars are available at the airport, car rental desks can be found inside the terminal and offices are just a short walk outside from the terminals with some providing free shuttle services. Featured rental car companies include Avis, Europcar, and Hertz.

Ritchies Connectabus is the main form of public transportation in Queenstown, buses make several stops throughout town including The Remarkables Park Shopping Center, Arrowtown, and Lake Hayes Estate. There are six routes offered and buses run every 20 minutes from 6:00 am until 11:30 pm daily, buses are bright yellow and easily identifiable. Tickets cost around NZ$4.50 for adults and NZ$3.50 for children or you can purchase a 7-day visitors pass for about NZ$47 which provides unlimited travel on the Connectabus network.

There is a night bus that runs in the city on the weekends, the bus runs every hour on the hour from 11:59 pm until 5:00 am. Buses can be found in front of the O`Connell shopping mall and is a great alternative to taxis.

Taxis are available in Queenstown with three main companies that operate in the city including Queenstown Taxis, Green Cabs, and Corporate Cabs. Taxis can be found in the center of town at taxi stands or ordered over the phone with fares starting at NZ$4.75 and NZ$6.44 for every mile. For more information visit www.queenstown.bluebubbletaxi.co.nz or www.greencabs.co.nz.

Boats cruise on Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown and depart from Steamer Wharf on Beach Street behind Queenstown Beach. The popular TSS Earnslaw Cruises depart at 10 am, 12noon, 2 pm and 4 pm for 90-minute cruises on board the vintage steamship, the ride takes passengers out to Walter peak Farm and tickets cost around NZ$55 per adult and NZ$22 for children.

Exploring the beautiful area of Queenstown and its surrounding areas by car is a great idea, having a car is a necessity if you plan on traveling to the outer-lying attractions such as The Remarkables and Coronet Peak. Having a car allows you to explore the spectacular surroundings and enjoy the breathtaking scenery at your own pace. If you plan to only see the city center of Queenstown a car is not required. Parking can be very limited in the city center, there is a parking garage located on Man Street near the Sofitel Hotel. Keep in mind the roads in New Zealand are often narrow and winding with rough terrain, be cautious when driving and take it slow and remember driving in NZ is on the left-hand side of the road. The Southern Scenic Route through Otago and Southland is a spectacular drive.

Queenstown is a wonderful area to explore on foot with a small, compact downtown area that features many attractions within walking distance of each other. Walking around Lake Wakatipu, along with the promenade or down the beach will connect you with many restaurants and shops along with spectacular views of the mountain ranges situated all around the lake. The city also features some of the best walking and hiking trails in the country including the Ben Lomond Track, Queenstown Hill and Bob`s Cove Track which are all easily reachable from downtown.

The city boasts plenty of bicycle tracks and biking trails for a leisurely ride or for a more strenuous cross-country, trail riding or even heli-biking experience. There is a wide array of terrain to be explored by bike in the remote areas of the region and the city offers the only gondola-accessed downhill mountain biking park in the southern hemisphere. Here you can choose from cycling tours, self-guided adventures, short rides and multi-day biking trips. There are numerous rental shops in the city especially in the downtown area where you can rent bicycles, electric bikes, and mountain bikes. The gorgeous Queenstown Trail is a popular route to cycle, a 74-mile long network of off-road trails that winds through unspoiled land through Lake Wakatipu, Lake Hayes, Arrowtown, and Gibbston. You can hire a bike in Gibbston Valley know as the `Valley of Vines` and explore the beautiful wine region with various wineries and vineyards.

New Zealand is one of the safest travel destinations in the world and Auckland is a safe city for tourists. However, as in any city in the world tourists may be a target for pickpockets and crooks on the city streets, keep your wits about you and take a taxi back to your hotel, so you are not a target for thieves. Use common sense precautions and keep your valuables safe and secure and stick to well-lit and well-populated routes when out late at night. The most common crimes in Queenstown are car thieves be sure to lock your vehicle and keep all valuables out of view.

There are plenty of shopping variations in Queenstown where shoppers can explore some spectacular outdoor shopping locations and stunning scenery. The Saturday Creative Queenstown Art and Craft Market are held every Saturday morning in Earnslaw park boasting 100% New Zealand made goods in a scenic outdoor environment with live music. The Remarkables Market is another Saturday morning market held in the summer filled with local crafts, gifts and fresh produce. The Remarkables Park Town Center is located in Frankton, close to the airport and features outdoor outlets selling clothes, shoes, and homeware and also features H&J Smith department store. Queenstown Mall Street offers paved walkways filled with designer boutiques, restaurants, souvenirs and more. Shotover Street is a great place for sports apparel including North Face and Outside Sports stores. Beach Street runs behind Queenstown beach and features several different stores including clothing stores, cafes, art galleries and souvenir shops. Arrowhead features quaint tree-lined streets filled with stores and eateries, a spectacular shopping destination. Some popular items to purchase in Queenstown are sheepskin products, wool, local art, greenstone (jade) jewelry and fine New Zealand wine.

The units of currency in New Zealand is the New Zealand dollar $, $NZ or $NZD, sometimes referred to as the `kiwi` or `buck`. US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for New Zealand dollars ($NZ) upon arrival. Currency exchange desks can be found at the airport and many locations throughout the city.

For more detailed information, consult our guide to tipping in the New Zealand by clicking here NZ

There is a 15% Goods and Service Tax (GST) that is applied to everything in New Zealand. Good and services include the GST and you should not be charged extra at checkout, for international travelers there is a tax refund available for items purchased over a certain amount, upon departure you will fill out the necessary paperwork and be refunded the 15% if applicable.

Diners in Queenstown are spoilt for choices when it comes to restaurants and delicious cuisine; the city is renowned for its great food and wine and there are plenty of places to choose from. This spectacular region offers an abundance of fine local ingredients including New Zealand venison, duck, and lamb. There are gourmet lakeside restaurants that specialize in fresh seafood such as mussels, oysters, blue cod and mouthwatering prime NZ beef. All of which can be washed down with the areas spectacular local wines.

Top award-winning chefs are drawn to the area and ready to prepare spectacular dining experiences at plenty of fabulous restaurants. Visit the award-winning Saffron, Postmaster`s and Stable`s Restaurant in historic Arrowtown. There are fish and chip shops down by the lake, ethnic restaurants, bbq and fast friendly dining options to choose from.

The Ferg-burger is a local institution in Queenstown, the classic Fergburger includes prime NZ beef, lettuce, tomato, red onion, aioli and tomato relish served on a tasty bun.

The energetic atmosphere in Queenstown attributes to its vibrant nightlife scene filled with over 150 bars, clubs, restaurants, and cafes in the small region. A small town with a big party atmosphere well worth visiting especially around downtown, most of the venues stay open until 4 am! The compact size of the city makes it easy to pub crawl from one place to the next. Ice bars are especially popular in the cosmopolitan town center along with cozy wine bars and relaxed lakeside venues offering the most striking views.

Queenstown features 75 wineries that produce some of the best wines in the country including the world famous Central Otago Pinot Noir. The microclimate in the region is perfect for cultivating a variety of grapes. You can choose from plenty of tours to these award winning wineries where you can enjoy wine tastings, underground cellar tours, and delicious lunches amidst stunning scenery. Gibbston Valley is known as the `Valley of Vines` features wineries such as Chard Farm, Mt Rosa, Waitiri Creek and Gibbston Valley Winery which is one of the most visited in the country. Amsfield is the closest vineyard location to Queenstown and is the perfect place for a day trip from the city. Queenstown is also the gateway to Central Otago boasting over 200 vineyards.

Located in the Southern Hemisphere the seasons in New Zealand is the complete opposite of those in North America with the warmest months occurring from September through April offering pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds. Temperatures range in the mid 50`s to high 60`s during October with December through February being the hottest months of the year.

The weather in Queenstown has an oceanic climate, with long warm summer days where temperatures can reach 86F and the winters can be cold with lows in the single digits and frequent snowfall. Queenstown also sits within the rain shadow of the Southern Alps and can be more susceptible to rain.

The official languages spoken in New Zealand are English and Maori and in 2006 it was the only country in the world to declare sign language (NZSL) as an official language.

In case of emergencies dial 111 for the police, ambulance or fire services.

Queenstown Medical Center tel. 64-3-441-0500

Lake District Hospital tel. 64-3-441-0015