Queenstown

 
The coach trip from Christchurch via Mount Cook ended in Queenstown, in the southwest of the south island by Lake Wakatipu.

Queenstown is a very popular ski resort and has been used in many films, including Lord of The Rings and X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Queenstown is a small town and the warm summer day was perfect for wandering around. The town is blessed with beautiful mountain views form the lakeside.

The famous steamship the TSS Earnslaw is one of the oldest tourist attractions in Queenstown.

The Earnslaw is Queenstown's famous "Lady of the Lake" has been in operation since 1912, when it first set off on its Maiden Voyage from Kingston at the southern end of Lake Wakatipu.

The Earnslaw was originally designed to carry sheep, cattle, and passengers to high country stations around the lake, and now runs tourist cruises to Walter Peak high country station.

In March 1990 the Earnslaw carried Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip. The Earnslaw also made a brief appearance in the film 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' as an Amazon River boat.

Another Queenstown tourist attraction is the Skyline Gondola. The Gondola ride claims to be the steepest lift in the southern hemisphere, offering great views over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu.  If you're feeling adventurous you can take the Skyline Luge back down! Two tracks are offered, a more scenic ride with rest areas, and an adventure track with banked corners and a tunnel.

The small cemetery is a short walk from the Gondola, with tombstones of the first settlers.

My main reason for visiting Queenstown was to enjoy the spectacular Milford Sound. 

Many companies offer coach tours to Milford Sound from Queenstown. The journey takes you across the Southern Alps and through the 1.2km Homer Tunnel. The mountains and lake do make for a rather long journey though, over 4 hours from Queenstown to Milford Sound.

Unfortunately I chose the wrong tour company. I received a phone call on the morning I expected to be picked up for my tour telling me the tour had been cancelled.

I was extremely disappointed and thought I wouldn't get to see Milford Sound, but I made some urgent phone calls and found a way...

  


A view from Lake Wakatipu


The Earnslaw, Queenstown's famous "Lady of the Lake"


The Skyline Gondola


Queenstown cemetery, close to the Skyline Gondola