Explore the Scenic Beauty: Why Queenstown Remains a Top Travel Destination

D4-5 Queenstown: It feels like half of the people on the South Island are in Queenstown. The commercial atmosphere is very strong, and unlike other small towns, it doesn’t become deserted at night; most shops usually stay open until 10 PM.
1️⃣ Lakefront of Queenstown: Right next to the commercial street, there are some market stalls along the lake where you can browse, mainly selling accessories and snacks.

There are a lot of people by the lake.
2️⃣ Fergburger: The queue at night is shorter, and it takes about ten minutes from queuing to getting your order. When I passed by at noon the next day, the line was very long. I went for the Big Al without thinking, and it was indeed big enough for two people, but the taste was average, not impressive.

3️⃣ Skyline Luge: The cable car ride to the top takes just a few minutes. Then you take a small cable car to do the luge. From queuing to finishing one round, it takes about ten minutes. It’s thrilling! Especially when someone tries to overtake on a curve, it’s a bit scary that they might flip. We bought a three-round package, which was quite satisfying.

4️⃣ Skyline Buffet: You need to book in advance. Seats by the window cost extra. If you choose a window seat with the luge package, you can only get a five-round or one-round package, so we didn’t choose it. The variety of the buffet is not extensive. They have steak, but it’s cooked quite well-done.

Overall, the taste is average.
5️⃣ Paragliding and Skydiving: Unfortunately, due to thick clouds in the morning, we couldn’t take off even by 2 PM, and there were no available slots later in the day to reschedule, so we had to cancel. Therefore, if you plan to do these activities in Queenstown, it’s better to book a slot after 2 PM.

These days, it’s usually cloudy in the morning and sunny in the afternoon.
6️⃣ Kiwi Park: A less popular attraction, mainly for seeing kiwi birds. Inside the Kiwi House, it’s very dark and photography is not allowed. There are also scheduled animal shows, and various New Zealand native birds. The ticket costs around 230, and the value for money is not high.

We spent about an hour there and left.
7️⃣ Souvenir Shops: There are many gift shops on the commercial street, with a wide range of fridge magnets and plush toys. One smaller shop offers most fridge magnets at 50% off, and a “buy five, get one free” deal, which is quite cost-effective if you buy a lot.

1. Finding a parking spot in Queenstown can be quite the challenge, with most spaces filled to the brim. To avoid this hassle, it’s highly recommended to book your accommodation in the heart of the city in advance. From there, you can easily stroll to the downtown area, where many of the attractions are conveniently clustered.

2. When it comes to skydiving, booking through official channels is always the safest bet. We opted to book via Taobao, which saved us around 100-200 RMB compared to the official price. However, once the time slot is chosen, no changes can be made within four days of the activity. On the other hand, if you book directly through the official website, you have the flexibility to adjust your time up to four hours before the event, which is especially useful if the weather turns sour.