Editing Queenstown, New Zealand

{{Short description|Resort town in New Zealand's South Island}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Queenstown
| settlement_type    = [[Resort town]]
| native_name        = {{native name|mi|Tāhuna}}
| native_name_lang   = mi
| image_skyline      = Queenstown 1 (8168013172).jpg
| image_caption      = Queenstown from [[Ben Lomond (Otago)#Bob's Peak|Bob's Peak]]
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_label_position = right
| image_map          = {{infobox mapframe|coord={{coord|45|01|52|S|168|39|45|E}}|zoom=9}}
| coordinates        = {{coord|45|01|52|S|168|39|45|E|region:NZ-OTA|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[Country]]
| subdivision_name   = New Zealand
| subdivision_type1  = [[Regions of New Zealand|Region]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Otago]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Territorial authority]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Queenstown-Lakes District]]
| elevation_m        = 330
| population_as_of   = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}}
| population_urban   = {{NZ population data 2018|Queenstown|y}}
| population_blank1_title = District
| population_blank1  = {{NZ population data 2018|Queenstown-Lakes district|y}}
| established_title  = Named
| established_date   = January 1863<ref>{{cite book|last1=Jardine|first1=D.G.|title=Shadows on the Hill|date=1978|publisher=A.H. & A.W. Reed Ltd|isbn=0589010093|page=187}}</ref>
| founder            = [[William Gilbert Rees]]
| leader_name        = [[Glyn Lewers]]
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_title1      = MPs
| leader_name1       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Joseph Mooney (New Zealand politician)|Joseph Mooney]] ([[New Zealand National Party|National]])
* [[Tākuta Ferris]] ([[Te Pāti Māori]])
}}
| seat_type          = Electorates
| seat               = [[Southland (New Zealand electorate)|Southland]]<br/>[[Te Tai Tonga]]
| area_urban_km2     = 86.61
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="Area"/>
| population_density_urban_km2 = auto
| population_density_blank1_km2 = auto
| timezone           = [[Time in New Zealand|NZST]]
| utc_offset         = +12:00
| timezone_DST       = NZDT
| utc_offset_DST     = +13:00
| postal_code_type   = Postcode(s)
| postal_code        = 9300
| area_code          = 03
| blank_name         = Local [[iwi]]
| blank_info         = [[Ngāi Tahu]]
}}

'''Queenstown''' ({{langx|mi|Tāhuna}})<ref>{{cite web|title=Queenstown|url=http://nzsl.vuw.ac.nz/signs/5944|publisher=Victoria University|access-date=2 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926093333/http://nzsl.vuw.ac.nz/signs/5944|archive-date=26 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> is a [[resort town]] in [[Otago]] in the south-west of New Zealand's [[South Island]]. It is the seat and largest town in the [[Queenstown-Lakes District]].

The town located on the northwestern edge of [[Lake Wakatipu]], a long, thin, Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has views of nearby mountains such as [[The Remarkables]], [[Cecil Peak]], [[Walter Peak (New Zealand)|Walter Peak]] and just above the town, [[Ben Lomond (Otago)|Ben Lomond]] and [[Queenstown Hill]]. Queenstown is known for its tourism businesses, especially adventure and ski tourism.

== Toponymy ==
''Tāhuna'', the [[Māori-language|''te reo'']] name for Queenstown, means 'shallow bay'.<ref name="Spiritual bond to first people" />

There are various [[Apocrypha (fiction)|apocryphal]] accounts of how Queenstown gained its name, of which the following appears to be the most likely:
{{Blockquote|text=When William Rees first arrived in the area and built his homestead, the area was known as The Station although miners soon referred to it as The Camp from 1860 to 1862. The miners, and especially the Irish, had taken an interest in the ceremony held for a town called [[Cobh]] in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] (then part of the United Kingdom) which was renamed Queenstown in honour of [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]] in 1850.<ref>{{cite web |title=Queenstown |url=http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/keyword/queenstown |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911103236/http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/keyword/queenstown |archive-date=11 September 2015 |access-date=25 August 2015 |publisher=New Zealand History}}</ref>}}

There was then a public meeting to name the ''township on the lake'' in January 1863 (probably the weekend of the 3rd and 4th) in which the town was officially given the name of ''Queenstown'' in reference to [[Cobh|Ireland's Queenstown]]. By 9–10 January 1863, the town was being reported with the name of Queenstown in several reports written by a correspondent in the ''Otago Witness'' on 5 and 6 January.<ref>{{cite web |date=5 January 1863 |title=The Dunstan |url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=OW18630109.2.30 |access-date=24 August 2015 |work=[[Otago Witness]] |archive-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930185037/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=OW18630109.2.30 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=6 January 1863 |title=The Dunstan |url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=ODT18630110.2.17&srpos=8&e=01-01-1863-31-01-1863--10-ODT-1----0township+on+lake-- |access-date=24 August 2015 |work=[[Otago Witness]] |archive-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930185324/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=ODT18630110.2.17&srpos=8&e=01-01-1863-31-01-1863--10-ODT-1----0township+on+lake-- |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==

===Māori settlement and presence===
The area was discovered and first settled by [[Māori people|Māori]]. [[Kāi Tahu]] say that the lake was dug by the Waitaha  ancestor, Rākaihautū, with his kō (digging stick) named Tūwhakaroria. After arriving at Whakatū [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]] in the waka Uruao, Rākaihautū divided his crew into two. He led one group through the interior of Te Waipounamu, digging the freshwater lakes of the island. After digging the lakes Hāwea, Wānaka, and Whakatipu Waimāori, he travelled through the [[Greenstone River|Greenstone]] and [[Hollyford River|Hollyford]] valleys before finally digging [[Lake McKerrow / Whakatipu Waitai|Whakatipu Waitai (Lake McKerrow)]].<ref name="KaHuruManu">{{cite web |title=Atlas — Cultural Mapping Project — Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu |url=https://www.kahurumanu.co.nz/atlas |website=www.kahurumanu.co.nz |access-date=18 October 2022 |archive-date=18 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018080101/https://www.kahurumanu.co.nz/atlas |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first non-Māori to see Lake Wakatipu was European [[Nathanael Chalmers]] who was guided by Reko, the chief of the Tuturau, over the Waimea Plains and up the [[Mataura River]] in September 1853.<ref>Miller., F.W.G., (1949), Golden Days of Lake County. Whitcombe and Tombs. p 3-11.</ref> Evidence of stake nets, baskets for catching eels, spears and ashes indicated the Glenorchy area was visited by Māori. It is likely [[Ngāi Tahu]] Māori visited Queenstown en route to collect [[Pounamu]] (greenstone). A settlement called Te Kirikiri Pa was occupied by the tribe of [[Kāti Māmoe]] which was situated where the [[Queenstown Gardens]] are today, but by the time European migrants arrived in the 1860s this settlement was no longer being used.<ref name="Spiritual bond to first people">{{cite web|title=Spiritual bond to first people|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/your-town/queenstown/42208/spiritual-bond-first-people|work=[[Otago Daily Times]]|date=6 February 2009 |access-date=6 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924130036/http://www.odt.co.nz/your-town/queenstown/42208/spiritual-bond-first-people|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

===European settlement {{Circa|1860}}===
European explorers [[William Gilbert Rees]] and [[Nicholas von Tunzelmann]] were the first non-Māori to settle the area. Rees established a high country farm in the location of Queenstown's current town centre in 1860, but the discovery of gold in the [[Arrow River (New Zealand)|Arrow River]] in 1862 encouraged Rees to convert his wool shed into a hotel named the Queen's Arms, now known as [[Eichardt's]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://experiencequeenstown.com/william-gilbert-rees/|title=Queenstown history – William Gilbert Rees|access-date=21 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308083241/http://experiencequeenstown.com/william-gilbert-rees/|archive-date=8 March 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

Many Queenstown streets bear names from the gold mining era (such as Camp Street) and some historic buildings remain. William's Cottage, the Lake [[Masonic Lodge|Lodge]] of Ophir (now Artbay Gallery), [[Queenstown Police Station]], and St Peter's Anglican Church lie close together in a designated historic precinct.

=== 1999 flooding ===
There was a severe weather event in the South Island in November 1999, bringing torrential rainfall in the catchments of Lake Wakatipu.<ref>{{Cite web |title=November 1999 South Island Flooding (1999-11-14 ) |url=https://hwe.niwa.co.nz/event/November_1999_South_Island_Flooding |access-date=1 January 2024 |website=NIWA}}</ref> The level of the lake rose from 310.5&nbsp;m to 312.77&nbsp;m, leading to the most severe flooding in the recorded history of Queenstown. Properties in central Queenstown close to the lakeshore were flooded up to 1&nbsp;m deep, causing major damage. Total insurance claims were around $50 million. Properties in Glenorchy and Kingston were also flooded, and the road from Queenstown to Glenorchy was damaged by washouts.<ref>{{cite news |last=Quinn |first=Rowan |date=28 April 2005 |title=Queenstown should get used to this...; `No way to stop floods' |work=[[The Southland Times]] |id={{ProQuest|330815524}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roxburgh |first=Tracey |date=25 November 2009 |title=Flood of 1999 remembered |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown-lakes/flood-1999-remembered |access-date=1 January 2024 |website=[[Otago Daily Times]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Geography ==
Queenstown is situated on the shore of Lake Wakatipu, the third largest lake by surface area in New Zealand. The town is located close to the lake's northeastern bend, at which point a small arm, the [[Frankton Arm]], joins the lake with its principal outflow, the [[Kawarau River]]. The centre of the town is on the north shore at the point where the Frankton Arm links with the main body of the lake, but also extends to the major suburb of [[Frankton, Otago|Frankton]] at the eastern end of the arm, and across to [[Kelvin Heights]] on the [[Kelvin Peninsula]], which forms the Frankton Arm's southern shore.

The town is at a relatively low altitude for a ski and snowboarding centre, at {{convert|310|m|ft}} above sea level at the lake shore, but is nestled among mountains, most notably the scenic attraction of [[The Remarkables]], to the town's southeast. Below the lake lies the deep [[Kawarau Gorge]], and there are nearby plains suitable for agriculture{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} and [[viticulture]]. Queenstown lies close to the heart of the [[Central Otago wine region]].

===Suburbs===
Central Queenstown contains many businesses, apartments and homes but is near many suburbs or large areas of housing: [[Fernhill, Queenstown|Fernhill]], [[Sunshine Bay]], [[Queenstown Hill]], [[Goldfield Heights]], [[Marina Heights]], [[Kelvin Heights]], [[Arthurs Point]] and [[Frankton, Otago|Frankton]].

Just outside Queenstown are the areas of: [[Arrowtown]], [[Closeburn, New Zealand|Closeburn]], Dalefield, [[Gibbston]], [[Jack's Point]], [[Hanley's Farm]], [[Hayes Creek, New Zealand|Hayes Creek]], [[Lake Hayes Estate]], [[Shotover Country]] and [[Quail Rise]].

[[File:Queenstown (7187555194).jpg|thumb|Housing in Queenstown (top) and Kelvin Heights (bottom)]]

===Climate===
Because of its relatively moderate altitude (310 metres) and high mountain surroundings, Queenstown has an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfb'').<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energyplus/weatherdata/5_southwest_pacific_wmo_region_5/NZL_Queenstown.Lakes-Queenstown.QL.938310_NIWA.stat |title=Statistics for NZL Queenstown |publisher=Department of Energy |year=2010 |access-date=6 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111031180625/http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energyplus/weatherdata/5_southwest_pacific_wmo_region_5/NZL_Queenstown.Lakes-Queenstown.QL.938310_NIWA.stat |archive-date=31 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Summer has long warm days with temperatures that can reach 30&nbsp;°C while winters are cold with temperatures often in single digits with frequent [[snowfall]], although there is no permanent snow cover during the year. As with the rest of [[Central Otago]], Queenstown lies within the [[rain shadow]] of the [[Southern Alps]], but being closer to the west coast the town is more susceptible to rain-bearing fronts than nearby [[Cromwell, New Zealand|Cromwell]], [[Wānaka]] and [[Alexandra, New Zealand|Alexandra]]. The hottest recorded temperature in Queenstown is {{convert|35.2|°C|0}} and the coldest is {{convert|−8.4|°C|0}}, while for [[Queenstown Airport]] the hottest is {{convert|33.4|°C|0}} and the coldest is {{convert|−12.2|°C|0}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/|title=CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent numbers: 5450, 5451)|publisher=NIWA |access-date=17 July 2024 }}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Queenstown Airport (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1968–present)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 33.4
|Feb record high C = 32.2
|Mar record high C = 30.0
|Apr record high C = 25.1
|May record high C = 21.3
|Jun record high C = 19.4
|Jul record high C = 17.9
|Aug record high C = 19.7
|Sep record high C = 23.3
|Oct record high C = 26.0
|Nov record high C = 28.5
|Dec record high C = 30.0
|year record high C = 33.4
|Jan record low C = 0.3
|Feb record low C = 0.5
|Mar record low C = -1.6
|Apr record low C = -4.5
|May record low C = -8.8
|Jun record low C = -10.3
|Jul record low C = -12.2
|Aug record low C = -7.8
|Sep record low C = -5.0
|Oct record low C = -4.2
|Nov record low C = -2.1
|Dec record low C = -1.0
|year record low C = -12.2
| Jan avg record high C  = 28.3
| Feb avg record high C  = 27.9
| Mar avg record high C  = 25.3
| Apr avg record high C  = 21.2
| May avg record high C  = 18.0
| Jun avg record high C  = 14.7
| Jul avg record high C  = 13.9
| Aug avg record high C  = 15.6
| Sep avg record high C  = 18.8
| Oct avg record high C  = 21.9
| Nov avg record high C  = 24.1
| Dec avg record high C  = 26.9
| year avg record high C = 29.5
|Jan high C = 	22.0
|Feb high C = 	21.8
|Mar high C = 	19.1
|Apr high C = 	15.2
|May high C = 	11.9
|Jun high C = 	8.6
|Jul high C = 	8.2
|Aug high C = 	10.2
|Sep high C = 	13.0
|Oct high C = 	15.4
|Nov high C = 	17.5
|Dec high C = 	20.2
| year high C = 	15.3
|Jan mean C = 	15.9
|Feb mean C = 	15.6
|Mar mean C = 	13.2
|Apr mean C = 	9.8
|May mean C = 	7.1
|Jun mean C = 	4.1
|Jul mean C = 	3.4
|Aug mean C = 	5.2
|Sep mean C = 	7.7
|Oct mean C = 	9.9
|Nov mean C = 	11.9
|Dec mean C = 	14.3
| year mean C = 	9.8
|Jan low C = 	9.9
|Feb low C = 	9.5
|Mar low C = 	7.3
|Apr low C = 	4.5
|May low C = 	2.3
|Jun low C = 	-0.4
|Jul low C = 	-1.4
|Aug low C = 	0.2
|Sep low C = 	2.4
|Oct low C = 	4.4
|Nov low C = 	6.2
|Dec low C = 	8.5
| year low C = 	4.5
| Jan avg record low C  = 3.4
| Feb avg record low C  = 3.1
| Mar avg record low C  = 1.3
| Apr avg record low C  = -1.3
| May avg record low C  = -3.1
| Jun avg record low C  = -5.0
| Jul avg record low C  = -6.2
| Aug avg record low C  = -4.4
| Sep avg record low C  = -2.9
| Oct avg record low C  = -1.7
| Nov avg record low C  = -0.2
| Dec avg record low C  = 2.4
| year avg record low C = -6.4
|rain colour = green	
|Jan rain mm = 	71.6
|Feb rain mm = 	51.0
|Mar rain mm = 	49.3
|Apr rain mm = 	57.5
|May rain mm = 	75.1
|Jun rain mm = 	62.2
|Jul rain mm = 	55.8
|Aug rain mm = 	52.8
|Sep rain mm = 	62.3
|Oct rain mm = 	62.4
|Nov rain mm = 	60.7
|Dec rain mm = 	60.3
|year rain mm = 	
| Jan rain days = 	7.6
| Feb rain days = 	6.5
| Mar rain days = 	7.3
| Apr rain days = 	7.3
| May rain days = 	9.7
| Jun rain days = 	8.6
| Jul rain days = 	7.8
| Aug rain days = 	8.1
| Sep rain days = 	8.3
| Oct rain days = 	8.4
| Nov rain days = 	7.7
| Dec rain days = 	8.7
| unit rain days = 1.0 mm	
|Jan sun = 	236.9
|Feb sun = 	209.3
|Mar sun = 	180.0
|Apr sun = 	136.2
|May sun = 	83.8
|Jun sun = 	69.3
|Jul sun = 	85.2
|Aug sun = 	119.5
|Sep sun = 	151.0
|Oct sun = 	197.0
|Nov sun = 	217.9
|Dec sun = 	212.6
|year sun = 	
| Jan percentsun  =50
| Feb percentsun  =53
| Mar percentsun  =47
| Apr percentsun  =42
| May percentsun  =28
| Jun percentsun  =26
| Jul percentsun  =30
| Aug percentsun  =37
| Sep percentsun  =43
| Oct percentsun  =47
| Nov percentsun  =49
| Dec percentsun  =44
| year percentsun =
| Jan light = 15.2
| Feb light = 13.9
| Mar light = 12.4
| Apr light = 10.8
| May light = 9.5
| Jun light = 8.8
| Jul light = 9.2
| Aug light = 10.3
| Sep light = 11.8
| Oct light = 13.4
| Nov light = 14.8
| Dec light = 15.6
| year light=
| Jan humidity = 	69.7
| Feb humidity = 	75.5
| Mar humidity = 	78.4
| Apr humidity = 	79.9
| May humidity = 	83.8
| Jun humidity = 	86.1
| Jul humidity = 	85.4
| Aug humidity = 	82.1
| Sep humidity = 	74.1
| Oct humidity = 	72.6
| Nov humidity = 	68.9
| Dec humidity = 	69.1
|source 1 = NIWA<ref name = NIWA>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240520001949/https://niwa.co.nz/climate-and-weather/climate-data-and-activities
| archive-date = 20 May 2024
| url = https://niwa.co.nz/climate-and-weather/climate-data-and-activities
| title = Climate data and activities
| publisher= NIWA
| access-date = 20 May 2024}}</ref><ref name="CliFlo">{{cite web
| url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/pls/niwp/wgenf.genform1_proc
| title = The National Climate Database
| publisher = NIWA
| access-date = 13 June 2022
| archive-date = 10 October 2019
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191010080354/https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/pls/niwp/wgenf.genform1_proc
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/
|title = CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent numbers: 5450, 5451)
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 15 May 2024}}
</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=93831&ano=2022&mes=8&day=5&hora=18&min=0&ndays=30 |title=93831: Queenstown Aerodrome (New Zealand) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=4 August 2022 |website=ogimet.com |publisher=OGIMET |access-date=8 August 2022 |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404061857/https://ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=93831&ano=2022&mes=8&day=5&hora=18&min=0&ndays=30 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|date=August 2010
|source 2 = Weather Spark<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://weatherspark.com/y/144792/Average-Weather-in-Queenstown-New-Zealand-Year-Round
|title = Climate and Average Weather Year Round in Queenstown
|publisher = Weather Spark
|access-date = 10 December 2024}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|collapsed = Y
|location = Queenstown Gardens (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1871–1881, 1930–2021) 
| Jan record high C = 35.2
| Feb record high C = 33.4
| Mar record high C = 30.7
| Apr record high C = 27.3
| May record high C = 21.7
| Jun record high C = 19.8
| Jul record high C = 17.6
| Aug record high C = 20.5
| Sep record high C = 24.3
| Oct record high C = 26.8
| Nov record high C = 29.8
| Dec record high C = 31.7
| year record high C = 35.2
| Jan avg record high C  = 30.0
| Feb avg record high C  = 29.6
| Mar avg record high C  = 26.7
| Apr avg record high C  = 22.3
| May avg record high C  = 18.7
| Jun avg record high C  = 15.2
| Jul avg record high C  = 14.4
| Aug avg record high C  = 16.4
| Sep avg record high C  = 19.9
| Oct avg record high C  = 23.1
| Nov avg record high C  = 25.7
| Dec avg record high C  = 28.4
| year avg record high C = 31.1
| Jan high C  = 23.4
| Feb high C  = 23.2
| Mar high C  = 20.5
| Apr high C  = 16.3
| May high C  = 12.6
| Jun high C  = 9.4
| Jul high C  = 9.0
| Aug high C  = 11.0
| Sep high C  = 14.0
| Oct high C  = 16.7
| Nov high C  = 19.0
| Dec high C  = 21.6
| year high C = 
| Jan mean C  = 17.2
| Feb mean C  = 16.9
| Mar mean C  = 14.6
| Apr mean C  = 11.2
| May mean C  = 8.2
| Jun mean C  = 5.2
| Jul mean C  = 4.6
| Aug mean C  = 6.3
| Sep mean C  = 8.9
| Oct mean C  = 11.1
| Nov mean C  = 13.1
| Dec mean C  = 15.6
| year mean C = 
| Jan low C  = 11.0
| Feb low C  = 10.6
| Mar low C  = 8.6
| Apr low C  = 6.0
| May low C  = 3.7
| Jun low C  = 1.1
| Jul low C  = 0.2
| Aug low C  = 1.6
| Sep low C  = 3.8
| Oct low C  = 5.5
| Nov low C  = 7.3
| Dec low C  = 9.6
| year low C = 
| Jan avg record low C  = 5.2
| Feb avg record low C  = 5.2
| Mar avg record low C  = 3.5
| Apr avg record low C  = 1.3
| May avg record low C  = -0.5
| Jun avg record low C  = -2.8
| Jul avg record low C  = -3.9
| Aug avg record low C  = -2.3
| Sep avg record low C  = -0.7
| Oct avg record low C  = 0.5
| Nov avg record low C  = 1.8
| Dec avg record low C  = 4.2
| year avg record low C = -4.3
|Jan record low C  = 0.7
|Feb record low C  = 1.2
|Mar record low C  = 0.0
|Apr record low C  = -1.7
|May record low C  =  -6.7
|Jun record low C  = -6.6
|Jul record low C  = -8.4
|Aug record low C  = -6.1
|Sep record low C  = -4.1
|Oct record low C  = -2.5
|Nov record low C  = -1.6
|Dec record low C  = 0.8
|year record low C = -8.4
|rain colour = green	
|Jan rain mm = 78.6
|Feb rain mm = 65.0
|Mar rain mm = 60.2
|Apr rain mm = 68.9
|May rain mm = 90.7
|Jun rain mm = 74.8
|Jul rain mm = 73.0
|Aug rain mm = 82.1
|Sep rain mm = 81.3
|Oct rain mm = 83.3
|Nov rain mm = 75.9
|Dec rain mm = 75.3
|year rain mm = 
|source 1 = NIWA <ref>{{cite web
|url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/
|title = CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent numbers: 5446, 41331)
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 20 June 2024}}</ref>
}}

=== Flood risk ===
Low-lying areas of Queenstown that are close to Lake Wakatipu are at risk of flooding because during heavy rain and snowmelt, the outflows of the lake via the Kawarau River are less than the inflows and the lake level can rise significantly. Further, the outflow down the Kawarau River is impeded by the large delta of the Shotover River – a major tributary. There is also a narrow gorge that restricts flow in the Kawarau river. As a consequence, Queenstown has been flooded several times since its establishment, and there is an on-going risk of flooding in low-lying areas.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Forsyth |first1=Jane |last2=Clark |first2=Elizabeth |last3=Becker |first3=Julia |date=March 2005 |title=1999 Queenstown Floods |url=https://www.qualityplanning.org.nz/sites/default/files/1999%20Queenstown%20Floods.pdf |journal=Planning Quarterly |publisher=[[Ministry for the Environment (New Zealand)|Ministry for the Environment]]}}</ref> As the lake level rises, backflow through the town's stormwater system leads to flooding in some Queenstown streets when the lake level reaches 311.3 m. This has occurred around 20 times since 1878. In any one year, there is a 13 percent chance that the lake will reach this level, and a 75 percent chance of at least one event that exceeds this level in a 10 year period.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lake Wakatipu flood hazard: Queenstown CBD |url=https://www.orc.govt.nz/media/2955/queenstown-2014-updated-web.pdf |access-date=1 January 2024 |website=Otago Regional Council}}</ref>

==Demography==
Queenstown is described by Statistics New Zealand as a medium urban area with an area of {{Convert|86.61|km2||abbr=on}}.<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787|access-date=24 December 2021|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com|archive-date=24 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324152440/https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787|url-status=live}}</ref> It had an urban population of {{NZ population data 2018|Queenstown|y|y|y| (|),}} making it the [[List of New Zealand urban areas|24th-largest urban area]] in New Zealand. In 2016, Queenstown overtook [[Oamaru]] to become the second-largest urban area in [[Otago]], behind [[Dunedin]]. Prior to 2023, the Queenstown urban area as defined by Statistics New Zealand didn't include [[Lake Hayes Estate|Lake Hayes]] or [[Arthurs Point]], which are contiguous with Queenstown but were designated as separate urban areas.

{{Historical populations|2006|10,428|2013|11,334|2018|13,539|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2018"/>}}
Before the 2023 census, the town had a smaller boundary, covering {{Convert|28.40|km2||abbr=on}}.<ref name="Area"/> Using that boundary, the Queenstown urban area had a population of 13,539 at the [[2018 New Zealand census]], an increase of 2,205 people (19.5%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]], and an increase of 3,111 people (29.8%) since the [[2006 New Zealand census|2006 census]]. There were 4,254 households. There were 7,089 males and 6,447 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.1 males per female, with 1,341 people (9.9%) aged under 15 years, 4,887 (36.1%) aged 15 to 29, 6,264 (46.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,041 (7.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 71.2% European/Pākehā, 4.5% Māori, 1.2% Pacific peoples, 17.8% Asian, and 10.5% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 58.3%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 58.5% had no religion, 29.1% were Christian, 2.8% were Hindu, 0.6% were Muslim, 1.7% were Buddhist and 3.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 3,234 (26.5%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 759 (6.2%) people had no formal qualifications. 1,692 people (13.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 9,165 (75.1%) people were employed full-time, 1,263 (10.4%) were part-time, and 138 (1.1%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|Frankton (348400), Frankton Arm (348300), Kelvin Heights (348600), Queenstown Central (348100), Quail Rise (348000), Queenstown East (348200), Sunshine Bay-Fernhill (347800) and Warren Park (347700)}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+Individual statistical areas in 2018
|-
!Name !! Area (km<sup>2</sup>) !! Population !! Density (per km<sup>2</sup>) || Households !! Median age !! Median income
|-
| [[Frankton, Otago|Frankton]] || style="text-align:right;"|7.62 || style="text-align:right;"|2,895 || style="text-align:right;"|380 || style="text-align:right;"|1,017 || 32.8 years || $39,300<ref>{{NZ census place summary 2018|frankton|Frankton}}</ref>
|-
| Frankton Arm || style="text-align:right;"|1.20 || style="text-align:right;"|1,917 || style="text-align:right;"|1,598 || style="text-align:right;"|603 || 31.2 years || $41,200<ref>{{NZ census place summary 2018|frankton-arm|Frankton Arm}}</ref>
|-
| [[Kelvin Heights]] || style="text-align:right;"|9.28 || style="text-align:right;"|1,170 || style="text-align:right;"|126 || style="text-align:right;"|447 || 43.4 years || $44,800<ref>{{NZ census place summary 2018|kelvin-heights|Kelvin Heights}}</ref>
|-
| [[Queenstown Central]] || style="text-align:right;"|0.81 || style="text-align:right;"|1,017 || style="text-align:right;"|1,256 || style="text-align:right;"|261 || 30.0 years || $34,300<ref>{{NZ census place summary 2018|queenstown-central|Queenstown Central}}</ref>
|-
| [[Quail Rise]] || style="text-align:right;"|6.27 || style="text-align:right;"|708 || style="text-align:right;"|113 || style="text-align:right;"|234 || 40.5 years || $49,200<ref>{{NZ census place summary 2018|quail-rise|Quail Rise}}</ref>
|-
| [[Queenstown East]] || style="text-align:right;"|0.98 || style="text-align:right;"|1,416 || style="text-align:right;"|1,445 || style="text-align:right;"|441 || 30.5 years || $38,800<ref>{{NZ census place summary 2018|queenstown-east|Queenstown East}}</ref>
|-
| [[Sunshine Bay]]-Fernhill || style="text-align:right;"|1.31 || style="text-align:right;"|2,931 || style="text-align:right;"|2,237 || style="text-align:right;"|861 || 29.6 years || $37,600<ref>{{NZ census place summary 2018|sunshine-bay-fernhill|Sunshine Bay-Fernhill}}</ref>
|-
| Warren Park || style="text-align:right;"|0.94 || style="text-align:right;"|1,485 || style="text-align:right;"|1,580 || style="text-align:right;"|390 || 28.7 years || $34,200<ref>{{NZ census place summary 2018|warren-park|Warren Park}}</ref>
|-
! New Zealand !! !! !! !! !! 37.4 years !! style="text-align:left;"| $31,800
|}

==Economy==
{{further|Queenstown-Lakes District#Economy}}The economy of Queenstown is a major contributor to the economy of the Queenstown Lakes District, although the district covers a much wider area than Queenstown, and includes the towns of [[Wānaka]] to the north-east, [[Glenorchy, New Zealand|Glenorchy]] to the north-west and [[Kingston, New Zealand|Kingston]] to the south.

===Housing===
Residential housing in the Queenstown area is expensive due to factors such as the town being a tourist destination, its lack of land and its desirability to foreigners and investors. Queenstown is rated the least affordable place in New Zealand to buy a property, overtaking [[Auckland]] at the start of 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Residential house values|url=https://www.qv.co.nz/resources/monthly-residential-value-index|website=Quotable Value|access-date=16 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403005558/https://www.qv.co.nz/resources/monthly-residential-value-index|archive-date=3 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gibson|first1=Anne|title=Central Otago now less affordable than Auckland|url=http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/central-otago-now-less-affordable-than-auckland/|work=[[Newstalk ZB]]|publisher=[[NZME]]|access-date=14 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415012822/http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/central-otago-now-less-affordable-than-auckland/|archive-date=15 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2016 the average house price in the Queenstown area rose to $1 million [[New Zealand dollar|NZD]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Queenstown house prices hit $1 million|url=http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2016/12/queenstown-house-prices-hit-1-million.html|work=[[Newshub]]|publisher=[[Warner Bros. Discovery New Zealand]]|access-date=14 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415011705/http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2016/12/queenstown-house-prices-hit-1-million.html|archive-date=15 April 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Between 2016 and 2019, average rents in Queenstown rose progressively; reaching 10.8% in 2016, 16% in 2017, and 7.4% in 2018, and 9.6% in 2019. [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census data]] showed 27 percent of Queenstown homes were marked as unoccupied.<ref name="NZH rent crisis 2022">{{cite news |last1=Morton |first1=Nathan |title=Queenstown rent crisis has locals sleeping in cars as winter nears and staff run short |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/queenstown-rent-crisis-has-locals-sleeping-in-cars-as-winter-nears-and-staff-run-short/PWIVWWAQCZH5PNIFDJGXW2MGHQ/ |access-date=4 April 2023 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=2 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402073937/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/queenstown-rent-crisis-has-locals-sleeping-in-cars-as-winter-nears-and-staff-run-short/PWIVWWAQCZH5PNIFDJGXW2MGHQ/ |archive-date=2 April 2023}}</ref>

During the early 2020s, Queenstown experienced a decline in rental housing. Between December 2021 and December 2022, the online auction platform [[Trade Me]] reported a 49% decline in rental listings across the [[Queenstown-Lakes District]]. Similarly, the [[Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment]] (MBIE) reported that the number of rental houses in the District had dropped by 100 between November 2021 and November 2022. Despite a building boom in 2022, [[Stuff (company)|Stuff]] reported that 27% of homes in the Lakes District were unoccupied since their owners preferred to use them as holiday homes or short-term accommodation rather than rentals<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jamieson |first1=Debbie |title=Queenstown and Wānaka housing crisis fuelled by quarter of homes being unoccupied |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/housing-affordability/131223922/queenstown-and-wnaka-housing-crisis-fuelled-by-quarter-of-homes-being-unoccupied |access-date=28 March 2023 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320010702/https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/housing-affordability/131223922/queenstown-and-wnaka-housing-crisis-fuelled-by-quarter-of-homes-being-unoccupied |archive-date=20 March 2023}}</ref> By November 2022, [[Radio New Zealand]] reported that the average home in the Lakes District cost NZ$1.7 million while a three-bedroom rental cost a minimum of NZ$800 per week and a single bedroom rental NZ$500 or more per week.<ref>{{cite news |title=Housing affordability crisis continues to grow in Queenstown Lakes |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/478751/housing-affordability-crisis-continues-to-grow-in-queenstown-lakes |access-date=28 March 2023 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=15 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203193958/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/478751/housing-affordability-crisis-continues-to-grow-in-queenstown-lakes |archive-date=3 December 2022|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Tim |title=Queenstown rental crisis squeezes town's most vulnerable |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018868922/queenstown-rental-crisis-squeezes-town-s-most-vulnerable |access-date=28 March 2023 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=28 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204102321/https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018868922/queenstown-rental-crisis-squeezes-town-s-most-vulnerable |archive-date=4 February 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2022, [[Minister of the Environment (New Zealand)|Environment Minister]] [[David Parker (New Zealand politician)|David Parker]] confirmed that the New Zealand Government had fast-tracked the Te Pūtahi project at [[Lake Hayes Estate]] to build 748 more homes, a public transport area, and a possible school.<ref>{{cite news |title=Te Pūtahi, 748-home project in Queenstown approved for RMA fast-track |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/476833/te-putahi-748-home-project-in-queenstown-approved-for-rma-fast-track |access-date=28 March 2023 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=17 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208100948/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/476833/te-putahi-748-home-project-in-queenstown-approved-for-rma-fast-track |archive-date=8 February 2023}}</ref>

By early 2023, Stuff, Radio New Zealand, and ''[[The New Zealand Herald]]'' reported that a shortage of rental housing had forced many workers and businesspeople to sleep in cars, couches, tents, visitor hostels, and others to leave the town. In addition, the housing shortage had contributed to a worker shortage among local businesses since they had trouble attracting foreign visa workers or those from outside Queenstown.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jamieson |first1=Debbie |title=Queenstown businesswoman living out of car, on couches and in tents as she can't get a home |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/housing-affordability/131017303/queenstown-businesswoman-living-out-of-car-on-couches-and-in-tents-as-she-cant-get-a-home |access-date=28 March 2023 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=24 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327052356/https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/housing-affordability/131017303/queenstown-businesswoman-living-out-of-car-on-couches-and-in-tents-as-she-cant-get-a-home |archive-date=27 March 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Concerns for safety and health of Queenstown homeless as winter creeps closer |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/486819/concerns-for-safety-and-health-of-queenstown-homeless-as-winter-creeps-closer |access-date=28 March 2023 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327113732/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/486819/concerns-for-safety-and-health-of-queenstown-homeless-as-winter-creeps-closer |archive-date=27 March 2023}}</ref><ref name="NZH rent crisis 2022" /> The ''Herald'' also reported that some workers in Queenstown were asking local rental agents if they could stay in vacant properties being sold.<ref name="NZH rent crisis 2022" /> In late March 2023, 100 people participated in a protest at Queenstown's waterfront to raise awareness of the resort town's acute rental housing shortage. The protest was attended by [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]] [[Southland (New Zealand electorate)|Southland electorate]] Member of Parliament [[Joseph Mooney (New Zealand politician)|Joseph Mooney]] and [[Queenstown-Lakes District Council|Queenstown Lakes District Councillor]] Craig Ferguson.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Roxburgh |first1=Tracey |title=Protesters tell stories of rental crisis |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/protesters-tell-stories-rental-crisis |access-date=28 March 2023 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327160833/https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/protesters-tell-stories-rental-crisis |archive-date=27 March 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Employment===
The area’s growth rate is one of the fastest in the country with the population growing 7.1% from 2015 to 2016 in a 12-month period. Most jobs in Queenstown are tourism- or accommodation-related. Employment growth was also the highest of any area in New Zealand at 10.3% in the March 2016 year.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mckenzie-McLean|first1=Jo|title=Queenstown and Central Otago take top spots in job growth for 2016|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/89716605/Queenstown-and-Central-Otago-take-top-spots-in-job-growth-for-2016|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]|publisher=Fairfax New Zealand Limited|access-date=14 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522104403/http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/89716605/Queenstown-and-Central-Otago-take-top-spots-in-job-growth-for-2016|archive-date=22 May 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Retail===
[[File:Queenstown-NZ-Mall.jpg|thumb|The Queenstown Mall in winter]]
Queenstown has a tourist-focused shopping area, centred around the Queenstown Mall. The public pedestrian street opened in 1990,<ref name="QueenstownMallCook">{{cite news |last1=Cook |first1=Miranda |title=Mall upgrade slow going |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/mall-upgrade-slow-going |agency=Mountain Scene |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=13 May 2019 |access-date=22 October 2020 |archive-date=24 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024063451/https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/mall-upgrade-slow-going |url-status=live }}</ref> and includes [[Reading Cinemas]].<ref name="QueenstownMallDestination">{{cite web |title=Reading Cinemas Queenstown |url=https://www.queenstownnz.co.nz/listing/reading-cinemas-queenstown/1238/ |website=queenstownnz.co.nz |publisher=Destination Queenstown |access-date=22 October 2020 |archive-date=24 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024045650/https://www.queenstownnz.co.nz/listing/reading-cinemas-queenstown/1238/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

O'Connells Shopping Centre also opened in 1990,<ref name="QueenstownMallCook" /> and was upgraded from 2020 through 2022.<ref name="OConnellsWilliams">{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Guy |title=O'Connells revamp starting this month |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/o%E2%80%99connells-revamp-starting-month |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=6 February 2020 |access-date=14 November 2020 |archive-date=31 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031092210/https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/o%E2%80%99connells-revamp-starting-month |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=29 May 2022 |title=A look inside Q'town mall as renovation nears completion |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/look-inside-qtown-mall-renovation-nears-completion |access-date=19 February 2025 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]]}}</ref>

In 1986, Queenstown was granted an exemption to allow shops to open every day of the year except Christmas Day, Easter Sunday and before 12 noon on [[Anzac Day]] (at the time, shops in New Zealand were required to close on Sundays and public holidays). The exemption was extended in 1990 allow shops to open on Easter Sunday. The exemption applies to all shops within a {{Convert|35|km||abbr=|adj=on}} radius of the intersection of Camp Street and Ballarat Street (the location of the Queenstown post office in 1986), and makes Queenstown and the Lake Wakatipu basin one of only three areas in New Zealand where shops may open on [[Good Friday]] (the other two are [[Picton, New Zealand|Picton]] and [[Paihia]]).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shop Trading Exemption Orders|url=https://www.employment.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/tools-and-resources/documents/b2d747be86/Employment-NZ-Valid-exemptions-granted.pdf|website=employment.govt.nz|access-date=16 December 2020|archive-date=3 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203211308/https://www.employment.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/tools-and-resources/documents/b2d747be86/Employment-NZ-Valid-exemptions-granted.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Government==

===Local===
Queenstown lies in the [[Queenstown-Lakes District]] [[Territorial authorities of New Zealand|territorial authority]]. It is also part of the [[Otago]] [[Regions of New Zealand|region]], administered by the [[Otago Regional Council]].

===National===

For the [[New Zealand Parliament]], Queenstown is covered by one [[New Zealand electorates#General electorates|general electorate]], [[Southland (New Zealand electorate)|Southland]], and one [[Maori electorate]], [[Te Tai Tonga]]. As of the [[2023 New Zealand general election|2023 general election]], Southland is represented by [[Joseph Mooney (New Zealand politician)|Joseph Mooney]] ([[New Zealand National Party|National]]) and Te Tai Tonga is represented by [[Tākuta Ferris]] ([[Te Pāti Māori]]).

==Tourism==
[[File:Queenstown & Remarkable Mountains.jpg|thumb|Queenstown and the [[The Remarkables|Remarkable Mountains]]]] [[File:Ledge Bungy, Queenstown, New Zealand 01.jpg|thumb|The Ledge Bungy]]
Tourism is a large component of the Queenstown economy, particularly outdoor and [[Adventure travel|adventure tourism]] activities including [[skiing]] and [[snowboarding]], [[jetboat|jet boating]], [[Rafting|whitewater rafting]], [[bungy jumping]], [[Mountain-biking|mountain biking]], [[skateboarding]], [[hiking|tramping]], [[paragliding]], [[sky diving]] and [[fly fishing]].<ref name = cycling-explosion>{{cite web | last1 = Bennett | first1 = Sarah | last2 = Slater | first2 = Lee | date = 25 April 2012 | title = Queenstown's cycling explosion | work = Travel New Zealand | publisher = Fairfax | url = http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/new-zealand/6799653/Queenstowns-cycling-explosion | access-date = 19 March 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130518130841/http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/new-zealand/6799653/Queenstowns-cycling-explosion | archive-date = 18 May 2013 | url-status = live }}</ref>

Queenstown is a major centre for [[winter sports|snow sports]] in New Zealand, with four main mountain ski fields: [[Cardrona Alpine Resort]], [[Coronet Peak]], [[The Remarkables]] and [[Treble Cone]]. Cross country skiing is also available at the Waiorau [[Snow Farm]], near [[Cardrona, New Zealand|Cardrona]] village.<ref>{{cite web |work = Destinations |title = Waiorau Snowfarm |url = http://www.cac.org.au/resorts_waiorau.htm |location = Australia |publisher = Canberra Alpine Club |access-date = 17 March 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130409220938/http://cac.org.au/resorts_waiorau.htm |archive-date = 9 April 2013 |url-status = live }}</ref>

A heritage steamship, the twin screw coal fired steamer [[TSS Earnslaw|TSS ''Earnslaw'']] operates on Lake Wakatipu.<ref>{{cite web |title=T.S.S. Earnslaw |url=https://www.engineeringnz.org/programmes/heritage/heritage-records/tss-earnslaw/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220002619/https://www.engineeringnz.org/programmes/heritage/heritage-records/tss-earnslaw// |archive-date=20 December 2020 |publisher=Engineering New Zealand}}</ref>

Queenstown lies close to the centre of the world's southernmost wine region, the [[Central Otago wine region]], which has a growing international reputation for its quality [[Pinot noir|Pinot Noir]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/ausandpacific/a-tasting-trip-to-the-southernmost-vineyards-in-the-world-5335719.html |title=A tasting trip to the southernmost vineyards in the world |author=Lucy Gillmore |work=[[The Independent]] |date=19 March 2006 |access-date=29 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430054207/https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/ausandpacific/a-tasting-trip-to-the-southernmost-vineyards-in-the-world-5335719.html |archive-date=30 April 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.winesofnz.com/new-zealand-wine-regions/central-otago-wine-region/ |title=Central Otago Wineries and Wine Region |work=Wines of New Zealand |access-date=29 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423200905/http://www.winesofnz.com/new-zealand-wine-regions/central-otago-wine-region/ |archive-date=23 April 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Introduction to Central Otago |last=Campbell |first=Bob |work=The Real Review |date=27 September 2021 |access-date=10 January 2024 |url= https://www.therealreview.com/2021/09/27/introduction-to-central-otago/ |quote=Introduction to Central Otago }}</ref> The [[Two Paddocks]] vineyard is owned by internationally known New Zealand actor [[Sam Neill]], and neighbouring, historic [[Arrowtown]] features restaurants and bars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.twopaddocks.com/profile.shtml|title=Two Paddocks: Our Story|author=Cathy Scott|access-date=17 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506131445/http://www.twopaddocks.com/profile.shtml|archive-date=6 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Other tourist activities include [[Ben Lomond (Otago)|Ben Lomond]], a nearby mountain with a panoramic outlook on Bob's Peak, and its [[Skyline Queenstown]] [[Gondola lift|gondola]].<ref>[http://www.skyline.co.nz/queenstown/ Queenstown Skyline Gondola] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622224111/http://www.skyline.co.nz/queenstown/ |date=22 June 2012 }}</ref> Queenstown hosts the Kiwi Park wildlife sanctuary, and [[Paradise, New Zealand|Paradise]] is a nearby rural location known for its paradise duck population (''[[Paradise shelduck|Tadorna variegata]]'').<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.kiwibird.co.nz/ |title=Kiwi Birdlife Park |access-date=17 March 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130322030837/http://kiwibird.co.nz/kiwi/ |archive-date=22 March 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[The Queenstown Trail]] and [[Skippers Canyon#Skippers Road|Skippers Road]] are popular walking, running, and [[mountain-biking]] tracks.<ref name = skippers-fairfax>{{cite web | last1 = Gardiner | first1 = Brooke | date = 14 September 2012 | title = Slip closes Skippers road for month | work = Southland Times | publisher = Fairfax | url = http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/7673943/Slip-closes-Skippers-road-for-month | access-date = 19 March 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120914203844/http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/7673943/Slip-closes-Skippers-road-for-month | archive-date = 14 September 2012 | url-status = live }}</ref>

==Culture==
===Festivals===
Queenstown has many festivals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.queenstownnz.co.nz/information/Events/|title=Queenstown events: Festivals and events in Queenstown, NZ|access-date=17 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205193950/http://www.queenstownnz.co.nz/information/Events/|archive-date=5 February 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Examples include the ten-day Bike Festival held in January,<ref>[https://www.pinkbike.com/news/queenstown-bike-festival-a-celebration-of-mountain-biking-in-the-adventure-capital-of-the-world.html Recap From The Queenstown Bike Festival 2023] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203074020/https://www.pinkbike.com/news/queenstown-bike-festival-a-celebration-of-mountain-biking-in-the-adventure-capital-of-the-world.html |date=3 December 2023 }}, ''Trailforks'', published 30 January 2023, accessed 3 December 2023</ref> [[Queenstown Winter Festival|Winter Festival]] (June),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.winterfestival.co.nz/media/media-releases/dates-set-for-2013-queenstown-winter-festival/|title=Dates set for 2013 Queenstown Winter Festival|work=Queenstown Winter Festival|access-date=17 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322044206/http://www.winterfestival.co.nz/media/media-releases/dates-set-for-2013-queenstown-winter-festival|archive-date=22 March 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Jazz Festival (October),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.queenstownjazzfest.co.nz/|title=Queenstown Jazzfest 2014 – 24–26 October – 3 days of Fantastic Music over Labour Day Weekend|access-date=17 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208150656/http://www.queenstownjazzfest.co.nz/|archive-date=8 February 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> and Winter Pride (August–September) which is the largest winter [[pride event]] in the Southern Hemisphere.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://lwb.co.nz/content/winter-pride-bigger-than-ever/ |title=Winter Pride bigger than ever |date=13 July 2023 |access-date=1 January 2024 |website=Lakes Weekly |last=Taylor |first=Paul}}</ref>

===Locations for television and film===
[[Jane Campion]]'s six-part drama mystery ''[[Top of the Lake]]'' was shot during 2012 for pay TV release in 2013. The lakes of the Wakatipu appear ominous,<ref name = top-of-the-lake-otd>{{cite web | first = James | last = Beech | date = 8 March 2013 | title = Setting stars in top drama | work =[[Otago Daily Times]] | publisher = Fairfax | url = http://www.odt.co.nz/news/queenstown-lakes/248560/setting-stars-top-drama | access-date = 19 March 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150123044048/http://www.odt.co.nz/news/queenstown-lakes/248560/setting-stars-top-drama | archive-date = 23 January 2015 | url-status = live }}</ref> and the [[Southern Alps]] spectacular. The main location is Moke Lake<ref name=top-of-the-lake-scene>{{cite web | title = Campion shoot is now 'Top of town' | date = 20 March 2012 | work = Mountain Scene | publisher = Scene | location = Queenstown, New Zealand | url = http://www.scene.co.nz/campion-shoot-is-now-top-of-town/297975a1.page | access-date = 19 March 2013 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130604223112/http://www.scene.co.nz/campion-shoot-is-now-top-of-town/297975a1.page | archive-date = 4 June 2013 | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref name = top-of-the-lake-guardian>{{cite web | first = Andrew | last = Pulver | date = 9 February 2013 | title = Top of the Lake – first look review | work = Guardian | publisher = Guardian News | url = https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/feb/09/top-of-the-lake-review | access-date = 19 March 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131022102515/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/feb/09/top-of-the-lake-review | archive-date = 22 October 2013 | url-status = live }}</ref> and scenes were shot on Lower Beach Street and Coronation Drive, and at a supermarket and bottle store on Shotover Street.<ref name = top-of-the-lake-scene />

In 2010, Cycle 14 of ''[[America's Next Top Model season 14|America's Next Top Model]]'', was, in part filmed in Queenstown and was as won by [[Krista White]]. Raina Hein was runner-up.

Queenstown and the surrounding area contain many locations used in the filming of [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy]]. Locations used include [[Paradise, New Zealand|Paradise]] near [[Glenorchy, New Zealand|Glenorchy]], at the head of Lake Wakatipu.

Queenstown became popular in South Asia after the release of Bollywood blockbuster ''[[Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai]]'', which was partially shot there. Starring sensational debuts by [[Hrithik Roshan]] and [[Amisha Patel]] it was this film that opened the doors for both tourists and filmmakers from India to New Zealand with Queenstown being the most sought-after destination. Queenstown featured for 17 minutes in ''[[I Hate Luv Storys]]'', a 2010 Bollywood romantic comedy. Queenstown and the surrounding areas were also used in the 2009 ''[[X-Men Origins: Wolverine]]'' film. ''[[Mee-Shee: The Water Giant]]'' was shot in Queenstown in 2005, and released to DVD in the same year. Queenstown was also used to film most of the 1988 [[The Rescue (1988 film)|''The Rescue'']]. Queenstown was the base for filming the [[George Lucas]] 1988 fantasy film [[Willow (1988 film)|''Willow'']].

Filming of the 1981 film ''[[Race for the Yankee Zephyr]]'' took place in and around Queenstown, the first major motion picture production for the area.

A 1989 TV Commercial for the [[Toyota Hilux]] starring [[Barry Crump]] and [[Lloyd Scott (broadcaster)|Lloyd Scott]] in which the two drive off the cliff was filmed at nearby [[Queenstown Hill]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Colin |date=4 September 2020 |title=Toyota is searching for New Zealand's most iconic Hilux |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/122667994/toyota-is-searching-for-new-zealands-most-iconic-hilux |access-date=1 August 2023 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en |archive-date=1 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801112103/https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/122667994/toyota-is-searching-for-new-zealands-most-iconic-hilux |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first and last episodes of [[The Mole (Australian season 5)|the fifth season of ''The Mole'']] were filmed in Queenstown.

The 2017 Filipino drama film ''[[Northern Lights: A Journey to Love|Northern Lights]]'' was shot entirely on location in Queenstown substituting for the setting of [[Alaska]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2017/03/06/1678533/yen-santos-love-scene-piolo-pascual-kota-na-ko |title=Yen Santos on love scene with Piolo Pascual: 'Kota na 'ko!' |website=[[The Philippine STAR]] |access-date=2 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002170249/http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2017/03/06/1678533/yen-santos-love-scene-piolo-pascual-kota-na-ko |archive-date=2 October 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2017 the Korean variety show ''[[Running Man (South Korean TV series)|Running Man]]'' shot an episode in Queenstown, where Haha and Yang-Se Chan took a penalty at the Nevis Swing.<ref>{{Citation|title=Running Man Ep. 379 {{!}} Nevis Swing Penalty {{!}} Haha & Se Chan|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e6ovar9eWY|language=en|access-date=28 April 2021|archive-date=28 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428142923/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e6ovar9eWY|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 2020 crime drama ''[[One Lane Bridge]]'' was filmed in Queenstown. The series focuses on events that take place at a bridge over the [[Dart River / Te Awa Whakatipu]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Chandler|first=Philip|date=14 April 2020|title=Queenstown's starring role in crime drama|url=http://www.scene.co.nz/features/queenstowns-starring-role-in-crime-drama/|access-date=28 April 2021|website=Mountain Scene|language=en-NZ|archive-date=28 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428142313/http://www.scene.co.nz/features/queenstowns-starring-role-in-crime-drama/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Sports and recreation==

* [[Queenstown Events Centre]] and stadium
* [[Paragliding]] or [[Hang Gliding]]<ref name = SkyTrek >{{cite web|url=http://skytrek.co.nz|title=SkyTrek – tandem hang gliding & paragliding – Queenstown|access-date=3 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119012848/http://skytrek.co.nz/|archive-date=19 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Aerobatics]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roamingdownunder.com/aerobatics.php|title=Aerobatics over Queenstown|author=Graham Barker|access-date=18 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130022534/http://www.roamingdownunder.com/aerobatics.php|archive-date=30 January 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> with the Wakatipu Aero Club<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wakatipuaeroclub.com/flight-training/trial-flight/|title=Trial Flight – Ever Dreamed of Flying|access-date=17 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208100327/http://www.wakatipuaeroclub.com/flight-training/trial-flight/|archive-date=8 February 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> at [[Queenstown Airport]] at [[Frankton, Otago|Frankton]]
* [[Golf]] at [[Millbrook Resort]], Jack's Point,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jackspoint.com/golf/|title=Golf " Jack's Point|access-date=17 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313030056/http://www.jackspoint.com/golf/|archive-date=13 March 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> or Queenstown Golf Club<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.queenstowngolf.co.nz/|title=Queenstown Golf Club|access-date=17 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208054408/http://www.queenstowngolf.co.nz/|archive-date=8 February 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Disc golf]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.queenstowndiscgolf.co.nz/|title=Queenstown Disc Golf|access-date=17 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208043509/http://www.queenstowndiscgolf.co.nz/|archive-date=8 February 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discgolf.co.nz/coursesQueenstown.html|title=Disc Golf in Queenstown, New Zealand.|access-date=17 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208053850/http://discgolf.co.nz/coursesQueenstown.html|archive-date=8 February 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> at the [[Queenstown Gardens]]
* [[Tennis]] at the Queenstown Tennis Club<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.queenstowntennisclub.co.nz/|title=Queenstown Tennis Club|access-date=18 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205085817/http://queenstowntennisclub.co.nz/|archive-date=5 February 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> in Queenstown Gardens
* [[Cricket]] at the Queenstown Cricket Club<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.queenstowncricketclub.co.nz/|title=Queenstown Cricket Club|access-date=17 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302232103/http://www.queenstowncricketclub.co.nz/|archive-date=2 March 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Netball]] at the Wakatipu Netball Centre<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wakatipunetball.co.nz/|title=Home – Wakatipu Netball, Queenstown New Zealand|access-date=18 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208072216/http://www.wakatipunetball.co.nz/|archive-date=8 February 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Rugby league]] and [[Rugby union]] at the Wakatipu Rugby League Club<ref>[http://www.sportsground.co.nz/wrlc Wakatipu Rugby League Club] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505042455/http://www.sportsground.co.nz/wrlc |date=5 May 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wakatipurugby.co.nz/about/|title=About Us|access-date=18 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321015142/http://www.wakatipurugby.co.nz/about/|archive-date=21 March 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Memorial Park
* [[Touch rugby]]<ref>{{cite web | title = One-touch rugby | date = 20 October 2011 | work = Mountain Scene | publisher = Scene | location = Queenstown, New Zealand | url = http://www.scene.co.nz/onetouch-rugby/293414a1.page | access-date = 19 March 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130604224722/http://www.scene.co.nz/onetouch-rugby/293414a1.page | archive-date = 4 June 2013 | url-status = live }}</ref> during the summer season<ref>{{cite web | title = Touch Southland | location = Invercargill, New Zealand | url = http://www.touchsouthland.co.nz/ | access-date = 19 March 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130324091953/http://www.touchsouthland.co.nz/ | archive-date = 24 March 2013 | url-status = live }}</ref>
* [[Scuba diving]] or snorkeling in a river, bridge wreck, or in Lake Wakatipu<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.divequeenstown.co.nz/localtours.html|title=Bathroom Renovation Wellington NZ|access-date=18 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330115533/http://www.divequeenstown.co.nz/localtours.html|archive-date=30 March 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Adventure sport]], canyon-swing, [[Parachuting|parachute]], [[jetboat]], [[bungy jump]], river-surf, or [[Kitesurfing|kitesurf]]

===In the area===

* [[Central Otago]] region
* [[Central Otago wine region]]
* History of the [[Otago gold rush]]
* [[Fiordland National Park]], including the [[Milford Road]] and [[Homer Tunnel]] to [[Milford Sound / Piopiotahi]], as well as the [[Fiordland]] Lakes and [[Doubtful Sound / Patea]]
* [[Tramping in New Zealand|Tramping]] track near [[Glenorchy, New Zealand|Glenorchy]]
* [[Routeburn Track|Routeburn]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimatehikes.co.nz/en/guided-walks/the-routeburn-track|title=The Routeburn Track|access-date=18 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205094249/http://ultimatehikes.co.nz/en/guided-walks/the-routeburn-track|archive-date=5 February 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> one of the [[New Zealand Great Walks]]

{{wide image|Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown gondola.jpg|800px|Panorama of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu from the top of the gondola}}
{{wide image|The Remarkables, New Zealand, Australasia.jpg|800px|The Remarkables mountain range, autumn 2015}}

==Education==

===Primary schools===

Queenstown Primary School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,<ref name="official4005">{{cite web |title=Queenstown Primary School Official School Website |url=http://www.queenstown.school.nz/ |website=queenstown.school.nz |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-date=4 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704063630/http://www.queenstown.school.nz/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="moe4005">{{cite web |title=Queenstown Primary School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=4005 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=[[Ministry of Education (New Zealand)|Ministry of Education]] |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-date=4 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704064114/https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=4005 |url-status=live }}</ref> with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|4005|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|}}.<ref name="ero4005">{{cite web |title=Queenstown Primary School Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=4005 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=[[Education Review Office]] |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-date=6 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706163513/https://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=4005 |url-status=live }}</ref>

St Joseph's School is a co-educational Catholic state-integrated primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,<ref name="official4016">{{cite web |title=St Joseph's School Official School Website |url=http://www.stjosephsqt.school.nz/ |website=stjosephsqt.school.nz |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-date=5 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705170340/http://www.stjosephsqt.school.nz/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="moe4016">{{cite web |title=St Joseph's School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=4016 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=[[Ministry of Education (New Zealand)|Ministry of Education]] |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-date=5 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705025855/https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=4016 |url-status=live }}</ref> with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|4016|y}}.<ref name="ero4016">{{cite web |title=St Joseph's School Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=4016 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=[[Education Review Office]] |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703170043/https://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=4016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

There are also two primary schools in [[Frankton, Otago|Frankton]] and a school in [[Shotover Country]].<ref name="moe70">{{cite web |title=Queenstown Lakes District Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=70 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=[[Ministry of Education (New Zealand)|Ministry of Education]] |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703115315/https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=70 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Secondary schools===

[[Wakatipu High School]], a state secondary school for Year 9 to 13 students, is located in [[Frankton, Otago|Frankton]].<ref name = wakatipu-high>{{cite web | url = http://www.wakatipu.school.nz | title = Wakatipu High School | access-date = 21 May 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120208044804/http://www.wakatipu.school.nz/ | archive-date = 8 February 2012 | url-status = live }}</ref>

===Tertiary education===

[[Southern Institute of Technology]] (SIT), based in Invercargill, has a campus in Queenstown.<ref name=sit-teacher-hours-scene>{{cite web |first=Philip |last=Chandler |title=SIT cuts teacher hours |date=5 July 2012 |work=Mountain Scene |publisher=Scene |location=Queenstown, New Zealand |url=http://www.scene.co.nz/sit-cuts-teacher-hours/301146a1.page |access-date=19 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217003527/http://www.scene.co.nz/sit-cuts-teacher-hours/301146a1.page |archive-date=17 February 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Queenstown Resort College is a tertiary education provider focussing on tourism. The college actively supports events for international travel agents.<ref name = anza-workshop-2012>{{cite web | first = Sarah | last = Lamont | date = 1 March 2012 | title = Rare window opens for Queenstown | work = Southland Times | publisher = Fairfax | url = http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/6502962/Rare-window-opens-for-Queenstown | access-date = 19 March 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150105001218/http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/6502962/Rare-window-opens-for-Queenstown | archive-date = 5 January 2015 | url-status = live }}</ref>

ACE Wakatipu has a community focus, and provides links to many adult training opportunities.<ref name="ACE Wakatipu">{{cite web|url=http://www.acewakatipu.blogspot.com.au/p/classes-in-wakatipu.html|title=Adult Learning Link Wakatipu: Wakatipu Adult Classes}}</ref>

== Churches ==

=== Saint Andrew's church ===
Saint Andrew's Presbyterian church was completed in 1968 to replace the previous church which was sold and demolished to reuse the land. The church is designed to seat 350 parishioners. The Presbyterian church has been active in the Wakatipu area since 1865.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Queenstown Church History|url=https://www.wakatipuchurch.com/queenstown/queenstown-church-history/|access-date=29 December 2021|website=Wakatipu Presbyterian Church|language=en-NZ|archive-date=29 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229063816/https://www.wakatipuchurch.com/queenstown/queenstown-church-history/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Saint Peter's church ===
Saint Peter's Anglican church was built in 1932 for a cost of 2862 pounds, it was consecrated on 23 November 1932. It replaced the previous wooden church which was built in 1863.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Quick History|url=https://www.stpeters.co.nz/quick-history|access-date=29 December 2021|website=stpeters|language=en|archive-date=29 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229065315/https://www.stpeters.co.nz/quick-history|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Saint Joseph's church ===
Saint Joseph's Catholic church was built in 1898, it replaced the first catholic church built in Queenstown in 1863.  It is built from schist sourced from [[Arthurs Point|Arthur's Point]]. Built in the Gothic Revival style, it was designed by the architect [[Francis Petre]]. It is a category two historic place.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Search the List {{!}} St Joseph's Church (Catholic) {{!}} Heritage New Zealand|url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/2340|access-date=29 December 2021|website=www.heritage.org.nz|archive-date=29 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229063814/https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/2340|url-status=live}}</ref><gallery mode="packed" caption="Queenstown churches">
File:Queenstown Catholic Church 27.jpg|Saint Joseph's Catholic Church
File:Queenstown Anglican church 27.jpg|Saint Peter's Anglican Church
File:Crkva sv. Petra.jpg|Interior of Saint Peter's Anglican Church
File:Queenstown Presbyterian Church 27.jpg|Saint Andrew's Presbyterian Church
</gallery>

== Infrastructure ==

=== Transport ===
Queenstown is accessible by road and air but not by rail (similar to [[Kaitaia]], [[Taupō]] and [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]]).

As a resort centre, many bus services operate into Queenstown, mostly for package tours, but daily services for locals and others are available to and from [[Invercargill]], [[Dunedin]] and [[Christchurch]], the main cities closest to Queenstown. [[Bee Card (New Zealand)|Bee Cards]] replaced GoCards on local buses on 15 September 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 August 2020 |title=The Bee Card Launches In Dunedin Next Week {{!}} Scoop News |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2008/S00607/the-bee-card-launches-in-dunedin-next-week.htm |access-date=27 May 2023 |website=www.scoop.co.nz |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521063247/https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2008/S00607/the-bee-card-launches-in-dunedin-next-week.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Queenstown Airport]] takes flights from Australia by airlines [[Air New Zealand]], [[Qantas]], [[Virgin Australia]] and [[Jetstar]] and has destinations that include [[Brisbane]], [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]], [[Melbourne]] and [[Sydney]] (the frequency is much increased over the ski season and during summer). Domestic flights fly to [[Auckland]], [[Christchurch]] and [[Wellington]]. Queenstown Airport is New Zealand's busiest helicopter base, also the [[List of the busiest airports in New Zealand|fourth-busiest airport]] by passenger traffic, and is also heavily used for tourist 'flightseeing', especially to [[Milford Sound / Piopiotahi]] and [[Aoraki / Mount Cook]], using both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.

The primary road access to the Queenstown area is via {{NZlSH|6}} (SH6), from Cromwell through the Kawarau Gorge to Frankton, where a 9&nbsp;km spur (SH6A) leads to the CBD and connects with the Glenorchy Road. SH6 continues south, crossing the Kawarau river before heading down the eastern side of Lake Wakatipu to [[Kingston, New Zealand|Kingston]] before crossing the provincial boundary and emerging on the plains of Southland, terminating in the city of Invercargill. A difficult road over the [[Crown Range]] leads to Cardrona skifield and Wānaka, and is New Zealand's highest paved public road pass.<ref>{{cite web|title=What is the highest state highway in New Zealand?|url=https://www.nzta.govt.nz/roads-and-rail/research-and-data/state-highway-frequently-asked-questions/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327080146/https://www.nzta.govt.nz/roads-and-rail/research-and-data/state-highway-frequently-asked-questions/|archive-date=27 March 2017|access-date=27 March 2017|publisher=New Zealand Transport Agency}}</ref>

Queenstown is the departure point for a large number of bus day trips to Milford Sound, which entails a return trip of approximately 12 hours. There are scenic flights available to and from Milford Sound. A return flight, including a two-hour cruise, is approximately four hours.

{{See also|Transport in Milford Sound|l1=Transport to Milford Sound}}

=== Utilities ===
In September 2023, there was an outbreak of illness caused by [[Queenstown cryptosporidiosis outbreak|cryptosporidium in Queenstown]], with most cases located in the central business area and affecting people under the age of 40. Health officials were unable to immediately link the cases, or identify the source of the outbreak, and described the outbreak as very unusual.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 September 2023 |title=Queenstown gastro outbreak 'very unusual' – health official |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/498358/queenstown-gastro-outbreak-very-unusual-health-official |access-date=26 September 2023 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz |archive-date=26 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926065558/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/498358/queenstown-gastro-outbreak-very-unusual-health-official |url-status=live }}</ref>  A [[Boil-water advisory|"boil water" notice]] was issued for all water supplies across Queenstown.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 September 2023 |title=Boil water notice for Queenstown after outbreak of sickness |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/498265/boil-water-notice-for-queenstown-after-outbreak-of-sickness |access-date=26 September 2023 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz |archive-date=26 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926065257/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/498265/boil-water-notice-for-queenstown-after-outbreak-of-sickness |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Cryptosporidium outbreak – advice and information |url=https://www.qldc.govt.nz/community/emergency-management/cryptosporidium-outbreak-advice-and-information |access-date=26 September 2023 |website=Queenstown Lakes District Council |language=en-NZ |archive-date=26 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926070923/https://www.qldc.govt.nz/community/emergency-management/cryptosporidium-outbreak-advice-and-information |url-status=live }}</ref> The regulator Taumata Arowai issued a compliance order to the Queenstown Lakes District Council for one of its water treatment plants, because it did not have a [[protozoa]] barrier to prevent cryptosporidium entering the water supply.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 September 2023 |title=Queenstown cryptosporidium outbreak: Council served with compliance order for water treatment plant |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/498415/queenstown-cryptosporidium-outbreak-council-served-with-compliance-order-for-water-treatment-plant |access-date=26 September 2023 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz |archive-date=26 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926065257/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/498415/queenstown-cryptosporidium-outbreak-council-served-with-compliance-order-for-water-treatment-plant |url-status=live }}</ref>

Electricity distribution in Queenstown is the responsibility of two companies, Dunedin-based [[Aurora Energy (New Zealand)|Aurora Energy]] and Invercargill-based Powernet. Electricity is supplied from [[Transpower New Zealand|Transpower]]'s national grid at its substation in Frankton, which in turn is fed by a twin-circuit 110,000-volt line from Transpower's Cromwell substation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fears Queenstown at risk of Auckland-style blackout|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/otago/115792435/fears-queenstown-at-risk-of-aucklandstyle-blackout|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en|access-date=20 May 2020|archive-date=31 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731113024/https://www.stuff.co.nz/otago/115792435/fears-queenstown-at-risk-of-aucklandstyle-blackout|url-status=live}}</ref>

Queenstown was one of the last towns in New Zealand to rely on a manual [[telephone exchange]], requiring all calls to be connected by an operator. By the early 1980s, the outdated system was overloaded, causing frequent delays—sometimes over an hour for toll calls—frustrating locals and businesses, particularly in the tourism sector. Despite long-standing promises of an upgrade, progress was slow, prompting growing concerns and calls for urgent action. Temporary measures, such as additional switchboards and staff, provided limited relief. After years of setbacks, Queenstown’s long-awaited automatic exchange finally opened in 1986.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brady |first=Alan |date=27 April 1982 |title=Queenstown’s telephones cause of frustration |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19820427.2.123 |work=[[The Press]] |pages=22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=18 April 1985 |title=Queenstown worried about phone delays |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19850418.2.35 |work=[[The Press]]}}</ref> [[Fibre to the premises]] was rolled-out in Queenstown as part of the Fifth National Government's [[Ultra-Fast Broadband]] programme, with the rollout completed in July 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Queenstown UFB rollout now complete|url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/queenstown-ufb-rollout-now-complete|website=The Beehive|language=en|access-date=20 May 2020|archive-date=27 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927080506/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/queenstown-ufb-rollout-now-complete|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Sam Neill]] (born 1947), actor, has a home in Queenstown
*[[Tim Bevan]] (born 1957), film producer, was born in Queenstown
*[[Jaime Passier-Armstrong]] (born 1981), actress, was born in Queenstown
*[[Jane Taylor (lawyer)|Jane Taylor]], lawyer and current Chair of [[New Zealand Post]], lives in Queenstown
*[[Kim Dotcom]], internet entrepreneur

==Sister cities==
* [[Aspen, Colorado]], [[United States]]<ref>[http://www.qldc.govt.nz/sister_cities Sister Cities] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429155221/http://www.qldc.govt.nz/sister_cities |date=29 April 2012 }}</ref>
* [[Hangzhou]], [[Zhejiang]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ori.hangzhou.com.cn/ornews/content/2014-10/16/content_5486998.htm|title=新西兰皇后镇与杭州"互粉" 杭州"朋友圈"新增3个友好城市 – 杭网原创 – 杭州网|access-date=16 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115173048/http://ori.hangzhou.com.cn/ornews/content/2014-10/16/content_5486998.htm|archive-date=15 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=International Relationships|url=http://www.qldc.govt.nz/your-council/elected-members/international-relationships/|website=Queenstown Lakes District|access-date=16 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322120848/http://www.qldc.govt.nz/your-council/elected-members/international-relationships/|archive-date=22 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Hikimi, Shimane|Hikimi]], [[Shimane Prefecture|Shimane]] (now a part of [[Masuda, Shimane|Masuda]]), [[Japan]]<ref name=":0" />

{{wide image|Remarkables.jpg|800px|Panorama of the view from the Remarkables towards [[Queenstown Airport]], with Queenstown beyond}}

==See also==
* [[Tourism in New Zealand]]

==Bibliography==
* {{Cite book | first=A. W. | last=Reed | title=The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names | publisher=Reed Books | location=Auckland, New Zealand | year=2002 | isbn=0-7900-0761-4}}

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage inline|Queenstown (New Zealand)}}

{{Commons category-inline|Queenstown, New Zealand}}
* [http://www.qldc.govt.nz/ Queenstown Lakes District Council]
* [http://www.queenstownnz.co.nz/ Queenstown Tourism official site]

{{Geographic Location
|title     = '''Near-by cities, towns and places'''
|Northwest = [[Glenorchy, New Zealand|Glenorchy]] and [[Mount Aspiring National Park]]
|North = [[Mount Aspiring National Park]]
|Northeast = [[Arrowtown]] and [[Wānaka]]
|Centre    = Queenstown
|East      = [[Cromwell, New Zealand|Cromwell]]
|Southeast = [[Alexandra, New Zealand|Alexandra]]
|Southwest = [[Te Anau]]
|South     = [[Invercargill]]
}}
{{Territorial Authorities of New Zealand}}
{{Queenstown-Lakes}}
{{Tolkien tourism}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Queenstown, New Zealand| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Otago]]
[[Category:1863 establishments in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1863]]
[[Category:Populated places on Lake Wakatipu]]