Tony's Queenstown Guidebook
Food Scene
Great vibe, great food. Easy parking! This small grocery store specialises in hard to find ingredients for the chef among us. Their fresh food and produce is among the best in town; the attached café is busy and popular with locals.
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Raeward Fresh Queenstown
53 Robins RdGreat vibe, great food. Easy parking! This small grocery store specialises in hard to find ingredients for the chef among us. Their fresh food and produce is among the best in town; the attached café is busy and popular with locals.
This eatery features a wood-fired oven and the aromas of Italy. The freshest produce is crafted into pizza and pasta dishes along with all the side dishes, plus enough alternatives to satisfy everyone. The ambience is warm and inviting and intimate.
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Bella Cucina
6 Brecon StThis eatery features a wood-fired oven and the aromas of Italy. The freshest produce is crafted into pizza and pasta dishes along with all the side dishes, plus enough alternatives to satisfy everyone. The ambience is warm and inviting and intimate.
Whilst specialising in seafood, Finz also has NZ beef and Southland lamb to tempt you. On the water front, you can sit outside and watch the Earnslaw sail past.
FINZ Seafood & Grill
Whilst specialising in seafood, Finz also has NZ beef and Southland lamb to tempt you. On the water front, you can sit outside and watch the Earnslaw sail past.
This place has a vibe that is contagious - really busy with excellent coffee and great food. Right in town on the water front.
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Vudu Cafe
16 Rees StThis place has a vibe that is contagious - really busy with excellent coffee and great food. Right in town on the water front.
odd saint
Cafe scene for breakfast or lunch. Great sunny court yard, really varied menu.
Iconic Queenstown burger joint. I've no idea how it became the institution that it is - maybe because the do a great burger. But expect to queue up.
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Fergburger
42 Shotover StIconic Queenstown burger joint. I've no idea how it became the institution that it is - maybe because the do a great burger. But expect to queue up.
The Place To Be on a evening as the sun sets. Pre-dinner drinks and tapas. Beautiful views up the lake.
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The Lodge Bar
2 Rees StThe Place To Be on a evening as the sun sets. Pre-dinner drinks and tapas. Beautiful views up the lake.
Drinks and dinner. The front tables have superb views of the bay and lake. Their lamb is great.
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The Grille by Eichardt's
9 Marine ParadeDrinks and dinner. The front tables have superb views of the bay and lake. Their lamb is great.
Blue Kanu
16 Church StPacifika fusion cuisine. Great atmosphere, great staff.
Intimate and atmospheric dining. A degustation experience
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The Bunker Restaurant
14 Cow LnIntimate and atmospheric dining. A degustation experience
The Bathhouse
38 Marine ParadeLunch and coffee, or champagne on the beach. Really nice.
Grab yourself a coffee as you walk up to gondola bottom terminal. Next to the medical centre; great coffee and awesome gluten free/vegan options.
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Bespoke Kitchen
9 Isle StGrab yourself a coffee as you walk up to gondola bottom terminal. Next to the medical centre; great coffee and awesome gluten free/vegan options.
Sightseeing
This must-do gondola takes you up a steep hill to a restaurant and look out point high over Queenstown. Not for the faint hearted but the iconic views over the lake have to be seen to be believed. The cafe is often very busy and there are possibly better cafes in town. Evening dining can be had but bookings are required. Again, there are possibly better eateries to found in town.
For a bit of excitement, try the luge - ride your own cart down the paved pathway. It is truly great fun.
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Skyline Queenstown
53 Brecon StThis must-do gondola takes you up a steep hill to a restaurant and look out point high over Queenstown. Not for the faint hearted but the iconic views over the lake have to be seen to be believed. The cafe is often very busy and there are possibly better cafes in town. Evening dining can be had but bookings are required. Again, there are possibly better eateries to found in town.
For a bit of excitement, try the luge - ride your own cart down the paved pathway. It is truly great fun.
Locate the start of this trail on Belfast terrace. It will take some energy and reasonable level of fitness to walk the hour up to the 'Basket Of Dream' a sculpture found on Queenstown Hill. Walk a little further and find great views over the lake.
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Queenstown Hill Walking Track
58 Belfast TerraceLocate the start of this trail on Belfast terrace. It will take some energy and reasonable level of fitness to walk the hour up to the 'Basket Of Dream' a sculpture found on Queenstown Hill. Walk a little further and find great views over the lake.
Arrowtown is a village a short distance from Queenstown that was the location of the begining of the local gold rush in the mid to late 19th century. Buildings from that time remain. Walk down the historic main street, try your hand at gold panning in the Arrow River (one time the richest gold bearing stream in the world). Have lunch at one of the cafes or a superb hot pie from the bakery. In autumn, the colours are spectacular.
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Arrowtown
Arrowtown is a village a short distance from Queenstown that was the location of the begining of the local gold rush in the mid to late 19th century. Buildings from that time remain. Walk down the historic main street, try your hand at gold panning in the Arrow River (one time the richest gold bearing stream in the world). Have lunch at one of the cafes or a superb hot pie from the bakery. In autumn, the colours are spectacular.
This is a tiny secluded village at the head of the lake, about 40 minutes drive north/west of Queenstown. There isn't a great deal there, but the drive up is spectacular and is the launching point for the world famous Routeburn Track. The road is a bit narrow in places but quite manageable if you keep your speed down. In this area are some the spots where the 'Lord of the Rings' was filmed.
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Glenorchy
This is a tiny secluded village at the head of the lake, about 40 minutes drive north/west of Queenstown. There isn't a great deal there, but the drive up is spectacular and is the launching point for the world famous Routeburn Track. The road is a bit narrow in places but quite manageable if you keep your speed down. In this area are some the spots where the 'Lord of the Rings' was filmed.
The highest peak on the horizon behind Queesntown is Ben Lomond. A summer half-day walk up there and back with a good level of fitness required. Views are second to none, but don't expect to be on your own as it is popular. Not available in winter due to snow.
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Ben Lomond
The highest peak on the horizon behind Queesntown is Ben Lomond. A summer half-day walk up there and back with a good level of fitness required. Views are second to none, but don't expect to be on your own as it is popular. Not available in winter due to snow.
Parks & Nature
Beautiful rose gardens, frisbee golf, friendly ducks to feed in the pond. A reall reaceful green area, free of charge.
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Queenstown Gardens Disc Golf
Beautiful rose gardens, frisbee golf, friendly ducks to feed in the pond. A reall reaceful green area, free of charge.
The is a walkway/cycle track that is part of the Queenstown Trail network. An absolutely brilliant network of trails that will take you from Queenstown to Kelvin Heights, out to Arrowtown and beyond. Totally free of charge but you may need to hire a bike. The views and special places you will on this trail you will remember for ever!
Frankton Track
Frankton RoadThe is a walkway/cycle track that is part of the Queenstown Trail network. An absolutely brilliant network of trails that will take you from Queenstown to Kelvin Heights, out to Arrowtown and beyond. Totally free of charge but you may need to hire a bike. The views and special places you will on this trail you will remember for ever!
This small and picturesque lake is to be found between Queenstown and Arrowtown. There is a walking/cycle trail that circumnavigates the lake. Takes about 3 hour to walk but is easy and a beautiful to spend an afternoon.
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Lake Hayes
This small and picturesque lake is to be found between Queenstown and Arrowtown. There is a walking/cycle trail that circumnavigates the lake. Takes about 3 hour to walk but is easy and a beautiful to spend an afternoon.
Peaceful gardens with a pond full of friendly ducks, needing to be fed - always a favourite with children. In summer, the rose gardens are particularly beautiful. There is a walking or jogging track around the gardens also, that takes you to a magical spot where you can look up the lake to the west, in your own special place.
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Queenstown Gardens
Peaceful gardens with a pond full of friendly ducks, needing to be fed - always a favourite with children. In summer, the rose gardens are particularly beautiful. There is a walking or jogging track around the gardens also, that takes you to a magical spot where you can look up the lake to the west, in your own special place.
Arts & Culture
A bit of insight into the history of the area.
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Lakes District Museum & Art Gallery
49 Buckingham StA bit of insight into the history of the area.
A short walk from Arrowtown's main street is a re-created settlement where Chinese miners lived during the 19th century gold rush.
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Historic Arrowtown Chinese Settlement
Buckingham StreetA short walk from Arrowtown's main street is a re-created settlement where Chinese miners lived during the 19th century gold rush.
Night life
This place starts the evening off doing the best pizza in Queenstown then morphs into a club as the night goes on. Upstairs in the Mall you'll find here a young and energetic crowd. The place has an opening roof that lets in the night sky...
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Winnies
7-9 The MallThis place starts the evening off doing the best pizza in Queenstown then morphs into a club as the night goes on. Upstairs in the Mall you'll find here a young and energetic crowd. The place has an opening roof that lets in the night sky...
Entertainment and activities
The Steamer Wharf is slightly apart from the action of The Mall. Here there are mostly eateries and bars. Upstairs there is a casino.
As its name suggests, it is also where the steamship TSS Earnslaw departs on her regular sailings across Lake Wakatipu. The Earnslaw is synonymous with Queenstown and has been plying the deep and cold lake waters since 1912, having been launched the same year as the Titanic.
Buy tickets to sail on the Earnslaw from 'Real Journey' whom have an office at the Steamer Wharf.
Steamer Wharf station
88 Beach StThe Steamer Wharf is slightly apart from the action of The Mall. Here there are mostly eateries and bars. Upstairs there is a casino.
As its name suggests, it is also where the steamship TSS Earnslaw departs on her regular sailings across Lake Wakatipu. The Earnslaw is synonymous with Queenstown and has been plying the deep and cold lake waters since 1912, having been launched the same year as the Titanic.
Buy tickets to sail on the Earnslaw from 'Real Journey' whom have an office at the Steamer Wharf.
A wet day or just need some indoor time? Catch the latest Hollywood offering....
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Queenstown Mall
A wet day or just need some indoor time? Catch the latest Hollywood offering....
Here there is a swimming pool and water slide. Always a winner with the kids.
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Alpine Aqualand
Joe Oconnell DriveHere there is a swimming pool and water slide. Always a winner with the kids.
Shopping
Situated a short drive or bus ride east from Queenstown, toward the airport, is this shopping precinct. A variety of shops are located here including the big-box standards such as K-Mart. Cafes and informal eateries also abound along with the full size supermarket, 'Countdown'.
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Five Mile Shopping Centre
34 Grant RdSituated a short drive or bus ride east from Queenstown, toward the airport, is this shopping precinct. A variety of shops are located here including the big-box standards such as K-Mart. Cafes and informal eateries also abound along with the full size supermarket, 'Countdown'.
This full service discount supermarket is a little out of town toward the airport but has the best prices and selection of groceries.
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PAK'nSAVE Queenstown
302 Hawthorne DrThis full service discount supermarket is a little out of town toward the airport but has the best prices and selection of groceries.
O'Connells Shopping Centre
Brand new, high-end boutique shopping.