11 top tips for visiting Queenstown
Bungy jumping is a must-do activity when you visit New Zealand’s most popular adventure city. Just make sure you read this advice first.
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There’s one thing you’ve got to pack when you visit Queenstown: baggy clothes.
That’s one of the hot tips from the bunch of ordinary Aussies let loose in the New Zealand adventure city as part of the Channel 9 reality show Travel Guides.
The show sees six groups of Aussies become travel critics in destinations around the world, with tonight’s focus on Queenstown, where bungy jumping is a must-do.
“Keep your clothing loose, especially around the crutch because you’ll know about that bungy harness when it yanks up, so keep it breezy down there fellas, I learnt the hard way,” warns backpacker Matty, one of the travellers featured on the show.
But if you forget to pack your comfy clothes, his travel partner, Monni, has the answer.
“For bungy jumping, no clothes are the best clothes!”
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When the six Travel Guides groups — from the Queensland cowgirl twins who’d never been overseas to a trio of well-travelled flight attendants — shared their top tips with Escape after their Queenstown adventure, there was a common theme. Despite their diverse backgrounds all were impressed by Queenstown’s spectacular scenery.
“Your eyes will almost be hurting from an overload of picture perfect vistas and natural beauty,” is the warning from flight attendant trio Chrissy, Mon and Kath.
“What an absolutely beautiful country jam packed with adrenaline-pumping fun too,” adds Dean, of the big-spending Rifai family.
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1. It’s a cheaper, easier alternative to Europe
“It is like going to Europe with the amazing scenery and endless amounts of things to do and eat but only a few hours away on the plane.”
- Cathy, from the Newcastle family of bargain hunters
2. You’ll need your camera
“The most surprising thing about Queenstown is that it’s not just a skiing haunt. In summer, it shines and a 10-minute drive out of town has you in the middle of absolute retina-detaching beauty. If you’re looking for a new screen saver, don’t forget the camera.”
- Travel snobs Kevin and Janetta
3. Don’t forget your knitting needles
“The wool in New Zealand is also amazing so if you’re into your knitting like me pack your knitting needles.”
- Cathy, from the Newcastle family of bargain hunters
4. Bring your appetite
“If you’re a foodie, you’ll fatten up well in Queenstown. Around Lake Wakatipu are too many great eateries to ignore. And if you think you’re only going to be served lamb, all I can say is baaa humbug!”
- Travel snobs Kevin and Janetta
5. You’ve got to learn the lingo
“New Zealand customs integration check; hand over your Esky for the chilly bin, trade in your thongs for jandals, call all your mates Bruu and if you don’t know them just call them cuz instead! NZ: Linguistically hilarious.”
- Spiritual backpacker Matty
6. There’s one thing you should splurge on
“If a helicopter ride is within your budget then the glacier is a must! Spectacular! There is a lot of energy off that pristine waterfall, Mother Nature at her best!”
- Flight attendants Chrissy, Mon and Kath
7. Pack for all weather
“When Neil Finn wrote Four Seasons in One Day he must have been in Queenstown. Where else can you get autumn in the morning, summer in the afternoon, spring in the evening and winter at night? Pack a bit of everything, except the expectation that it’ll just be like home. It ain’t!”
- Travel snobs Kevin and Janetta
8. You can stay in style, in a caravan
“The Kiwis have taken the concept of the humble holiday park to an art form. If you really must travel around in a motorhome (as you do in the South Island), Creeksyde Holiday Park in Queenstown is the artiest and quirkiest place to stay. Again, the Kiwis can teach us a lot about many things — holiday parks is just one.”
- Travel snobs Kevin and Janetta
9. Don’t miss the best fish and chips in town
“The only place to eat fush ’n’ chups is Erik’s Fish and Chips. If you like oysters they are amazing here too.”
- Flight attendants Chrissy, Mon and Kath
10. Give luging a go
“Its great fun luging down the mountain, even more fun of your friends don’t take you out (Kath)!
- Flight attendants Chrissy, Mon and Kath
11. Be prepared to fall in love
“The most surprising thing was Queenstown itself with the lake and beautiful mountains they have there. It’s a tourist town but it feels like it has a country style about it with places like Glenorchy close by. We didn’t realise that one place could be so beautiful that it would leave us speechless.”
- Cowgirl twins Stack and Mel
Travel Guides screens at 9pm Tuesdays on Channel 9.
Originally published as 11 top tips for visiting Queenstown
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