Things to do in Queenstown
Dare to ride the rapids with only a bodyboard
Queenstown is unquestionably the adventure sports capital of an extreme sports obsessed nation. It's rivers are a playground; careen down the Karawau with some white water rafting, shoot through the Shotover river with a jet boat or try Mad Dog River Boarding (tel: +64 3 442 5262; www.riverboarding.co.nz), navigating the rapids with nothing but a body board.
Follow the Iron Way up Queenstown Hill
The best way to get to grips with rock climbing is to follow a viaferrata. Climbing Queenstown (tel: +64 27 477 9393; www.climbingqueenstown.com) will take you to the only one in the Southern Hemisphere. Literally translated as Iron Way, climbers follow a series of fixed rungs as they snake up Queenstown Hill for unrivalled views.
Put yourself in the landscape with a hike
Put one foot in front of the other and be rewarded with some of New Zealand's most magical views. For ramblers with resolve, the Ben Lomond Summit Track is a tough hike but boasts spectacular panoramic views, whilst the easier Frankton Arm Walkway is an unforgettable Lake Wakatipu shoreline stroll.
Take to the skies with an aerial adventure
In order to see the best of Queenstown, you'll need a head for heights. Sky diving, paragliding and hang-gliding are among the aerial adventures you can enjoy, enabling you to truly appreciate the area's scenic wonders. A number of companies like NZONE (tel: +64 3 442 5867; www.nzoneskydive.co.nz) take in the Remarkables and glistening Lake Wakatipu.
Throw yourself deep into a canyon
If nature has carved out a beautiful canyon, than an adrenaline junky has dreamt up a way to explore it. Try Nevis (tel: +64 3 450 1300; www.bungy.co.nz); at 143m (440ft), it is one of the highest bungee jumps in the world. Or for those who want to fly, the Shotover Canyon Swing (tel: +64 3 442 6990; www.canyonswing.co.nz) can provide that pleasure.
