Getting there

Planes

Catch a direct flight to Queenstown Airport (www.queenstownairport.co.nz), eight kilometres east of town, from Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch with Air New Zealand (www.airnewzealand.co.nz), or from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, Australia. Qantas (www.qantas.com.au) also flies to Queenstown from Kiwi cities Auckland, Christchurch and Rotorua and major Oz cities; and Jetstar routes in from Auckland and Christchurch (www.jetstar.com). Mainland Air (www.mainlandair.com) offers charter flights across the South Island. From the airport, a taxi into town costs around NZ$25.

Boats

Cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the evocative, steam-powered TSS Earnslaw (www.zqn.co.nz/earnslaw), with the option of a barbecue and farmyard tour at Walter Peak High Country Farm.

Trains

NZ’s limited, geographically challenged rail service doesn’t extend to Queenstown, but you can hop aboard the Kingston Flyer (www.kingstonflyer.co.nz) for a 14-kilometre heritage steam train ride between Kingston and Fairlight, on the southern edge of Lake Wakatipu.

Automobiles

If you’re based in Queenstown you won’t need a car, as it’s small and pleasantly walkable. However, to explore the surrounding area a car is invaluable. All the major car hire firms have offices at the airport or try one of the local companies such as Jucy rentals (www.jucy.co.nz). Around town the Connectabus (www.connectabus.com) has three colour-coded routes.