Queenstown - the jewel of NZ's South Island
Queenstown is a cosmopolitan year-round resort with a permanent population of around 15,000 people.
Queenstown is located in the centre of New Zealand's South Island, about three-quarters of the way down the mainland. Situated on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, beside the Remarkables mountain range, Queenstown rests 310 metres (1020 feet) above sea level.
Queenstown is treated to four distinct seasons:
- Summer (December to February) is hot and dry with daily temperatures ranging from 19C to 29C or 66F to 84F.
- Autumn (March to May) is usually clear and crisp with temperatures ranging from 12C to 22C or 53.6F to 71.6F.
- Winter (June to August) brings cold and frosty weather and regular snow falls, with daily averages of 1C to 10C or 34F to 50F.
- Spring (September to November) has warm days but crisp mornings and evenings with daily averages of 16C or 43F.
Nestled on New Zealand's third largest lake
Lake Wakatipu is New Zealand's third largest lake. The lake is unique because it 'breathes' - the water level rises and falls as much as 12 centimetres every five minutes. This movement is caused by wind, or variations in atmospheric pressure. Maori legend says Lake Wakatipu was formed by an evil giant who kidnapped a beautiful Maori maiden. The giant was felled by the maiden's rescuer and only the giant's beating heart survived, causing the lake's regular rising and falling.
Geological history says the lake and surrounding landscape were formed by an ice age as recent as 14,000 years ago.
The Queenstown Resort College is located two minutes walk from Lake Wakatipu!
Queenstown's History
Queenstown is many things to many different people. It is both a bustling tourism mecca, a place of constant change and development and it is also a place of heritage and history. In its earliest days in the 1860's, what is now a world famous resort was a land of high country stations, gold miner's camps, ale houses and trade posts.
Of course those days are long gone - the only sign of them now are a few remaining buildings and faded sepia pictures. Downtown Queenstown is now a cosmopolitan area where the restaurants, shops and hotels of the world have set up in a bid to secure the all-important tourist dollar. Whether here for a long or short stay, it is a town of opportunity - and it is within the tourism and hospitality industries that the most opportunity lies.
Queenstown's entrepreneurial nature is reflected in the multi-million dollar hotels, houses and apartments, the phenominal earth moving projects and the several hundred sightseeing and adventure activities - most of which are innovative and unique to Queenstown.
Queenstown is the home of New Zealand adventure travel and is the most amazing place for travel and study abroad.
Offering something for everyone
Queenstown is world-renowned as the adventure tourism capital of the world. However, thanks to its stunning natural features and innovative tourism industry, you don't have to be an adrenaline junkie to have a fabulous time! There is a huge range of activities for people of all ages and all levels of risk.
Study Abroad in Queenstown, NZ
If you are planning to travel to New Zealand, why not take the opportunity to study abroad in Queenstown, and take advantage of the study abroad and internship programmes at Queenstown Resort College? The city is the center of adventure tourism in New Zealand and is well situated to study tourism and hospitality management.