BreakFree The Waterfront

The towering granite peaks dominate the landscape, dwarfing the township that stretches along the deep blue waters of the lake.

Queenstown is a captive of its geography, a vibrant, cosmopolitan community hidden in the rugged heart of New Zealand's South Island.

One of the most breathtakingly beautiful towns to be found in a nation blessed with natural splendour, its physical charms have made it one of the focal points of New Zealand tourism.

The waters of Lake Wakatipu, 82km long and the third largest in the country, impart an aura of serenity to the town and provide a stunning, panoramic outlook for the bars and restaurants -that cluster along its foreshore.

Guarded against the outside world by the imposing, craggy outline of The Remarkables, Queenstown is a microcosm of upmarket restaurants, three to six star resorts, hotels and apartments, bars, retail outlets and leisure activities surrounded by the raw beauty of the South Island.

Around it and in company with The Remarkables soar the Richardson Mountains, the Crown Range, the Thomson Mountains, the Livingstone Mountains and the Humboldt Mountains, all creating an awe inspiring alpine landscape at odds with the urban sophistication of the town.

There are two Queenstowns, the winter playground to which skiers and snowboarders throng in the thousands and the lush green lakeside town bathed in the summer sunshine.

The skiing is acknowledged as among the best in the world, fields like Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Treble Cone and Cardrona drawing enthusiasts from Europe, America, Australia and increasingly, Asia.

The influx of tourists has also fuelled a growth in soft adventure and extreme leisure activities from piloting fly-by-wire aircraft to tandem paragliding and mountain biking down 2000m peaks.

Add to these the natural attractions of the Milford Sound, the Shotover River and Lake Wanaka and the quaint appeal of nearby villages such as Arrowtown and Glenorchy its not hard to see why Queenstown is a must-see destination.

Ultimately, however it's the majesty of the mountains, the broad blue reach of the lake and clear, sharp air which beckon and overwhelm the visitor to this unique township.

This upsurge in popularity has bought with it an expansion in accommodation and there is now a wide range of options ranging from million dollar five star apartments to three star affordable family units available under the BreakFree banner.

Queenstown has a wide range of activites for each season of the year, we are situated 20 minutes drive to the nearest skifield.

Fishing, parasailing, rafting, bungy jumping, wine tours, jetboating, horse riding, hang-gliding, scenic flights - we can arrange all your holiday activities in the Queenstown Southern Lakes area from our tour desk.

© Copyright 2012 Wotif.com Holdings Limited. ABN 41 093 000 456.