Kia ora!

Welcome to autumn in Queenstown. The golden and red hues dominate the hills around the region and contrast with the deep blue of our lakes and rivers—here you can truly immerse yourself in the wonders of the season.

We've got some great updates for you this quarter. There are some great product developments, we have TRENZ in Ōtautahi Christchurch from 8-11 May 2023, alongside some great famils and Travel to a Thriving Future, our regenerative tourism strategy is officially underway.

If you need to contact one of the team or have any questions, you can learn more about us, and contact us at any time.  You can find out more on our website, Facebook group, or YouTube channel.

Ngā mihi nui (Kind regards),
Linda, Tracy and Alex

Queenstown Update

Queenstown town centre upgrades and district roading and Infrastructure enhancements (including the new arterial road) are progressing well, with exciting developments underway in the region. 

Ritchies has increased their bus services between Queenstown and Wānaka to four times a day.

The Queenstown Marina has dedicated coach parking that is run by Wilsons Car Parking if you are in need of coach parking near Queenstown.

Twelve new bus drivers have been recruited for Queenstown. The Otago Regional Council says the drivers will start in March and further drivers will arrive from that point onwards, however, there is a period for drivers to get through immigration processes and training. Queenstown is not expected to return to a full timetable service until 1 June. More details are here. 

We recommend you check out the What's New section of our website for our latest product updates. This includes New Products, Major Developments, and our Accommodation Pipeline alongside our Accommodation and Airline Connectivity Maps & Guides.

The latest Nine Month Forward Outlook indicates the current levels of forward-looking accommodation occupancy in Queenstown to help you choose a time when Queenstown will deliver the optimal visitor experience for your clients.

If you missed our Quarterly On-Demand Training you can find these and other resources on our website. Keep an eye on your inbox at the start of next month for the next online training.

Regenerative Tourism

The Queenstown Lakes regenerative tourism strategy (including carbon zero visitor economy by 2030) is officially underway following the unanimous endorsement of the Queenstown Lakes District Councillors at their full council meeting. This was the final formal step in the adoption of the region's destination management plan.

If there’s an obvious illustration of regenerative tourism, it can be found at the end of the road - the Headwaters Eco Lodge in Glenorchy.   This is a place with a ‘triple bottom line’ philosophy: an award-winning and continually measured commitment to the environment that sees it generate more energy than it uses; design a circular waste management system that feeds into three wetlands; restore the land with native tree and plant species and it benefits residents and local businesses with all their profits fed back into the Glenorchy Community Trust.

Canyon Brewing is brewing and growing its own beer to help lower its carbon footprint. They recently harvested their second year of locally grown barley – all part of their ongoing effort to reduce their carbon footprint. Read about how the recent changes made by the company are inspiring its team and how its beer is not just brewed here - it grew up here! 

RealNZ recently began a trapping project at Walter Peak covering 159 hectares. A total of 136 traps were installed, concentrated around the homestead and spread out across the peninsula and along the station boundary. Over the past four months, they have recorded over 100 total kills in traps. RealNZ has seen an increase in the presence of pest species in the last few weeks, so they are keen to get back out there checking and re-baiting.

Travel to a thriving future, our destination management plan is now available to read and download. More stories can be found on our website.

Travel and Aviation

  • NZ Traveller Declaration will be revamped in June 2023. The task of filling in a passenger arrival card will be no more for travellers entering New Zealand. Customs NZ is replacing the manual arrival card all travellers have to fill out on a plane with a revamped digital version of the NZ Traveller Declaration.
  • Air New Zealand and Airbus's hydrogen partnership is entering the next stage with the inclusion of New Zealand's key hydrogen ecosystem players. The hydrogen consortium will seek to advance hydrogen-powered commercial flights and develop hubs at airports across the country.
  • Delta Airlines has confirmed that it will start flying to New Zealand in October 2023 with its Los Angeles-Auckland route.
  • More flights to Shanghai. Air New Zealand has expanded its flight offerings to Shanghai, China to fly three times a week and is moving to four passenger services a week from 4 February, taking its weekly capacity to 1,200 seats. 
  • Emirates will be relaunching its Dubai-Christchurch route in March.
  • Encourage visitors to be prepared.  New Zealand Search and Rescue, Tiaki and the Department of Conservation have teamed up to create a two-minute video that provides advice and key safety messages to international and domestic visitors- 'Beautiful, wild, unpredictable: Be AdventureSmart in Aotearoa'.
  • The number of working holiday visas for Chinese citizens (aged between 18 – 30) who want to work or study in New Zealand has doubled for 2022 from 1000 to 2000 visas.  
  • Air New Zealand has completed a "successful trial" using biometric verification at the boarding gate at Los Angeles International Airport.
  • Air New Zealand has revealed what the future of flying could look like around the region, unveiling plans for zero-emission planes, with more partners recently announced.
  • Jet Star has announced new direct flights from Auckland to Brisbane in time for Easter.

Accommodation

Lodge Lorien is a stunning, contemporary, executive residence overlooking Lake Whakatipu and the breathtaking Humboldt Mountains. Situated a short drive from the town of Glenorchy and only a 45-minute drive from Queenstown International Airport.

Check In is a digital concierge service here to help you add value through elevated holiday home experiences and services. They believe genuine local connections and tapping into local knowledge is key to maximising your clients' experience. 

Millennium Hotel Queenstown is currently undergoing a major refurbishment including all rooms and bathrooms with walk-in showers, due for completion by the end of 2023.

Olivers and The Lord Clyde Boutique B&B Lodges (20 rooms)where elegance and history blend. Clyde is a 1-hour drive from Queenstown Airport with restaurants, bars, cafés, galleries, fine homeware stores and 4 Great NZ Rides.

Wedderburn Cottages (14 cottages) along the Otago Central Rail Trail offer self‑drive visitors the opportunity to stay on a high-country station blanketed in a brilliant night sky.  Breakfast is included and a tavern is at the end of the drive ensuring visitors and locals mix and mingle.

Activities

The winter season is only a couple of months away, here are the provisional dates for opening and closing: Coronet Peak (16 June - 24 September), The Remarkables (17 June - 8 October), Cardrona (17 June - 22 October) and Treble Cone (24 June - 1 October).

Albatross Travel Service has purchased a new 12-seater Mercedes Benz Sprinter vehicle and will take delivery in April.

A new Shadow Basin Chairlift has been proposed by NZSki for The Remarkables ski area. NZSki has applied to the Department of Conservation (DOC) to replace its 32-year-old Shadow Basin chairlift with a bigger and faster model.

Professional Touring has been providing luxury transport options for many years in and around the Queenstown region. They have continued to grow their fleet over recent months with a new 16-seat Mercedes Sprinter.

Queenstown's iconic TSS Earnslaw will go on its annual survey from 15 May until 26 June 2023. Walter Peak will still be operational and RealNZ is accepting bookings for Walter Peak dining and farm tours during this duration.

Altitude Tours has added two new vans - Cecil and Walter to their fleet. These modern 16-seater Mercedes Sprinter vans help open additional capacity across their tours, in particular Milford Sound.

Skyline Queenstown will close from 23 April until early July 2023 for the big changeover of the new gondola. The installation marks the end of an era of the iconic Skyline 4-seater gondola, making way for the new 10-seater gondola.

BLACK has added an additional Mercedes Sprinter (11 seater) to their fleet. This increases their ability to carry more small groups and families in the future.

Beam Scooters are coming to Queenstown. This is the first shared e-scooter trial and will operate in partnership with local businesses and property owners.

Do your clients prefer to self-drive? Inspirational multi-day itineraries are available on the Central Otago Touring Route website.  Connect Queenstown to Ōtepoti/Dunedin via Central Otago, linking airports, experiences and accommodation.

Booking your clients onto Goldfields Jet for a thrilling 40-minute ride includes transfers and complimentary entry into Highlands Motorsport Museum filled with free/fun activities plus Pitstop Café and Loo with a View.  More bookable experiences available.

Goldfields Jet has a new check-in location and complimentary van transfers to/from the river.  It offers a fun 40‑minute jetboat journey in the rocky gorge of the Kawarau River. 

Your Seller’s Guide to Central Otago’s Cycle Trails is now online. Build confidence, grow commissions and book clients on cycle trails with confidence. Product knowledge is key. Take the time to learn so you can match your client’s cycling ability with the right trail.

Experience one of the best kayak trips in the world, a three-hour trip gets you close to Milford’s iconic Bowen Falls waterfall, wildlife and mountains that reach from the sea to the sky. Paddle in paradise with Rosco’s Milford Kayaks!

Food and Drink

Secret Garden and Woolshed open at Mrs Woolly’s. Visitors to Glenorchy can now enjoy Mrs Woolly’s ‘fresh to go food’ (made by its on site chefs) in a sheltered secret garden, or if the weather’s inclement – inside the Woolshed.

The Bathhouse has recently reopened. The refreshed heritage building is open to diners seven days a week from sunrise to sunset. The Bathhouse Lakefront Restaurant is an à la carte dining destination during the day, hosting events in the evenings for up to 100 guests.

Gibbston Valley is offering a revised menu, a change in tour packages and revised operating days. Please visit their website for more information.

 

Coffee Afloat has opened up a new location right here in Queenstown. They are open daily 9am - 3pm at Queenstown Marina in Frankton.

Le Salon Rouge is Queenstown's newest concept lounge, nestled within the luxurious Sofitel Queenstown Hotel and Spa and now open to guests, visitors and locals alike. Taking its cue from Prohibition Era speakeasy supper clubs, it is ‘secretly’ situated within the hotel.

Awards And Accolades

  • Queenstown officially ranks as one of the most loved destinations in the world. Queenstown has been ranked 25th of the 100 most loved destinations in the world by the Tourism Sentiment Index, which measures online content and conversations about thousands of global destinations. Queenstown is the only New Zealand destination to make the list. Last year, Queenstown ranked 44th.
  • Ziptrek Ecotours was named one of ‘Six of the best adventures in New Zealand' by National Geographic UK.  The article, which notes that ‘carbon-neutral Ziptrek also restores native forests through tree-planting programmes’, was published in the Jan/Feb 2023 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).
  • The South Island and Queenstown have topped the U.S. News best vacations rankings as #1 of the world’s best places to visit. U.S. News uses expert opinions, reader votes and current trends (including evaluated sights, cultures, scenic beauty, and food options to compile the list). Paris is second.
  • Air New Zealand was named Design Airline of the Year Oceania 2022 at this year’s TheDesignAir awards, with the announcement of a new cabin product in 2024 and the introduction of a new culinary proposition and sustainable serviceware that will reduce inflight plastic dishes by 28 million every year. 

Key Dates & Events

Discover more events in Queenstown with a complete guide to our best attractions.

Your DQ Travel Trade Team

Linda McIntosh
Trade Marketing Manager
+64 27 264 7533
lindam@queenstownNZ.nz		 Linda McIntosh
Alex Holmes
BD Executive
+64 27 740 8597
alexh@queenstownNZ.nz 
 Alex Holmes
Tracy Cui
Business Development Manager, Asia
+64 21 246 1828
tracyc@queenstownNZ.nz
Sarah McDonald
QCB BD & Marketing Manager
+64 27 448 8030
sarahm@queenstownNZ.nz