New Zealand’s undisputed capital of extreme adventure sports is the hip and beautiful city of Queenstown. Located in the central Otago region on the South Island, this popular travel destination is doing its best to keep pace with the huge numbers of tourists who flock to this outdoor mecca all year round.

With its waterfront site overlooking Lake Wakatipu and the jagged snow-clad peaks of the Remarkables framing the background, there’s little mystery why Queenstown has jumped to the top of the list for hotspots in New Zealand.

Many travellers come to Queenstown for the comprehensive variety of outdoor activities. New Zealand is famous for inventing crazy and exhilarating individual sports like bungy jumping and zorbing, and Queenstown offers them all. Summer invites visitors to jet-boat up the river, go canyoneering or jump off high bridges. Winter offers some of the best skiing in the southern hemisphere, with three great ski resorts within an hour’s drive of town.

It’s not all about hardcore adventure in Queenstown, however. This charming but trendy little town has plenty of sedate activities such as cruising Lake Wakatipu, exploring the nearby historic gold rush towns and touring its impressive wine growing region. Visitors can easily move about this compact town on foot where excellent cafés, bars and shopping can be found around every corner. Queenstown also has one of the hottest nightlife scenes in New Zealand which parties on throughout the year.

Although a mere 10,000 residents live in Queenstown, this travel nexus receives more than one million visitors every year. The stunning scenery made famous by the film location for the Lord of the Rings trilogy is proof enough of its merits. Plans are underway to nearly double the size of Queenstown to accommodate the continuing wave of tourists.

Luxury lodges, comfortable hotels and modest guesthouses provide just enough accommodation choice. Be sure to make your room reservations well in advance because there is no off-season in red-hot Queenstown.

The origins of Queenstown can be traced back to early Maori explorers who came to the region searching for pounamu, a semiprecious greenstone which is sacred to the Maori. In the distant past, this stone was carved into all kinds of household objects such as knives and chisels. But today it is mainly carved into wonderful symbolic designs to be worn as jewellery.

During the 1800s, Europeans arrived in the region. The first European settler in Queenstown was William Gilbert Rees, a farmer and founder of the community. He cleared his farm in 1860 and was heavily involved in the massive gold rush that ignited in 1862 when two men discovered gold in the Shotover and Arrow rivers. This discovery brought a wave of prospectors and fortune-seekers who eventually unearthed the second-largest gold find in history.

Like all booms, the gold fields eventually dried up. By 1900 the prospectors had moved on, leaving behind a paltry population of just 200 residents. Remnants of this golden era can still be seen in lovely historic Arrowtown.

After decades of quiet isolation, Queenstown burst onto the scene again, this time as a hot travel destination for outdoor lovers. With its wealth of natural scenery and resources, the town has developed quickly into a short-list favourite for adventure junkies. Now Queenstown is turning its attention to its cultural attributes in an attempt to widen its tourist base.

Queenstown has one of the world’s greatest four-season climates. Springtime, from September through November, sees daytime temperatures creep into the teens (°C) and the landscape begin to thaw out. Gardens burst into bloom, trails and golf courses start opening and tables appear on the sidewalks outside cafés. Springtime weather in Queenstown is unpredictable, with frequent brief showers between bright sunny spells. Be sure and dress in layers during this vibrant season.

Summer falls between December and February. Daytime temperatures remain in the mid-20s (°C) and precipitation is scarce. Due to its deep southern latitude, the summer days are long and twilight lingers until 22:00. This is the time when everyone comes out to play, and all outdoor activities are in high gear.

Autumn is another wonderful season in Queenstown. From March until the end of May, visitors can expect nearly perfect conditions. The daytime temperatures hover around a pleasantly cool 18°C and the sun shines brilliantly. The autumn colours are spectacular everywhere you go, peaking at the end of April. After dark, the air cools down just enough for visitors to need a light jacket.

Queenstown’s other hot season is famous for its powdery snow. As one of New Zealand’s premier winter destinations, this town kicks into ski mode when the first flakes begin to fall. The weather is certainly cold, but when it’s not snowing the sun is blazing away in the sapphire sky creating welcome solar warmth. The town’s three nearby ski-able mountains provide all the action you’ll need.