Queenstown Beach

Queenstown beach, one of the most popular in Otago is hard to avoid on a trip to Queenstown as it feels like all the roads draw you to it. It’s not only the proximity of the town that make it a favourite in the area. It is a truly beautiful spot with the Queenstown gardens to the west, the Remarkables and Cecil Peak on the horizon and Ben Lomond to the east. The sight of the TSS Earnslaw, a 1912 steam ship leaving and arriving on its daily tours only adds to the majestic beauty of this beach.

The beach is lined by a row of willow trees which provide shade on sunny days. If you would rather lay on grass than stones then there is a nicely sized line of turf that runs parallel to the beach.

The Beach is located in Queenstown Bay on lake Whakatipu. Recently there has been a push to update the name of the lake which was inaccurately spelled Wakatipu by European settlers. This is to bring it in line with the traditional Māori name. The correct spelling, ‘Whakatipu’, is pronounced as ‘ph’ at the start.

As with most of the beaches that are located around Whakatipu lake, it has shingle surface which might not be everyone's preference. In our opinion you don't really notice as the views are difficult to beat. You might be struck by the fantastic blue tones of the lake, particularly on a sunny day. This is due to the high mica content of ground which reflects the sunlight back to the surface.

If you are after some food there is plenty of great options nearby but The Bathhouse, offering classic British food offers you the ability to take it the view of the beach whilst offering some protection from the elements on those colder days. It offers some of the best views in town and the food is reasonably priced. The Bathhouse is located directly on the beach on the side closest to the gardens. Another great option is to get a Fregburger to go, and eat it on the beach.

You might have heard about the sandflys in new zealand.  These can limit the time you want to stop in a certain area. Luckily it seems that there aren't any around this beach.  But if you are visiting other beaches in new zealand you might want to bring some replant.

One thing missing from the beach is a public bbq. Luckily its only a short walk to another beach which has one.