Before attention turns to Eden Park and the final clash of the Tour of New Zealand – there is no better place to switch off for 48 hours.
Don’t believe me, then just ask Lions legend Jason Robinson.
Follow the match live with our matchcentre!
Robinson rates Queenstown as his favourite destination in New Zealand and any adrenaline junkies among the travelling red army in 2017 will no doubt leave the South Island feeling the same
More than a million people descend on Queenstown – situated on the shores of Lake Wakatipu – each year and at the height of winter in June and July, Lions fans will have the perfect opportunity to experience some world class skiing and snowboarding venues.
“Queenstown was an interesting place,” said Robinson. “A real adrenaline place, lively, lots of bars and restaurants. I enjoyed that. My best memories from that 2005 tour are of down-time in Queenstown.”
POSTCARD FROM NEW ZEALAND!
Queenstown looking glorious in the winter sunshine 😍😍
Thanks for hosting us as part of #LionNZ2017! pic.twitter.com/P4PJK2NbGY
— British&Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 3, 2017
The snow-covered mountains offer stunning scenery with Coronet Peak, the oldest and best known of the Southern Lakes’ snowfields.
Inpho
With great early morning and night skiing, Coronet Peak offers New Zealand’s longest on-snow hours. The Remarkables area has a wide range of terrain and is popular with snowboarders too.
Join The Pride! Get Lions news direct to your inbox!
Bungee jumping off the legendary Kawarau Bridge, mountain-biking and jet boating are other high-octane experiences available.
But, for those seeking a more peaceful stay in Queenstown – renamed from Canvas Town in the 19th century after local gold miners dubbed it “a town fit for a queen” – Blanket Bay is home to luxury lodges.
And a day trip to Gibbston Valley – the world’s southernmost wine growing region – boasts an award-winning vineyard, which has a fine dining restaurant and New Zealand’s biggest underground wine cave.
