13th July 2022 By Sara Barker | sara.barker@tourismticker.com | @tourismticker
Queenstown’s landscape diversity, the beauty of Lake Whakatipu, and its quality operators have earned the resort a place on TIME’s The World’s Greatest Places of 2022.
The resort takes the baton from Northland and Christchurch, which both made the prestigious list last year.
“Set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu on South Island, Queenstown is both a destination in its own right and a fantastic base to explore the region’s diverse landscapes,” TIME’s Yulia Denisyuk wrote for the US-based global magazine’s latest edition.
Accommodation operators highlighted in Queenstown’s summary include the new luxury offering The Carlin Hotel for its “extraordinary views of the lake and city below”, and Homes & Villas by Marriott, which opened in June.
The Carlin founder Kevin Carlin described the endorsement as “an honour and a privilege”.
“Since opening to guests in April, we have been blown away by the overwhelmingly positive feedback and enquiry,” said Carlin.
“Our first winter is going very well so far, with plenty of bookings from the luxury market. People are keen to find out what ‘beyond five star’ is like. Our fine dining restaurant, Oro, is getting rave reviews too.”
Three of the country’s Great Walks, including the Milford Track, were also recognised for their accessibility “within a couple of hours’ driving distance”.
“The system of trails turns 30 this year, leading hikers through the mountain peaks, valleys, and waterfalls of the Fiordland National Park,” Denisyuk wrote.
Winemaker Invivo, fronted by actress Sarah Jessica Parker, is mentioned for its soon-to-launch winery airline – a charter service from Auckland to Queenstown with visits to vineyards included in the fares.
The new attraction Kingpin Queenstown’s restaurant and bar, bowling and escape room complex were also recognised for their entertainment value.
Queenstown was the only New Zealand destination in the top 50, and in good company among other destinations including Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Bali in Indonesia, Argentina’s El Chaltén, Skelleftea in Sweden, and even the International Space Station.
The list was determined from nominations of places from TIME’s international network of correspondents and contributors, “with an eye toward those offering new and exciting experiences”.
The full list of TIME’s The World’s Greatest Places of 2022 can be found here.
