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STA Travel Canada Staff Journal
Did anyone see that trilogy of films, The Lord of the Rings? All that gorgeous New Zealand scenery - that was Queenstown. Ski resort, birthplace of the bungee jump, and film set, this town is a tourist Mecca and deservedly so. Situated on the edge of Lake Wakatipu, at the base of The Remarkable Mountains, this place is gorgeous. Beware though, it will tear through your backpacker budget in a matter of minutes because there are so many appealing options - everything from jet boating, to wine tours or even just nights out at any of the popular backpacker bars.
I did one of the many tours that have sprung up to usher tourists to locations from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Deer Park Heights was one of the major locations, just a few minutes outside of Queenstown this is where most of the Rohan scenes from The Two Towers (movie #2) where filmed and it is very recognizable. It is also home to a number of animals ranging from miniature horses and deer (hence the name) to buffalo and yaks, and offers great views of the town.
Queenstown is a good time, but I left my heart in Wanaka. An hour north of Queenstown, Wanaka is its' less touristy little brother: same great mountains, another beautiful lake, but a small town vibe and less temptation for your budget. This is a great place to take a break from travelling and enjoy the view. It was a sunny autumn day (April) when I climbed Mt Iron and looked out over one of the most beautiful scenes imaginable (check out the picture in my album). Wanaka is an easy stop, spend your days taking long walks around the lake shore, reading your book at one of the town's coffee shops, and taking in movie nights at your hostel ($10 says it is one of the Rings movies).
Rosey Hudson
Marketing Coordinator, STA Travel Canada
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