New Zealand’s leading ski holidays and snowboard holidays provider, All-Star Adventures, will give you Powder Storming New Zealand Tour in the picturesque towns of Queenstown and Wanaka. Skiers and snowboarders should expect an awesome vacation. Referred to as the adventure capital of New Zealand, Queenstown carries a number of events for adrenaline seekers. For individuals who desire to enjoy a remarkable holiday with their loved ones, Wanaka wouldn’t fail them. It is a casual town found at the southern end of Lake Wanaka.
But before you get ready, will you be interested to learn more information on Wanaka and Queenstown? Just who or what exactly is “Wanaka”? Who is the first US president to visit Queenstown? What makes The Remarkable, well, remarkable? Did you know that the Lord of the Rings was filmed around this region?
Wanaka originated from the phrase “Oanaka” which means “the place of Anaka”. Remarkably, Anaka is a local chieftain. Wanaka’s original name was Pembroke — after a British Colonial Secretary.
Queenstown was originally called “Camp” by early settler and traveler William Reese. Based on an old story, the place was very beautiful that gold prospectors declared it as “a place fit for a Queen”. Some are convinced that the name “Queenstown” based upon a town located in Ireland.
Colin Basterfield of United Kingdom was the very first person to bungee jump into the year 2000. He jumped off Nevis Highwire Bungy.
A local resident from Southland, New Zealand became the oldest person to bungee jump. He was 94. He jumped at the Kawarau Bridge Bungy.
In July 1995 snow fell for 11 consecutive days in Queenstown and lay on the ground for 14 days.
In September 1999, President Clinton was the first US President ever to check out Queenstown.
At the height of filming the Lord of The Rings, over 500 people a day queued at the casting rooms in Queenstown.
Chile, Queenstown and Argentina are stationed at the same latitude — 45 degrees south.
Queenstown’s resident population is only around 18,000. Yet, the size increases more than 100 times (1.8 million) as it welcome tourists each year.
Besides The Rockies, The Remarkable is the only other mountain range worldwide that runs coming from north to south. Surveyor Alexander Garvie coined the name having looked at the impressive check out the mountain range at sunset.
The TSS Earnslaw is the only remaining passenger-carrying coal-fired steamship in the Southern Hemisphere.
In 1885 all Queenstown hotels were run by ladies who all were widows.
The Shotover River is typically known as the richest gold bearing river of its size on the planet.
In 1947, Sir Henry Wigley launched the commercial skiing in Queenstown.
Set up in 1958, Queenstown’s Kawarau Jet was the first commercial jet boat business.
In 1988, Bungy New Zealand’s Kawarau Bridge bungy site had become the first commercial bungy operation worldwide.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Vertical Limit, Prince Caspian, X-Men Origins: Wolverine and 10,000 BC were shot at Queenstown and the Southern Lakes region.
In the last 10 years, Wanaka’s population roughly doubled to 5,000 due to its growing tourism sector.
The Warbirds over Wanaka International Show is the largest “war birds” air show in the Southern Hemisphere. It is a biennial event which showcases a collection of World War II aircraft from around the globe.
Lake Wanaka is New Zealand’s fourth largest lake. It is situated 300 meters above sea level with an approximate depth of 300 meters.
Lake Hawea is the 9th largest lake in New Zealand.
Queenstown and Wanaka are not just exceptional ski and snowboard getaway. They are also a place rich in culture and history.