Queenstown and Wanaka, two beautiful towns with the Otago region certainly is the location of Powder Storming New Zealand Tour. The Powder Storming New Zealand Tour is run by New Zealand’s top rated ski holidays and snowboard holidays company All-Star Adventures. The tour promises an adventure for skiers and snowboarders alike. Termed as a adventure capital of New Zealand, Queenstown boasts a plethora of fun-filled activities for adrenaline seekers. Wanaka, a casual town located at the southern end of Lake Wanaka, offers fun-filled activities for families.
However, before you gear up, are you interested to know a lot more about Wanaka and Queenstown? Are you interested to know where did the word “Wanaka” came from? Who is the first US president to visit Queenstown? What makes The Remarkable, well, remarkable? I heard they shot The Lord of the Rings around this place. Is this true?
Wanaka originated in the phrase “Oanaka” which means “the place of Anaka”. Apparently, 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. Legend has it that gold prospectors were fascinated by the place’s charm, they declared it “a town excellent for a Queen”. Some suggest that the name began a town seen 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.
The oldest person to bungee jump was a 94 year old resident of Southland, New Zealand. 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 very first US President ever to travel to Queenstown.
At the height of filming the Lord of The Rings, over 500 people daily queued at the casting rooms in Queenstown.
Queenstown, Chile and Argentina are located in the same latitude — 45 degrees south.
Queenstown’s population is around 18,000 only. Suprisingly, the number actually reaches 1.8 million as it welcomes tourists each year .
Besides The Rockies, The Remarkable is the only other mountain range worldwide that runs directly from north to south. Surveyor Alexander Garvie coined the name having looked at the impressive view of 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 girls that all were widows.
The Shotover River is regarded as being the richest gold bearing river of its size in the society.
In 1947, Sir Henry Wigley established the commercial skiing in Queenstown.
Set up in 1958, Queenstown’s Kawarau Jet was the world’s first commercial jet boat business.
In 1988, Bungy New Zealand’s Kawarau Bridge bungy site became the first commercial bungy operation in the world.
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.
For its fast growing tourism sector within the last few 10 years , Wanaka’s population has nearly doubled to 5,000.
The Warbirds over Wanaka International Show is the largest “war birds” air show in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s a biennial event which showcases a array 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 aren’t just great ski and snowboard getaway. They’re also a place abundant with history and culture.