Lake Wakatipu from Marine Parade
I spent the morning in Queenstown. For a short time I wandered through the botanical gardens, eventually following a trail that took me along the lakefront in Queenstown Bay and into the main shopping area. The place was filled with the usual assortment of tourists from various countries, taking in the mountain scenery, all dressed as if it was warmer than it actually was. I had lunch at a place called Vudu Larder which was nice before strolling around the various lanes that link the town centre, in due course arriving back at my car. So, with time marching on, and there being nothing else I wanted to see, I headed off to Queenstown Airport which is found in the nearby suburb of Frankton.
Well, nearby it might be, but easy to get to but it’s not. The traffic was insanely stupid. I don’t know how local residents put up with it, I really don’t! Not having any idea what the holdup was, all I could see in front of me was an endless procession of cars, buses, boats, camper vans, trucks and motorbikes. At one point it took me 30 minutes to drive a meager 2 kilometers. And, this was 10:30am on a Wednesday morning, hardly what I’d classify as rush hour traffic! As the traffic inched forward, I discovered the cause of all this chaos was roadworks at a roundabout that leads into the suburb of Frankton. I later read, the construction works to upgrade the intersections and Bus Hub in Frankton is anticipated to take four years to complete. Four years!! I’m sorry, but any traffic and roading upgrade that is taking four years to complete, better be a shining example in traffic engineering, an impeccable crowning accomplishment. A traffic utopia if you will, a place of perfect peace and happiness where all travelers can intermix in a state of nirvana. Anything less will be slightly disappointing!
I’ve been coming to New Zealand on holidays since 1986. I came over every year and visited many places both North and South Isl. I’ve just finished the Rail ride from Clyde and unfortunately I’m in Queenstown for a couple of nights before flying out. This will be my last time to Q’town. It’s disgusting, the traffic is the worst, and prices for things. My last visit in 2023 was just as terrible. My friend and I stayed at a private residence who had renovated under the house to rent it out. It was a very reasonable price compared to Queenstown CBD. However, it was inconvenient being at Lake Hayes. A taxi or uber was so expensive, we got ourselves a Bee card and used the local buses, which somehow run on time in amongst the crazy traffic. We are not low income earners my any means, but you can waste so much of your holiday money on just transport.
Queenstown is going to end up in a very bad place with the traffic and infrastructure.
I’m currently staying in what used to be a very quiet street, walking distance to town, there are cars parked everywhere and the cars cutting through to get around Melbourne street is insane.
I have also noticed that they have completely denuded the foliage from the mountainside under the gondola, this is a very bad idea.
This is my last visit Queenstown, and I will be telling my friends to avoid you as well.
My suggestion is fly into Christchurch or Dunedin. There is an intercity bus from Dunedin that is very affordable and has drop off’s at little places between Queenstown and Dunedin.
Cheers
Sharyn from Australia
Qtown’s traffic woes are legendary.
Wanaka is already seeing the same long slow crawl.
We do however, have a few free carparking spaces, but the Wilson’s will be rubbing their hands together in glee.
Once we’ve been Willised, the problem will only get worse. Where is the new Simeon Brown Chris Bishop with their productivity
and growth cheque book to solve the problem?
Is more visitors really the answer?
Selling more houses to rich people the answer?
Another airport? With more tourist in cars?
You can see where this is going to end up…
Wanaka and Queenstown don’t really have a quiet time…All 4 seasons are popular to someone.
If you bring more visitors,how do you make them go only to the places that really need visitors in off peak times ?
You could always spend on targeted advertising the money you said you wouldn’t spend on advertising. Ill conceived plans and knee-jerk reactions are not helpful.
As A resident you are so right it’s a disaster 4 years is a joke making this town unliveable for people trying to make a living eg tradies and this after putting up with the disaster which was Melbourne St which we’re now told won’t work until stages 2&3 are done somewhere in the 2030 sand it was $150 million over budget ,I personally think our road construction company’s in NZ are running a monopoly time to tender these jobs offshore total joke for one roundabout and a few pipes that when it’s finished they hope it will work time to move cities