by Keri Balding
Just over three hours direct from Sydney, Queenstown is quickly becoming the place for couples looking for an active honeymoon, one full of exciting memories which can be shared for a lifetime.

And there is plenty to do and at any time of year - Queenstown is a busy place whatever the season.

Skiing and snowboarding is the area's best known activity.  No wonder with Coronet Peak only 25 minutes from town and The Remarkables a bit further. The season runs from early June to early October and both mountains have extensive snowmaking ensuring the best-quality snow even at the end of the season.

Coronet Peak is considered the birth place of skiing in the South Island and is a world-class ski mountain with a wide variety of terrain for all skiiers. The views across the valley to The Remarkables and the lake are stunning, and skiing while the sun is setting on Friday and Saturday nights is highly recommended. 

Statistics:

• Elevation: 1649m
• Vertical: 462m
• Skiable area: 280 hectares
• Terrain: 20% beginners, 45% intermediate, 35% advanced
• Lifts: six seater express chair, express quad, double chair, t-bar, magic carpet, beginner tow

The Remarkables is the region's newest ski area and is only a 45 minute drive from Queenstown. It is popular with snowboarders and freeskiers with its terrain and rail park with superpipe.

Statistics:

• Elevation: 1943m
• Vertical: 357m
• Skiable area: 220 hectares
• Terrain:  30% beginners, 40% intermediate, 30% advanced
• Lifts: 3 quad chairs, magic carpet, beginner tow

The ultimate skiing/snowboarding adventure is heli-skiing.  A number of heli-ski companies operating from Queenstown take skiiers and boarders deep into the Southern Alps to discover fresh powder and spectacular scenery on half day and full day packages. 

Queenstown is also home of the bungy jump.  The original bungy is at the Kawarau Bridge - go tandem or get immersed in the river below.  If that's not exciting enough, try a freestyle-bungy off The Ledge - 400 metres over Queenstown, day or night, or freefall for 8.5 seconds off the Nevis Highwire Bungy. 

Other air adventures include tandem paragliding, tandem hang gliding, paraflights, skydiving, sunrise balloon rides and most exhilirating of all, the Fly by Wire. 

If you want 'the fastest adventure flight in the world' then the Fly by Wire is for you.  Attached to a cable set deep into canyon walls, you fly a small, purpose-built plane at exhilarating speeds above the valley. 'Just like riding a motorbike 200 feet in the air' says one happy customer.

And the thrills continue on the water with exciting jet boat rides at exhilarating speeds. Specially designed jet boats take you on the Shotover River and deep into its narrow canyons.  Drivers speed close to rocky outcrops, boulders and canyon walls, and all of a sudden they'll spin the boats 360 degrees - to make sure everyone is wet!

A jet boat ride up the aquamarine Dart River into the Mt Aspiring National Park is a great combination of action and exquisite, natural scenery. Dart River Safaris include the thrilling jet boat ride, a walk though an ancient forest and many amazing photo opportunities.  Or if a you more time, take the jet boat to the top of the river and paddle back downstream in a canoe and experience the river and its scenery at your own pace.

Lord of the Rings enthusiasts can take a four wheel drive to 'Middle Earth' in an off road adventure to the movie's locations including White Mountains, Pillars of the Kings, Ford of Bruinen, Isengard, Lothlorien and Misty Mountains.  The helicopter option offers even more location sites and will create the dramatic opening scenes of The Two Towers for you by swooping over the snow covered peaks of the Southern Alps.

For those looking for less extreme action, walkers can enjoy the wildflowers and flowering herbs on the high alpine tracks.  The South Island's famous walking tracks, such as the Milford, Routeburn and Hollyford, can be done either as guided or self-guided.  The walks take you deep into the area's national parks with views of snow-capped mountains, glacial lakes, waterfalls and gorges and through ancient beech forests.  This is a truly magical area - Lord of the Rings was filmed in these Alps for a reason!

There are also plenty of shorter walks around the Queenstown area which are managed by the Wakatipu Trails Trust.  They range from the easy Sunshine Bay Walk along Lake Wakatipu to the six hour Big Hill Trail which requires a high level of fitness.

Milford Sound and the Fiordland National Park can be reached within a day trip from Queenstown either by luxury glass-roofed coach or by light plane.

The coach tip takes in a number of scenic spots such as the Mirror Lakes which have extraordinary reflective views and The Chasm where the Cleddau River?s spectacular waterfalls have carved out sculptured shapes in the rock.

Fiorland National Park is New Zealand's largest national park and it is part of the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area.  Its weather can be very changeable and often very dramatic - just like its spectacular scenery. Snow-covered mountains rise from the valley floor, so steep in sections that the main road is in an avalanche zone and is often closed, covered in snow.

The fiords were carved out by rivers of ice thousands of years ago and Milford Sound is New Zealand's most visited natural attraction.

There are many cruise options for Milford Sound including scenic cruises, overnight cruises, nature cruises or sea kayaking and you can also visit the Milford Deep Underwater Observatory.  Commentaries point out the unique, natural features of the Sound and sightings of seals, penguins and dolphins are common.

An optional helicopter flight is an exciting way to experience the breathtaking mountains on the edge of the Sound up close.  Fly over the Sound and up and over the mountains to the Donne Glacier on the eastern face of Mt Tutoko, Fiordland?s highest peak. The view from the top, along the snowy ranges and into deep gorges and small glacial lakes is just awe-inspiring and well worth the extra cost.

Back in Queenstown there are plenty of great bars and restaurants where you can unwind after an active day.

Highly recommended is 12 Bar in the Church Lane district.  It is a sophisticated, modern bar with an extensive local wine list and a large choice of cocktails.

Queenstown?s cutest restaurant is Cow, so named as it was originally a milking shed. Have a pre-dinner drink at the large copper bar and sample some of New Zealand?s finest beers or warm up in front of one of the biggest open fireplaces you?ll ever see.  You may have to share the large wooden tables with other diners when busy - but that adds to the fun.  And the food is fantastic, a simple menu but done well.

Afterwards head out to the Ice Bar for a vodka, or the Boiler Room, Skycity Casino or the town's other great bars and nightclubs which open late into the night.

Whatever you are looking for, you'll find the honeymoon that you'll never forget in Queenstown.