Alan Howell heads to the far south of New Zealand to profi le a growing airport that serves this remote and picturesque region
Queenstown Airport is perfectly placed on New Zealand’s South Island to serve increasing numbers of tourists attracted by the spectacular mountain scenery of the Southern Lakes area of the Otago region.
The airport (ICAO: NZQN) is on alluvial flats at the head of an arm of Lake Wakatipu, the island’s second-largest lake. Surrounded by high, rocky peaks, it offers stunningly scenic views in good weather to arriving and departing passengers. For pilots it’s a challenging destination–especially in poor visibility – with high terrain in close proximity on all approaches
The airport is a ten-minute drive from the resort town of Queenstown, which has developed a worldwide reputation as a centre for winter sports and adventurous outdoor leisure activities. There are four winter ski areas within an hour-and-a-half’s drive, and the community has successfully broadened its tourist offering with a range of cultural and sporting activities and events throughout the year to supplement the basic attractions offered by the landscape.
There’s been a symbiotic link between the development of th…
