Queenstown interesting facts

Facts on Queenstown

The oldest person to Bungy at the Kawarau Bridge Bungy is 94.

The first person to bungy into the year 2000 was Colin Basterfield from the UK who jumped off the Nevis Highwire Bungy at midnight.

Built by J.McGregor and Co in Dunedin, the TSS Earnslaw cost twenty thousand eight hundred and fifty pounds to complete in 1912

Queenstown's first businessman, Bendix Hallenstein gave the Queenstown gardens to the public in 1866

The sunniest month ever recorded was November 1937 with 302.3 hours of sunshine

In July 1995 snow fell for 11 consecutive days in Queenstown and lay on the ground for 14 days

Maori Point in Skippers Canyon is where two Maori miners, Rangiora Ellison and Hakaria Haeroa discovered gold in 1862

During the gold rush there were four main hotels in Skippers Canyon and many Sly Grogs (tent pubs)

One of the first industries established in Queenstown was a brewery beside Horne Creek where the Novotel Gardens now stands

The Frisbee Golf course in the Queenstown gardens was the first of its kind established in New Zealand

The first ever Queenstown Winter Festival was held in 1974

The New Zealand Historic Places Trust and the District Plan protect the historical heritage of more than 70 buildings in Arrowtown

In September 1999, President Clinton was the first US president ever to visit Queenstown

There are 19 different types of endangered birds living at the Kiwi and Birdlife Park including 5 kiwi

Snowmaking was introduced to Queenstown skifields in 1991

At the height of filming the Lord of the Rings, over 500 people a day queued outside the casting rooms in Queenstown

NZ Fighter Pilots Museum curator Ian Brodie is the author of the much acclaimed The Lord of the Rings Location Guidebook published by HarperCollins.

The Skyline Gondola and Luge hit the 10 million mark this year. On 28th March 2006 visitors Erika Hansen and Scott Patefield were the 10 millionth passengers to ride the gondala since it opened back in 1968.

There are 82 registered wineries in Central Otago

Of the 978 hectares of land used for wine production, 756 hectares - that's 77% - of them are for Pinot Noir.