Creating a list of our top 10 cities has been great fun! It has given us the opportunity to revisit these magnificent places in our minds and remember all the wonderful experiences we had, trying new foods, meeting new people and discovering how other people live.

As we come to our penultimate article, we head across to the other side of the world and Our Number 2 Top city goes to New Zealand’s treasure of Queenstown.

Nestling comfortably in the south-west of New Zealand’s South Island, Queenstown is simply one of the most beautiful cities (or resort towns) we have very visited.  Built around the majestic Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by striking mountains, it is picture postcard perfect and the ideal base for those looking for some adventure.

During the summer months of December, January and February, there are plenty of fun activities to fill your days such as bungee jumping, boating, hiking Coronet Peak and wine tasting tours, but it is during the winter months that Queenstown really comes to life as skiers from across the globe head in its direction for some fantastic skiing action.

We visited Queenstown at the end of January and enjoyed glorious sunshine throughout our stay.  A city that has a very comfortable feel it is one of those places where you can do as little or as much as you like and never tire of the breathtaking scenery that surrounds you.

Our days were spent hiking with a picnic, visiting local wineries, or simply strolling about the picturesque town, dipping our toes in the chilly but refreshing lake and watching the world go by from the waterfront.  Like many foreign visitors, we also used Queenstown as our base for visiting Milford Sounds, where we took an unforgettable boat ride to one of the world’s most highly rated attractions.

As with any popular destination, Queenstown offers a fantastic selection of restaurants and bars to keep you occupied during the evening, and there is nothing quite like enjoying a glass of chilled New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc as the sunsets over the mountains.

Queenstown is a magical place that left a firm imprint on our hearts, and while it could not be further away from our base here in Europe, it is well worth the journey, a journey we hope to make again sometime very soon!