Useful information

Queenstown is an incredible setting for a study experience. As an extreme sports capital of the world and a popular travel destination, Queenstown offers students a vibrant and exciting lifestyle in one of the most beautiful natural environments in the world.
It's a stunning location that has been ranked as Australasia's top destination (World Travel Awards) and New Zealand's number one destination (Trip Advisor), and New Zealand is one of the most socially advanced countries in the world (The Social Progress Imperative ).
Whether studying English, tertiary vocational training or a specific postgraduate qualification, why not make the Queenstown region your classroom? It is also a place where students can form lasting friendships with their peers, creating strong memories of life in the Wakatipu basin, as well as creating strong international networks as they learn from people around the world.
With a warm and welcoming international study environment, Queenstown is committed to ensuring that all students enjoy their time in this beautiful part of the world. The accessibility of the international airport, variety of accommodation options, a compact city center and options for any budget make Queenstown an ideal study location.

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economy and industry

Residential accommodation in the Queenstown area is quite expensive due to factors such as the city being a tourist destination, the lack of land and the convenience of foreigners and investors. Queenstown ranks as the least affordable place in New Zealand to buy a property, surpassing Auckland in early 2017. All in all, the area's growth rate is one of the fastest in the country, with the population growing 7.1% from 2015 to 2016 in a 12-month period. Most jobs in Queenstown are related to tourism or accommodation. Employment growth was also the highest of any area in New Zealand at 10.3% in the year 2016.

Climate

Due to its relatively moderate altitude (310 meters) and high mountain surroundings, Queenstown has an oceanic climate. Summers have long hot days with temperatures that can reach 30°C, while winters are cold, with temperatures often in single digits with frequent snowfall, although there is no permanent snow cover throughout the year. As with the rest of Central Otago, Queenstown is within the rain shadow of the Southern Alps, but being closer to the west coast of the city it is more susceptible to rain fronts compared to nearby Cromwell, Wanaka and Alexandra. The warmest temperature recorded in Queenstown is 34.1°C, while the coldest is -8.4°C.

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Geography

Queenstown is located in the south-west corner of the South Island of New Zealand and is very accessible, with several daily direct flights from all major New Zealand centres, as well as direct services from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Coolangatta, Australia. Queenstown International Airport is located just 15 minutes from the center of Queenstown and offers connections to the city center with shuttle, taxi, bus and car rental services. For visitors who choose to drive, experiencing the beautiful Southern Scenic Route through Otago and Southland is an impressive way to reach Queenstown or wind down the South Island from the West Coast or Canterbury, taking the time to take in the scenery along the way. .