There is no noticeable gay neighborhood in Queenstown and the gay scene is not clustered around any specific streets – mostly because the small downtown is tucked along a scenic bay below the rugged Remarkables. This town lives and breathes the outdoors, so the small downtown is the urban hub to service this passion. Everything is within walking distance, and there are several bars and restaurants in downtown

If you want to plan your trip at time when the town is celebrating alternative lifestyles, visit in late August and early September. During that time, Queenstown lives up to its name by hosting a gay ski week, which local tourism gurus promote as the biggest gay and lesbian alpine party in the southern hemisphere.

Week long activities range from tubing the Remarkables, one of Queenstown’s main ski areas, to “Fagtag” at the Gallery Bar. In between celebrations, make sure to stop at the other big ski areas: Coronet Peak (which is popular due to its diverse slopes and role as the training ground for New Zealand’s national ski team), Cardrona Alpine Resort, and Treble Cone.