Staggering beauty and heart-pumping thrills await in Queenstown. The alpine resort on  Lake Wakatipu began its life as an 1860s gold-mining town, but it now draws droves of outdoor enthusiasts for kayaking, bungee jumping, hiking, skiing, snowboard, paraglide, jet boat, white water raft, skydive, hang glide, and drive quadbikes .For a more mild-mannered adventure, take a quiet cruise through nearby Milford Sound, part of the Fjordland National Park World Heritage area. No matter the season, you won't want to stay indoors.