Skyline Queenstown

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Top station of Skyline Queenstown

Skyline Queenstown is a tourist attraction service operated by Skyline Enterprises located in Queenstown, New Zealand. Skyline provides a gondola, with a restaurant at the top station and a luge back to the base station.

History[]

The prominent hill above Queenstown known as Bob's Peak (itself part of Ben Lomond) was a popular vantage point, but difficult to access due to the steep terrain. Ian Hamilton, a bus company owner, had a road cut in 1961 with a gradient of 1 in 4.5 in places so that he could drive tourists to the view point. Two years after Hamilton's death, Jon Dumble bought his shares and took on two business partners for Skyline Tours. They built a chalet on Bob's Peak, which opened in January 1964. In 1965, planning permission was received to build a gondola, upon which Skyline Enterprises was launched as a public company, which bought out Skyline Tours.[1][2] Skyline Enterprises had 15 shareholders and the gondola opened on 17 November 1967. Dumble became the company's first managing director.[1][3]

A luge, inspired by the facility in Ngongotahā near Rotorua, was built in 1998. Since 2011, the gondola can carry mountain bikes up to Bob's Peak.[1]

Description[]

The top terminal building is situated on the slopes of the Ben Lomond mountain peak 450 metres (1,480 ft) above the level of Lake Wakatipu. It has various activities such as a gondola, luge, a mountain biking park, and hiking sites. The main complex features amenities such as a restaurant and bar, cafe and a gift shop.[4]

Queenstown gondola[]

A lake surrounded by mountains
Panoramic view of Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains

The gondola carries visitors to the main Skyline complex; from the viewpoint, it is possible to see across Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Walter Peak and Cecil Peak.[5]

Luge[]

Skyline luge

The luge tracks are over 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) long. The luge features two tracks, the Blue Track and Red Track, varying in steepness and corners/turns.[6]

Redevelopment[]

In February 2019, the Environment Court approved the redevelopment of Skyline Queenstown. The project includes a new gondola, a multistorey car park and a new main building. In late 2020 the project was paused due to closed borders caused by Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.[7]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "The History of Skyline Queenstown". Skyline Queenstown. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  2. ^ Chandler, Philip (11 November 2017). "Skyline co-founder recalls hard days as gondola established". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 25 April 2021 – via The New Zealand Herald.
  3. ^ Roxburgh, Tracey (19 November 2012). "After 45 years, gondola's fortunes still going up and up". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Covid 19 coronavirus: Tourism blow: Queenstown Skyline cuts staff by half". NZ Herald. 5 May 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Skyline Queenstown | Gondola". www.newzealand.com. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Skyline Queenstown | Luge | Activity in Queenstown, New Zealand". www.newzealand.com. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  7. ^ Collins, Hugh (21 August 2020). "Redevelopments being paused". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 4 April 2021.

External links[]

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