Alongside the shores of the beautiful Lake Wakatipu known for its pristine waters, stands the Queenstown Gardens in prim fashion. The gorgeous sight has befitting scenery set for it naturally in the form of a mountain range that spreads its protective cover far and wide across the 36 acre land that the gardens occupy.
This is not only a botanical garden with paved walkways, trimmed bushes and well mowed lawns as suggested by its name, it is also a sprawling extent of land fashioned and dedicated to encourage recreational activities and a place which has a number of memorials erected to commemorate various historical events and people. Since its inception over a century and a half ago, the gardens have wooed local and foreign tourists to its enclaves regularly and have blossomed from a dainty princess to a winsome queen giving life and meaning to its name and locality.
The recreational facilities include tennis courts, skating rings, bowling alleys and golf courses enabling people to engage in calorie busting and fun filled games while they drown in the fresh air and natural beauty of the place. The rose gardens that lie alongside the tennis courts are quite distracting as would be confirmed by the spectators who end up admiring the milieu and the hues more than the strokes and the sportsmanship.
The majestic oaks and firs extend their long, encompassing green arms to provide much needed shade and shelter to the plants and people below. Some of the trees planted at the unveiling ceremony of the gardens stand to this day in their fullest glory and are considered heritage trees. The Western Hemlock, the Red Oak and the Monkey Puzzle are a few of the exotic names. The lilies and daisies dance closer to the ground in a colourful display.
Those who have visited in the past will confirm that the Queenstown hotel accommodation is nothing short of exquisite. With the topographical factors favouring them, any Queenstown resort will be able to boast of ample ambience. The Copthorne Hotel & Resort Queenstown Lakefront, with its proximity to the Queenstown Gardens is definitely no exception to this rule.
Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.