Question 1

True or false: Queenstown is home to the world's steepest residential street, Baldwin Street.

Accepted Answer

False. Baldwin Street is in Dunedin, New Zealand, not Queenstown. Queenstown does have steep streets, but not the world's steepest.

Question 2

True or false: The town's original European settlers were gold miners who arrived after a major gold strike in 1862.

Accepted Answer

True. Gold was discovered in the Arrow River near Queenstown in 1862, sparking a rush that led to the town's rapid establishment.

Question 3

True or false: Queenstown, New Zealand, was named after Queen Victoria because she loved the area's scenery.

Accepted Answer

False. Queenstown was actually named in the 1860s to honor Queen Victoria, but she never visited or expressed a specific love for the area.

Question 4

True or false: Queenstown experiences more sunny days per year than any other town in New Zealand.

Accepted Answer

False. While Queenstown is sunny, it does not top the list; places like Nelson and Blenheim receive more annual sunshine hours.

Question 5

True or false: More than 30 movies have been filmed in and around Queenstown, including parts of 'The Lord of the Rings'.

Accepted Answer

True. Queenstown's dramatic landscapes served as locations for multiple films, including 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, 'The Chronicles of Narnia', and 'Mission: Impossible – Fallout'.

Question 6

True or false: The bungee jumping capital of the world, Queenstown, has a permanent indoor bungee facility.

Accepted Answer

True. Queenstown is home to the world's first permanent indoor bungee jumping facility, the AJ Hackett Bungy at the Kawarau Bridge, open since 1988.

Question 7

True or false: Queenstown was originally called 'The Camp' by its first European settlers before being renamed.

Accepted Answer

False. Early gold miners often referred to the area as 'The Camp', but the official name 'Queenstown' was chosen by the local gold commissioner in 1863.

Question 8

True or false: Queenstown sits on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, a lake that has a regular, noticeable tidal rise and fall.

Accepted Answer

True. Lake Wakatipu is famous for its 'seiche' effect—a standing wave that causes the water level to rise and fall about 10 cm every 27 minutes.

Queenstown Trivia Questions