Resort a honeymoon haven

Lonely Planet has caught up with what has been known for
years – Queenstown is a world-class venue for honeymooners.

The travel bible counts the resort among its Top 10 Best
Honeymoon Destinations, alongside Cappadocia, Turkey; Brazil;
Marrakech, Morocco; St Lucia; Andalucía, Spain; Bali,
Indonesia; California, United States, Colchagua Valley,
Chile; and Dunton Hot Springs, Colorado, US.

Lonely Planet tells its romantically inclined readers
”adrenaline is as important for bonding as the love drug
oxytocin and there’s no better place to get it pumping than
New Zealand’s South Island.

”Queenstown is the birthplace of bungy jumping, as well as
being home to jet-boating, Zorbing, paragliding and epic
hiking and skiing.

”Many new mountain bike trails are opening in 2014. If all
the activity becomes too much, there are helicopter rides
over the Southern Alps to stunning Milford Sound, as well as
a sophisticated food and wine scene.”

Luxury boutique hotel Matakauri Lodge, near Glenorchy, is
singled out for its ”drop-dead views of the Remarkables
range and Lake Wakatipu; just outside town yet blessedly
remote.”

One of the most high-profile weddings in Queenstown was held
one year ago.

Multi-award-winning Chinese actress Yao Chen, also Tourism
New Zealand’s brand ambassador in China and a queen of
Chinese social media, wed fiancé Cao Yu in St Peter’s
Anglican Church. The reception was held in Matakauri Lodge.

Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2014 also ranked the
West Coast, New Zealand, eighth on its list of Top 10 Regions
2014, for its ”enlivening surprises”.

The guide book ranked Auckland 10th on its list of Top 10
Cities 2014, recommending the ”food, arts and exploring the
coastal hinterland” as ”excellent reasons to extend your
stay”.