Photo Essay: Queenstown, New Zealand's Adventure Capital

Australia may be blessed with stunning coastlines and sunny weather but geography has condemned Australians to relative isolation. No weekend getaways to Prague, Cancun or the Caribbean for us. A look at any map will quickly confirm why.

This "tyranny of distance" means that the overseas weekend getaway which North Americans are Europeans are so accustomed to are just physically impossible. With one notable exception - New Zealand - and in particular Queenstown, the jewel in New Zealand's tourist crown.

Only a three-hour flight from Sydney (and slightly more from Melbourne and Brisbane), Queenstown is set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by spectacular mountains ranges.

Known as the Adventure Capital New Zealand, finding ways to occupy your two days away won't be a problem. Here, you can bungee jump, ski, snowboard, white-water raft, skydive, mountain bike and power-boat to your heart's content. The town is compact and crammed with reputable operators and suppliers so getting organised and geared up is easy.

For those interested in more sedate pursuits, the stunning natural landscape provides wonderful opportunities for horse riding and hiking (or tramping as the locals call it), not to mention photography.

All that running and jumping around can leave one hungry and thirsty - but not for long. Restaurants, bars and cafes are plentiful in Queenstown, giving visitors ample opportunity to sample the high-quality, fresh agricultural produce for which New Zealand is rightfully famous. Interested in visiting the southernmost wineries in the world? Easy, the Arrowtown wineries are just a short drive away.

And finding a place to lay your head won't be an issue either, even at the busiest times. Whilst relatively small, Queenstown's popularity as a tourist destination means there's lots of accommodation to suit all budgets. Personally I recommend splashing out on something luxurious - after all, it's just for the weekend.