Opinion: Queenstown's okay but we're better

Rivalry between Queenstown and Rotorua is real. PHOTO/FILE

For as long as I've lived in Rotorua, there's always been a niggly yet healthy competitive rivalry with Queenstown.

It's similar to our love/hate relationship with Australia. We love to bag our Aussie mates, but when the weather starts to get nippy, we're the first to jump on a plane to bask in their sunshine.

I remember several years ago, Rotorua getting slightly miffy when Queenstown got transtasman flights. It wasn't long before we got them too.

(I'll purposely forget to mention here that we no longer have transtasman flights, and they still do.)

Both areas like to think they are the tourist capital of New Zealand so it was interesting to try to put all bias aside and examine who really is best during a recent few days break in Queenstown.

The first thing that struck me was the difference in accommodation prices. We booked in November and a standard hotel room (admittedly in the heart of Queenstown at a reasonably nice hotel) for two nights including breakfast was $1200. Ouch.

Rotorua has long been considered too cheap, and motels and hotels are urging businesses to put their prices up to match the demand we are experiencing.

But being cheap, or affordable, from a visitor's point of view is a good thing. That's a tick Rotorua.

Queenstown's CBD has it over Rotorua. It's bustling, it's busy and it's full of interesting shops - many of which were still open on Friday and Saturday nights at 9pm.

The retail experience is also more boutique and there's not a big box store in sight (which annoys the locals, just ask them!). Tick, Queenstown.

But on both nights of the weekend we struggled to find a suitable family restaurant. They were either too full, too expensive or the menus weren't appealing. Rotorua - tick.

Skyline Queenstown was interesting. While their gondola experience is hair-raisingly outstanding thanks to the steep ride and breathtaking views, I was shocked at how dated it seemed compared with Rotorua's slick operation. Rotorua, a big tick.

In summary, I suspect after three to four days in Queenstown, you would have conquered much of the must dos. In contrast, Rotorua really has much more going for it - we are not just Maori culture, geothermal, mountain biking or spa experiences.

So call me one-eyed but Rotorua, you win.