Natural History of the area

With the greater Queenstown area so close to the boundary between the Indo Australian and Pacific Tectonic Plates it goes without saying that this region has been subjected to  much change during its geological history. Once part of the super continent called Gondwana, about 65 million years ago what was to become  New Zealand separated from this landmass and as sea floor spreading became more active we drifted eastwards like some Noah’s Ark with an amazing collection of flora and fauna aboard.

Between the time of separation and today, the area around Queenstown has been subjected to massive erosion, ended up under the sea (as fossils at Bob’s Cove just outside Queenstown prove) and was thrust back up, twisted and torn apart. The many changes and the complex geological history that this area has been through is the focus of much research as scientists seek to piece together the intriguing past of Queenstown and the Southern Lakes region.

In recent times a succession of ice ages carved the countryside into much like the shape we see today. The massive Dart Glacier along with other smaller ones acted like nature’s bulldozers, transporting massive amounts of rock down the valleys and dumping moraine along the side of Lake Wakatipu and around the Kingston area. Ice took on an artistic role as it sculptured the various mountain ranges around present day Queenstown, helping to create the spectacular scenery we see today.

Freeze-thaw shattered the easily eroded schist rock that dominated the landscape around Queenstown releasing the rich gold found in this rock. Fast flowing rivers fed by rain and melting ice and snow transported the gold throughout the Central Otago region, depositing it for the miners in the 1860’s to discover, extract and so start the major settlement of the Queenstown region.

The schist rock which is metamorphosed greywacke was once part of the old Zealandia continent which we are now learning more about. When the first miners arrived in the Queenstown area in the early 1860s, the lack of forests meant they used this stone to construct their buildings. Today schist is a major building material and helps create architecture that blends so well with the natural landscape.

Visitors with an interest in the geology of the region have so much to excite them. Glacial features abound with many classic examples of roche moutonnees, drumlins, moraine terraces and if you venture into Fiordland, hanging valleys, cirques and classic fiords  ensuring numerous wonderful photo opportunities. There is evidence of fault lines locally and although we very rarely experience an earthquake here, the famous Alpine Fault runs down the South Island and heads out to sea at the entrance to Milford Sound which is not too far away.

I hope this has given you an easy to understand picture of what Queenstown has to offer if you have an interest in the origin of this beautiful part of New Zealand. At Queenstown Country Lodge we have plenty of books in our library that will help you appreciate why this area has such dramatic scenery.

Cultural History of the Area

• The human history of the Queenstown area is a fascinating one and much of the evidence of both Maori and European occupation can still be seen today.
• Most historians believe that because of the harsh climate and the limitations on available food, the Maori used this area as a food gathering area and a transport route during the warmer months of the year.
• The moa (large flightless bird like an emu) proved to be a source of protein for the Maori who found no large mammals living here when they arrived in New Zealand way back about 950 AD. The many flightless birds and the fish from lakes, rivers and the sea became their prime source of food.