Skyline Queenstown

Tourist attraction service in Queenstown, New Zealand

Top station of Skyline Queenstown

Skyline Queenstown is a tourist attraction service in Queenstown, New Zealand. Skyline provides a gondola, a restaurant at the top station, and a luge. It is owned by Skyline Enterprises.[1]

## History

[edit]

The prominent hill above Queenstown known as Bob's Peak (itself part of Ben Lomond) was a popular vantage point, but difficult to access due to the steep terrain. Ian Hamilton, a bus company owner, had a road cut in 1961 with a gradient of 1 in 4.5 in places so that he could drive tourists to the view point. Two years after Hamilton's death, Jon Dumble bought his shares and took on two business partners for Skyline Tours. They built a chalet on Bob's Peak, which opened in January 1964. In 1965, planning permission was received to build a gondola, upon which Skyline Enterprises was launched as a public company, which bought out Skyline Tours.[2][3] Dumble became the company's first managing director.[2][4]

The gondola system opened officially on 17 November 1967.[5] Since 2011, the gondola can carry mountain bikes up to Bob's Peak.[2]

### Redevelopment

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In February 2019, the Environment Court approved the redevelopment of Skyline Queenstown. The project includes a new gondola, a multistorey car park and two new main buildings (bottom and top of mountain). In late 2020 the project was paused due to closed borders caused by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.[6] The project later re-started.

The entire complex was closed for 9 weeks in 2023 to install the new gondolas.[7] The new base terminal and ticketing hall at the bottom of the mountain also opened in late 2023 and new carpark building was opened in early 2024.[8][9]

Extension of the terminal and complex at the top of Bob's Peak is currently underway.[10]

### Luge

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The luge tracks are over 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) long. The luge features two tracks, the Arrow track and Dart track, the Arrow track is more gentle and the Dart track has a steeper gradient and sharper turns.[11]

Skyline luge

## Description

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The top terminal building is situated on the slopes of the Ben Lomond mountain peak 450 metres (1,480 ft) above the level of Lake Wakatipu. It has various activities such as a gondola, luge, a mountain biking park, and hiking sites. The main complex features amenities such as a restaurant and bar, cafe and a gift shop.[12]

## Queenstown gondola

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Panoramic view of Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains

The gondola carries visitors to the main Skyline complex; from the viewpoint, it is possible to see across Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Walter Peak and Cecil Peak.[13]

## Skyline Enterprises

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The parent company of Skyline Queenstown also operates many other projects in New Zealand and internationally.

### Skyline and Skyline Luge

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* Skyline and Skyline Luge Queenstown (New Zealand, Skyline opened 1967 and luge opened 1998)[5][14]
* Skyline and Skyline Luge Rotorua (New Zealand, Skyline opened 1985 and luge opened 1986)[15]
* Skyline Luge Busan (South Korea, opened 2021)[16]
* Skyline Luge Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia, opened 2023)[17]
* Skyline Luge Mont-Tremblant (Canada, opened 2003)[18]
* Skyline Luge Singapore (Singapore, opened 2005)[19]
* Skyline Luge Tongyeong (South Korea, opened 2017)[20]
* Downhill Karting by Skyline Luge Calgary (Canada, opened 2013)[21]

Proposed, cancelled and other

* Skyline and Skyline Luge Swansea (Wales, proposed for 2027)[22]

Other projects are currently being looked at in Sheffield (England), Ireland and Spain.[22]

Projects have previously been proposed for Fiordland (cancelled in 2004) and at Franz Josef Glacier (proposed in 2018).[23][24] Skyline Luge also previously franchised eight Luges in Japan in the 2000s.[25]

### Other investments

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* Blue Peaks Lodge and Apartment (Queenstown, New Zealand)[26]
* Eichardt's Hotel (Queenstown, New Zealand)[27]
* Christchurch Casino (New Zealand, opened 1994)
* O'Connells Mall (Queenstown, New Zealand)

## References

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1. ^ "Home » Skyline Enterprises". skylineenterprises.co.nz. Retrieved 6 February 2024.; Roxburgh, Tracey (3 July 2023). "First stage of Skyline redevelopment open". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
2. ^ a b c "The History of Skyline Queenstown". Skyline Queenstown. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
3. ^ Chandler, Philip (11 November 2017). "Skyline co-founder recalls hard days as gondola established". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 25 April 2021 - via The New Zealand Herald.
4. ^ Roxburgh, Tracey (19 November 2012). "After 45 years, gondola's fortunes still going up and up". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
5. ^ a b "Teething troubles of gondola's steep ascent". The New Zealand Herald. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
6. ^ Collins, Hugh (21 August 2020). "Redevelopments being paused". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
7. ^ "Construction workers scramble to complete new Queenstown gondolas". www.thepress.co.nz. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
8. ^ Roxburgh, Tracey (3 July 2023). "First stage of Skyline redevelopment open". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
9. ^ "Five-level carpark not available to everyone". Otago Daily Times. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
10. ^ "Phases of construction – Skyline Queenstown". Phases of construction. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
11. ^ "Luge Tracks – Skyline Queenstown". Luge Tracks. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
12. ^ "Covid 19 coronavirus: Tourism blow: Queenstown Skyline cuts staff by half". The New Zealand Herald. 5 May 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
13. ^ "Skyline Queenstown | Gondola". www.newzealand.com. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
14. ^ "About us – Skyline Queenstown". About us. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
15. ^ "Skyline Rotorua celebrates 30 years". The New Zealand Herald. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
16. ^ "Skyline Luge Busan | Skyline Enterprises". Skyline Luge Busan. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
17. ^ "Skyline Luge KL officially open to public tomorrow, the first of its kind in Malaysia". www.malaymail.com. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
18. ^ "NZ luge carts off to Canada – Business News". The New Zealand Herald. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
19. ^ Abdullah, Zhaki (16 October 2017). "Skyline Luge Sentosa unveils new tracks and chairlift as part of $14m upgrade". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
20. ^ "Kiwi luge opens in South Korea". The New Zealand Herald. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
21. ^ "Downhill Karting Calgary | Skyline Enterprises". Downhill Karting Calgary. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
22. ^ a b "Skyline's UK gondola expansion plans meet opposition". Stuff. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
23. ^ McDonald, Christina (12 December 2012). "Gondola link finds favour". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
24. ^ "Gondola proposed to help tourists see retreating Franz Josef Glacier". Stuff. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
25. ^ "Long-serving manager to retire from Skyline". The New Zealand Herald. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
26. ^ "Blue Peaks Lodge & Apartments | Skyline Enterprises". Blue Peaks Lodge and Apartments. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
27. ^ "Eichardt's Building | Skyline Enterprises". Eichardt’s Building. Retrieved 11 October 2024.

45°01′36″S 168°38′58″E﻿ / ﻿45.0266°S 168.6495°E﻿ / -45.0266; 168.6495