The Venue
Rydges Lakeland Resort Queenstown
Rydges Lakeland Resort Queenstown, New Zealand, has been chosen as the venue for learn – share – grow Conference 2008. Rydges Lakeland Resort Queenstown is situated on the shores of the beautiful Lake Wakatipu and boasts breathtaking views over the lake and surrounding Remarkables mountains, yet, as Queenstown’s largest hotel, it is just a 5-minute flat walk along the waterfront to the centre of town.
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Queenstown
Springtime in Queenstown
There is no more beautiful time to visit Queenstown than in the spring when warm spring sunshine extends its rays across Queenstown’s spectacular mountains and valleys and enjoy the vista of vibrant lime hues colour tree buds and delicate cherry blossoms bursting open to perfume the air.
Unique alpine and lake resort
At once breathtakingly beautiful and action-packed, Queenstown's unique edge is borne from a tangible buzz that touches every visitor's soul, conjuring up a feeling that anything is possible.
Break away
Rivers fuelled by mighty glaciers are great places to rest the mind while catching a fish or two, and ancient Beech forests and superbly tended mountain tracks put work issues far from the mind as nature pushes life back into perspective. Just inhaling the pure alpine air evokes a sense of empowerment.
Alluring
Access to Queenstown is easy with several domestic and international flights every day. Road transport is equally convenient and perhaps a more thrilling way to build anticipation for arrival in a town that instills a sense of adventure in every newcomer.
Sophistication
If you're after a decadent drop, make sure you sample the award-winning local pinot noir. Skilled and innovative wine producers put the shale soil and perfect wine growing conditions to good use here and add their own flair to create a rich family of varietals including Rieslings, Pinot Gris, Chardonnays and celebratory bubbles.
Therapy
Emerging as an 1860’s gold mining camp, 145 years later Queenstown has a compact and sophisticated downtown heart, bejeweled with shops and boutiques. The really neat thing is that as you happily pop in and out of the stores, breathtaking views are never more than a few paces away providing a constant aesthetic and, at times, emotional stimulus.
Springtime
If your batteries recharge best under sunlight, make your way to the relaxing lakeside beaches to enjoy warm daytime conditions or impromptu dusk picnics. Keep your eyes peeled for the southern lights, which occasionally make an eerie appearance at this time of year.
It needn't be all about throwing yourself out of a perfectly good airplane though. Queenstown happily lends itself to everyone's idea of fun and you might get your kicks from a round of Frisbee golf in the lake-edge gardens or from achieving a birdie at one of the most awe-inspiring gold courses in the world... the Tiger Woods in you will be sure to make an appearance.
And after the conference... there's plenty of solitude as you let your feet lead your mind on the Milford, Hollyford, Kepler, Routeburn, Hump Ridge or Greenstone tracks to access alpine plateaus, snowy peaks, lush rainforests and the waterfalls of this world heritage area.
Embrace the spring season, and warm your limbs in gentle morning sunshine because the daytime temperatures can hit 22°C (75°F) and lakeside beaches welcome picnic baskets, sun-seekers and the odd swimmer. Once the sun goes down however, temperatures can change quickly and evenings are cool. And most important of all - have a great time at the conference.