Queenstown is a constant source of intrigue and wonder to the people who pass through on their journeys each season. So it was for nomadic Maori people who came here each year in search of the treasured pounamu (greenstone) and to hunt the now-extinct moa, which was a huge flightless bird similar to a giant ostrich.
According to legend, Matau, a fearsome giant, stole the beautiful princess Manata away from her tribe. Her father, the chief, offered her hand in marriage to the man who freed her. Only the warrior Matakauri was brave enough. He found the giant sleeping in a valley with Manata tied up nearby. With all his might he could not break the rope with his pounamu axe. In desperation, Manata begged him to flee before the giant woke. Her tears broke the magical bonds and he swept her to safety. The warrior returned and built a fire around Matau which burned fiercely and etched his outline into the ground, which is now the 80 kilometre (50 mile) long Lake Wakatipu, with the feet at Kingston, knees at Queenstown and head at Glenorchy. The mysterious twist in the tale is that the lake actually rises and falls around 12-20 centimetres (5-8 inches) every few minutes, which is said to be the giant's heart still beating. A more prosaic scientific explanation is that the movement is to do with wind and wave motion over the extremely deep lake. Gold was the allure for the first wave of European settlers, after it was discovered in 1862 and miners came from all corners of the globe. The Shotover River was named the "richest gold river in the world" and proved to be so for a few. Two miners in particular hauled out seven pounds of gold per day for two months, which is the equivalent of a daily value of over $80,000NZD ($35,000USD). Goldmining gave way to farming and the alpine pastures are still sprinkled with deer, cattle and sheep. The lake and mountains were always a haven for holidaymakers throughout the South Island of New Zealand and for the fortunate international visitors who had experienced Queenstown's charm. New Zealand's first commercial ski-field opened at Coronet Peak over 50 years ago and the region has gradually grown in stature to be a four-season resort of international calibre, without squandering its remarkable natural assets. | 
