23/09/2026
Before there was Queenstown, there was Tāhuna. 🌿
And before the TSS Earnslaw crossed these waters carrying visitors, Whakatipu-Wai-Māori (Lake Wakatipu) was part of a much older story.
For generations, Kāi Tahu travelled these waters and surrounding trails, with settlements around the lake and routes leading towards the pounamu of the headwaters. The area we now know as Queenstown was once home to the kāika of Tāhuna, meaning “sandy shore.” 🌊
Today, you can stand on the same lakefront and watch the TSS Earnslaw, one of Queenstown’s most iconic sights, making its way across the water.
A pretty incredible reminder that Queenstown’s story started long before tourism.
And there’s a lot more to this place than meets the eye. 🤍