Lonely Planet has caught up with what has been known for years - Queenstown is a world-class venue for honeymooners.
The travel bible counts the resort among its Top 10 Best Honeymoon Destinations, alongside Cappadocia, Turkey; Brazil; Marrakech, Morocco; St Lucia; Andalucía, Spain; Bali, Indonesia; California, United States, Colchagua Valley, Chile; and Dunton Hot Springs, Colorado, US.
Lonely Planet tells its romantically inclined readers ''adrenaline is as important for bonding as the love drug oxytocin and there's no better place to get it pumping than New Zealand's South Island.
''Queenstown is the birthplace of bungy jumping, as well as being home to jet-boating, Zorbing, paragliding and epic hiking and skiing.
''Many new mountain bike trails are opening in 2014. If all the activity becomes too much, there are helicopter rides over the Southern Alps to stunning Milford Sound, as well as a sophisticated food and wine scene.''
Luxury boutique hotel Matakauri Lodge, near Glenorchy, is singled out for its ''drop-dead views of the Remarkables range and Lake Wakatipu; just outside town yet blessedly remote.''
One of the most high-profile weddings in Queenstown was held one year ago.
Multi-award-winning Chinese actress Yao Chen, also Tourism New Zealand's brand ambassador in China and a queen of Chinese social media, wed fiancé Cao Yu in St Peter's Anglican Church. The reception was held in Matakauri Lodge.
Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2014 also ranked the West Coast, New Zealand, eighth on its list of Top 10 Regions 2014, for its ''enlivening surprises''.
The guide book ranked Auckland 10th on its list of Top 10 Cities 2014, recommending the ''food, arts and exploring the coastal hinterland'' as ''excellent reasons to extend your stay''.
