FactQueenstownThursday, 1 January 2026
Why The Remarkables are 'remarkable': they run almost perfectly north to south
Queenstown's signature range is one of only a handful of mountain ranges in the world aligned almost due north–south — reportedly the reason surveyors called them remarkable.
The jagged wall towering over Lake Wakatipu's eastern shore isn't just remarkable to look at. The range runs almost exactly north to south, an alignment few significant ranges on Earth share, and the popular account holds that this is what earned the name from early surveyors.
The highest point, Double Cone, reaches 2,319 metres. In winter the range hosts one of Queenstown's two local ski fields; in summer its Wye Creek and lake-view hikes are some of the region's most underrated.
Quick answers
- How did The Remarkables get their name?
- The commonly told account is that surveyors found the range remarkable for running almost due north–south — a rare alignment for a major mountain range. Its highest point is Double Cone at 2,319 m.
Sources
- The Remarkables range is aligned nearly north–south, with Double Cone (2,319 m) its highest point. [source]