Shannon Morton (22), of Auckland, and Alice Sinclair (23), of Christchurch, came south looking for good weather and a place to party, as their home cities had failed to live up to expectations.
Miss Sinclair had a week off her holiday job after finishing a law degree at Canterbury University and she said she wanted to get away for a while from what had become a "quiet nightlife" in Christchurch since the February 22 earthquake.
"I had to go away; I couldn't stay in Christchurch. There is actually nothing to do. There are no bars open and everyone's gone."
She said she chose Queenstown because she had heard it had a reputation for busy bars and a great nightlife.
"I've been pretty impressed."
In the past Miss Sinclair had opted to stay in her home city because she had holiday jobs that had not allowed her the time to head away.
Miss Morton, who booked her holiday before she read the weather forecast for Auckland's festive week, said she was glad to be "lapping up the Queenstown sun".
"I hoped the weather would be good and it has been amazing."
Miss Morton had spent her time between Arrowtown, Bannockburn and Queenstown since December 29 and said she had loved every moment of her first New Year experience in Queenstown.
"I feel like I have been in a haze for the last five days.
"I have lost track of time. It is so relaxing here because there is nothing you have to do and no time you have to do it in."
Miss Morton, who works as a pharmaceutical representative, said the weather in Queenstown had lived up to her expectations.
"The weather down here is better than Auckland anyway.
"Up there it's humid. Here it is hot and dry and you get a tan."
Originally from the Waitaki, the converted Aucklander said she had found locals "really welcoming and chatty".
"They've definitely got that South Island charm I've been missing."
Next summer she was planning on coming back to Queenstown for the weather and camping at Kinloch on New Year's Eve to "get away from the young crowds".
"I definitely felt a bit old on the countdown with all the teens roaming the streets."
