Kingston

Straddling the border of Southland and Otago, Kingston lies at the southern tip of Lake Wakatipu, bounded by the Hector Range and the Eyre Mountains. It’s home to one of the region’s most beloved treasures: the Kingston Flyer steam train.
On what once was a major railway line, the Kingston station served as an important link between the regional hub of Invercargill in the south to the bustling goldfields to the north. Constructed in the 1860s, the line was integral to New Zealand’s national rail network for more than a century until closures throughout the country saw it shutter. The vintage steam train then ran part of the line as a tourist service, offering unique views of the area.
Originally named St Johns after an Irish-born policeman, the town became known as Kingston by mid-1864 to mirror its neighbour on the opposite shores of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown.
This charming historic city has a café, bar and accommodation options as well as a petrol station, holiday park, fire station, library and waterfront.