Queenstown is a vibrant friendly place offering something for everyone from great restaurants to vineyards. There is something to suit everyone!
The choice is extensive, here are some of the numerous activities you can choose from…
…the thrill of bungy jumping off a bridge
…to gently paddle boarding across the lake.
Or you can jump out of a plane skydiving with the best view of Queenstown…
Adrenaline junkies can also try downhill mountain biking, heliskiing, jetboating, river rafting ..
relax on a lake cruises to Walters Peak.
Have you always dreamed about the tranquility of flyfishing .. still bored? try the amazing golf courses on offer or go for a nature walk in the wilderness.
Best Ski Field
Being local, we do the Coronet Peak thing , up on the mountain for first tracks which starts at 8am. At the beginning of the season we are doing the first run in the dark! It’s the ski field closest to Queenstown and only 25 mins drive from our apartment.
However, if you’re into slopestyle, and doing jumps and tricks is your thing, you will love The Remarkables (40 mins away).
Cardrona is definitely worth a visit. It is further away again but it’s a stunning drive up the Crown Range. The old historic hotel (The Cadrona Pub) at the base of the hill is a lovely place to stop for a refreshing drink on the way home – non alcoholic for the driver(s) of course.
Not into the downhill slopes? Then why not try a guided snowshoe walk– a great way to experience the snow for the whole family. for more tips and information on the ski areas check out our skiing & snowboarding quick guide.
Best Golf
There are 7 great golf courses in the Queenstown basin and they are all worth trying, our favourite is the Jacks Point Golf Course . For more information check out our golf quick guide.
Best Zip-line
Ziptrack up Gondola way, shop at 45 Camp Street, downtown.
Best Bungy
The original AJ Hackett bungy at the entrance to the Gibbston valley.
Don’t Miss
A visit to Arrowtown‘s charming main street – you could easily spend an afternoon here browsing the shops, exploring the Arrowtown Museum, walking along the river and even try your hand at gold panning.
Best Bike Trail
There are too many to choose from! Get a selfie at the propose built Edger suspension bridge which is 45m above the Arrow River on the Arrow River Bridges Ride! read more local tips and our recommendations on cycling around the basin here.
search for the perfect bike trail to suit your ability at the Queenstown Trails Trust website. – click here to visit the Queenstown Trails Trust website
Best Short Walks
Straight down the hill are the Queenstown Gardens, it’s an easy stroll, go smell the roses or enjoy the seasons. The track along the lake keeps going a very very long way (all the way to Jacks Point, Arrowtown or Gibbston). Close (but uphill!) is Queenstown Hill heading stright up from the house (2-3 hours).
For out of town walks I suggest: around Moke Lake (2-3 hrs loop track walk); Mount Crichton (2-4 hours loop track – hilly); Arrowtown River (1-2 hour); around Lake Hayes (2-3 hours). Read more about our recommended hikes here.
download the Department of Conservation Guide on walks in the Wakatipu Basin
Best Day/Overnight trip:
Walter Peak Farm Tour & BBQ lunch/dinner – cruise onboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak Farm and enjoy the spectacular views to Lake Wakatipu along the way.
Fiordland – What tour to do will depend on how much time you’ve got. If you’ve got the time, we recommend any of the overnight cruses that Real NZ’s has on offer. Otherwise for those who are time poor, we’ve heard great reviews of the bus-cruise-fly single day trips on offer. Our guest rave about the stunning mountain scenery on the flight.
read more about our recommended places to visit here
Down Day
Rent frisbees in town and try ‘Frisbee Golf’ in the Queenstown Gardens. Also in the gardens is an indoor skating rink and lawn bowls.
A VR adventure at Thrill Zone- Great for teens seeking some thrills
Rainy Day
For the active, try the Queenstown Ice Arena, an indoor skating rink or go for a swim at the indoor Alpine Aqualand ( temporally closed till 30 March 2020) at Frankton. For chilling try the Reading Cinermas movie theatre on Mall Street or the cosy Dorothy Browns in Arrowtown – book a movie in the Den which only seats 20! For more information on the 2 cinemas check out our movie page.
A VR adventure at Thrill Zone- A popular choice with teens
Kids
Short of ideas? You can try taking the Gondola ride up the hill and do some go-carting (Luge); a great swimming complex (Alpine Aqualand) or Super Trampolines (Site Trampoline) in Frankton; Ice Skating in the Gardens (Queenstown Ice Arena); swing at play ground on the lake shore by the Queenstown Gardens; and lastly, practice / learn how to skim stones at the lake.