Queenstown is a picturesque town on the South Island in New Zealand. It lays in the foothills of the Southern Alps along Lake Wakatipu. Queenstown is often called the adventure capital of New Zealand and after spending time there, it is easy to understand why! It was one of my favorite stops on my New Zealand road trip and a must for any visit to New Zealand.
Where to Stay
The main center of Queenstown is not a huge place, so as long as you are somewhere within 5-10 minutes walking distance of it, you are in a great location. We opted to stay at Holiday Apartments at The Whistler. These units were one or two bedroom apartments. They came with a full kitchen, a living room, a separate bedroom, a balcony, and spectacular views of the mountains. They were reasonably priced and I would recommend it to anyone.
Transportation
Queenstown is easy to walk around to many of the sites. There are also many public buses that will take you to some of the further out places such as Arrowtown and Wanaka. Visitors can also book tours that will take you to some of the surrounding areas.
What to See
Arrowtown: Arrowtown is located about 20 minutes outside of Queenstown. In 1862, gold was found in the river and Arrowtown was sprung up. Now, Arrowtown is full of boutique shops and delicious restaurants.
Bob’s Cove Track: There are a plethora of hiking trails around Queenstown. One of the most popular is Bob’s Cove Track along Lake Wakatipu. This hike takes 1.5-2 hours each way.
Get your adrenaline pumping: Queenstown is the perfect place for any adrenaline-pumping activities you could want. Skydiving, bungee jumping, and paragliding are just a few of the activities you can choose from.
Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge (AJ Hackett Bridge): The AJ Hackett Bridge is the site of the first commercial bungee jump. Today, visitors can take the leap off of the bridge as well as a zip line. If you don’t have a car, you can pick up the shuttle from the Queenstown Bungee Center.
Milford Sound: Milford Sound is part of Fiordland National Park and is absolutely gorgeous. Although Milford Sound is quite a trek away from Queenstown, it is still possible to book tours in Queenstown. I recommend basing yourself closer in Te Anau, but doable if you are limited on time.
Onsen Hot Pools: These private hot pools sit on the cliffside of Shotover Canyon and provide awesome views. Each room is private and fill up quickly, so make sure to book months ahead of time if you are interested in the Onsen Hot Pools.
Queenstown Gardens: These Botanical Gardens, filled with local and exotic plants, are located on the shore of the lake. There are many walking trails as well as facilities for various sports such as lawn bowling and disc golf.
Skyline Queenstown: Take a ride up the Queenstown Gondola for spectacular views of Queenstown. While at the top, there are plenty of activities for visitors to enjoy such as the Ledge Bungy, paragliding, and luging. Luging is a must, so make sure to buy at least the 3 luge pass with your ticket. (Trust me, once is not enough).
Wine Tasting: Queenstown is part of Central Otago which is one of the largest wine regions on the South Island. Make sure to go wine tasting at some of the wineries in the area.
Wanaka: Wanaka is a town on Lake Wanaka. It is a popular place for both ski and summer resorts. Wanaka also makes from a great day trip from Queenstown. There are some great hiking trails in the area.
Where to Take Your Lunch Break
Bardeaux: Bardeaux contains a unique cocktail menu and an extensive wine list served in an intimate environment. It is a great place for an after-dinner drink.
The Bunker: While the Bunker is also a restaurant, head upstairs to the cozy bar above the restaurant. This space was once a one bedroom apartment, but now hosts a cocktail bar with a variety of classic and special cocktails
Cookie Time: Cookie Time is a popular New Zealand cookie chain with infamous Instagram-worthy milkshakes.
The Cow: This is a popular pizza joint in Queenstown. They don’t take reservations, so make sure to get there early unless you do not mind waiting.
Fergbaker: This bakery has a ton of delicious baked goods ranging from cookies, muffins, bread, and meat pies! Make sure to try a hot chocolate if you need something to warm you up.
Fergburger: You cannot come to Queenstown without stopping at Fergburger. These gourmet hamburgers are both huge and delicious!
Hell Pizza: This pizza chain is popular across New Zealand. They serve a ton of different types of pizzas suitable for both vegetarians and meat lovers alike at an affordable price.
Patagonia Chocolates: Patagonia Chocolates is a popular chocolate shop with several locations around the Queenstown area. They also serve breakfast, drinks, and ice cream! It is a wonderful place to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Teacher Tip: Make sure to check out Book Me New Zealand for any activities you may want to do. We saved a ton of money by booking ahead of time for our activities.
9 thoughts on “Things to Do in Queenstown”
Ah I love this guide! Queenstown wasn’t even on my radar before, and now I can’t wait to go grab one of those milkshakes!
I would highly recommend Queenstown!
Can’t wait to visit Queenstown! We are up North at the moment but can’t wait to get South!! Great post and thanks for sharing!
Oh you’ll have so much fun on the South Island!
I neeeed to go back to Queenstown! We spent so long hiking near Milford sound that we only had one morning in Queenstown. We just hiked up to Bob’s Peak…but I feel like there is so much more to do. I would like to go back and do quite a few of the local hikes, eat that burger and zoom down the zipline.
Thanks for giving me wanderlust!
I feel like there was so much to see as well! We want to go back when it’s warmer so we can do some hikes!
I loved this little guide! I am hoping to make it out to New Zealand myself one day and hopefully campervan around for a couple of months; it’s the ultimate dream!
Thank you. You’ll have to keep it at the top of your list.
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