10 Best Things to Do in Queenstown, New Zealand

The Skyline Gondola Queenstown carries passengers 450 metres above the town to the summit of Bob's Peak, delivering what is regularly called one of the best views in New Zealand. The gondola ride takes about 10 minutes, and from the top you get a 220-degree panorama spanning Lake Wakatipu, the Remarkables, Cecil Peak, Walter Peak, and the town below. The observation deck and Stratosfare Restaurant at the top are excellent spots to take it all in.

Once at the summit, the Skyline Luge is the star secondary attraction - a gravity-fuelled cart ride down purpose-built tracks with banked corners and tunnels. There are two tracks: the scenic track (gentler, more views) and the advanced track (steeper, faster). A gondola-only pass costs NZD 49 (27 EUR), while gondola plus luge combos start at NZD 59 (33 EUR) for two luge rides. The summit also hosts Ledge Bungy and Ledge Swing for thrill-seekers who want to jump with the panoramic backdrop.

A Milford Sound day trip is the single most popular excursion from Queenstown and one of the top things to do in the entire South Island. The fiord - technically a sound by name but a glacially carved fiord by geology - stretches 15 km from the Tasman Sea inland, flanked by sheer rock walls rising over 1,200 metres. Mitre Peak, a 1,692-metre pinnacle that rises directly from the water, dominates the scene. Waterfalls cascade down the cliff faces (especially after rain), and you may spot bottlenose dolphins, fur seals, and Fiordland crested penguins on the cruise.

The drive from Queenstown follows State Highway 94 through Te Anau, the Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes, and the 1.2-km Homer Tunnel blasted through solid rock. Cruise operators at the Milford terminal include Real Journeys and Jucy Cruise, with standard cruises lasting 1.5-2 hours and costing NZD 70-95 (39-53 EUR). Tour buses from Queenstown including the cruise run NZD 170-250 (95-140 EUR). Scenic flights cost significantly more but save time and offer dramatic aerial views.

Shotover Jet has been sending passengers through the narrow Shotover River canyons at speeds up to 85 km/h since 1970, making it New Zealand's most famous jet boat experience. The bright red boats carry up to 14 passengers and perform 360-degree spins while skimming past canyon walls with only centimetres to spare. The Shotover River canyon section is narrow and dramatic - towering schist rock walls close in on both sides, and the shallow braided channels require split-second piloting.

A ride lasts about 25 minutes on the water and costs NZD 159 (89 EUR) for adults. The experience includes a scenic drive through the Shotover River valley to the launch site. Combo deals pairing Shotover Jet with bungee or the helicopter are available and save roughly 15% over individual bookings. The operation runs year-round, including during winter when snow dusts the canyon rims.

Arrowtown is a beautifully preserved gold-mining settlement 20 minutes east of Queenstown. Founded during the 1862 Otago Gold Rush, the town retains its original main street (Buckingham Street) lined with heritage stone and timber buildings that now house cafes, galleries, and boutique shops. The Lakes District Museum on Buckingham Street documents the gold rush era with mining equipment, Chinese artefacts, and settler photographs. Entry is NZD 12 (6.70 EUR).

The Chinese Settlement, a short walk from the main street along Bush Creek, is a restored collection of mud-and-stone huts where Chinese gold miners lived in the 1860s-1870s. Interpretive panels tell the often-overlooked story of Chinese immigrants during the gold rush. The Arrow River itself runs through town, and you can still pan for gold at several points along the bank - a fun activity for kids and adults alike. In autumn (April-May), the town's European deciduous trees put on one of the best colour displays in New Zealand.

The TSS Earnslaw is a 1912 coal-fired vintage steamship - one of the oldest commercial passenger steamships still operating anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere. The 90-minute cruise crosses Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm on the western shore, where you can watch sheep shearing demonstrations and explore the lakeside gardens. The ship itself is part of the experience: you can descend below deck to watch the stokers shovel coal into the twin boilers that power the original steam engines.

Lake Wakatipu is 80 km long and up to 380 metres deep, with remarkably clear water that shifts between blue and green depending on the light. The views from the Earnslaw's deck take in the Remarkables, Cecil Peak, and Walter Peak. A basic cruise costs NZD 79 (44 EUR), while the cruise-plus-BBQ-lunch package at Walter Peak is NZD 135 (75 EUR). The Earnslaw departs from the Queenstown Bay wharf in the town centre multiple times daily.

The Gibbston Valley is the heart of Central Otago's wine region and one of the southernmost wine-growing areas in the world. The sub-region's sheltered river gorge and schist soils produce Pinot Noir that regularly wins international awards and has put New Zealand on the fine-wine map. Gibbston Valley Winery, the largest producer, operates a cave cellar door carved into the hillside where tastings start at NZD 15 (8.40 EUR) for five wines. Other standout cellar doors within a few kilometres include Peregrine, Chard Farm, and Kinross.

The Gibbston River Trail is a sealed cycling path that follows the Kawarau River from the AJ Hackett bungee bridge through the valley, connecting several wineries along the way. Bike rental from Queenstown with shuttle drop-off costs around NZD 80-100 (45-56 EUR) for a half day. For those who prefer to drive, a loop through four or five cellar doors with tasting at each takes a leisurely half day. Most tastings include Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Rose.

The Ben Lomond Summit Track is the premier day hike accessible directly from Queenstown. The 1,748-metre peak towers above the town, and the summit delivers a full 360-degree panorama across Lake Wakatipu, the Remarkables, Coronet Peak, and the distant peaks of Mount Aspiring National Park. The track from the Skyline Gondola top station to the summit and back takes 5-6 hours (about 11 km return), gaining roughly 900 metres of elevation above the gondola terminus.

The hike starts through beech forest, breaks out above the tree line at the saddle (an excellent viewpoint even if you do not continue to the summit), then follows an exposed ridge to the top. The final section is steep and can be windy - bring warm layers regardless of the forecast in town. You can save NZD 49 by skipping the gondola and hiking the Tiki Trail from the base, but this adds 90 minutes each way. The track is maintained by the Department of Conservation (DOC) and is free.

Queenstown Gardens occupy a small peninsula jutting into Lake Wakatipu south of the town centre. The park dates back to 1867, making it one of the oldest public reserves in the region. Mature trees - including conifers, oaks, and giant sequoias - shade flat walking paths that loop the peninsula in about 30 minutes. The gardens include a disc golf course (free, 18 holes), a skate park, rose gardens, lawn bowls, and a playground, making it a good spot for families or anyone wanting a break from adrenaline activities.

The lakefront path along the north edge of the gardens offers some of the best photo angles of the Remarkables reflected in the lake. On calm mornings, the water is mirror-flat and the mountain reflection is perfect. A small pebbly beach at the tip of the peninsula is popular for swimming in summer (the water is cold year-round - around 12 C even in January). The gardens are free, open 24 hours, and dog-friendly.

Glenorchy is a tiny settlement at the northern head of Lake Wakatipu, and the 45-minute drive from Queenstown along the lake's western shore is one of the most scenic road trips in New Zealand. The road hugs the lakeshore beneath towering bluffs, with frequent pulloffs for photos. Glenorchy itself is the gateway to three of New Zealand's Great Walks - the Routeburn Track, Greenstone-Caples Track, and Rees-Dart Track - and the access point for Paradise Valley, a remote river flat surrounded by beech forest that served as a filming location for [Isengard and Lothlórien in the Lord of the Rings trilogy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings_(film_series)).

Even if you are not a Tolkien fan, the landscape is extraordinary - the Diamond Lake walk (2.5 hours return) behind Glenorchy offers views that rival anything in the region. The Dart River jet boat safari combines jet boating with short bush walks through moss-draped beech forest for NZD 299 (167 EUR). Glenorchy has a few cafes and a general store, but no petrol station - fill up before leaving Queenstown.