Top Oz Tours offers a great range of Queenstown tours and experiences. You can browse the options here.
At night the twinkling lights of Queenstown cascade down the lower reaches of the majestic Remarkables towards Lake Wakatipu like baubles on a Christmas tree.
While it’s renowned as New Zealand’s ski and adventure capital, Queenstown offers an effortless charm and understated sophistication that will appeal to just about anyone. From the stunning natural setting and chalet-style architecture, to the cosmopolitan food and wine scene, plethora of galleries and artist studios, and lengthy list of activities and attractions, there really is something for everyone here. Three million overseas visitors a year can’t be wrong!
For adrenalin-junkies looking to take full advantage of the high-octane, thrill-seeking, bone-jarring action on offer, you’ll need a holiday budget that stretches further than a bungee cord over the Kawarau Gorge. Just remember to leave enough time to join the mix of more sedate holidaymakers down on the waterfront gazing out at the impossibly blue waters of Lake Wakatipu. Sometimes the best things in life are indeed free.
Here’s a checklist of our top ten things to do in Queenstown on a first visit.
Watch our video of ten top things to do on a South Island road trip:
Ten Amazing Things to Do on a South Island Road Trip, New Zealand – The Big Bus
Welcome to The Big Bus tour and travel guide’s YouTube channel. In this video, we bring you ten amazing things to do on a road trip around New Zealand’s stun…
1. Get adventurous
Located in the South Island’s Otago region, Queenstown is a year round holiday hot spot. Summer or winter, the town’s cultural psyche is first and foremost that of an adventure lover’s playground and you should give at least one or two activities a go — whatever your age. AJ Hackett’s Original Bungy Jump over the Kawarau River is an iconic option, but for something slightly less extreme book a seat on Shotover Jet’s jet boat ride along the twisting Shotover River. Jet boats are a New Zealand invention and this activity will see you ducking and weaving through the narrowest of ravines and gorges. It’s fast, furious, fun — and wet!
We won’t go into winter-specific activities here, but for information on the four ski fields within easy reach of town, Queenstown Tourism’s website is a good place to start.
2. Be a culture vulture
There’s no artist alive who wouldn’t find this location inspiring — so if you like to gallery hop whilst on holiday, expect to see some pretty extraordinary landscape works along the way. In Queenstown itself, the Ivan Clarke Gallery is a must-visit (note that it’s open by appointment only). Not only are Clarke’s landscapes sublime, but his fabulous Lonely Dog franchise is doing big things around the world. Down on the waterfront, Artbay Gallery represents around 50 award-winning New Zealand artists.
Further afield, Thomas Brown welcomes visitors at his Lake Hayes studio/gallery — an old converted cheese factory. And in Arrowtown, the petite Nadene Milne Gallery exhibits breathtaking pieces of contemporary art.
3. Cruise on, or in, Lake Wakatipu
Formed by glacial forces dating back thousands of years, Lake Wakatipu is big, deep, and cold — and there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy its exquisite beauty. Despite its moniker, the Million Dollar Cruise is very affordable and extremely popular — as is a chug across the teal waters on board the venerable steamship TSS Earnslaw (which was launched in the same year as the Titanic!). Note the collection of wonderful historic photographs on display in the main salon.
Activities on Lake Wakatipu aren’t confined to above the waterline. Hydro Attack’s high-powered semi-submersible watercraft (which looks like a giant shark) will give you an introduction to the lake that you won’t soon forget.
4. Take in the views from Skyline
You’ve seen the lake from down low, now get a view from on high. Ride the very zen Skyline Queenstown gondola up to Bob’s Peak for stunning views of the city, Lake Wakatipu, and the jagged peaks of the Remarkables. Don’t be put off by the queue — it moves fairly quickly.
5. Dine in style
While many Queenstown activities might be hell bent on bringing up your breakfast, the city actually has a very refined dining scene. For an innovative menu, stylish surrounds, attentive service, and a superb wine list, Rata in the city centre is the go-to. If you simply can’t decide which delectable-sounding dish to order, opt for the multi-course Tasting Menu.
6. Grab a great burger
But it’s not all about highfalutin fare. Burger bar Fergburger is a local institution, and there are generally queues down the street to prove it!
7. Shop for handmade wares
Those in the market for a unique souvenir of their stay should get in a browse at the Queenstown Market. It takes place every Saturday on the waterfront, and artisans come from across the South Island to sell their handmade wares here (no imported goods are allowed). Not only will you take home something you love, but love will have undoubtedly gone into making it.
8. Step back in time in Arrowtown
We mentioned Arrowtown earlier, and a day trip out to this heritage village — 20 kilometres north-east of Queenstown — will reveal the wider region’s gold rush roots. The main street is packed with period character from the late 19th century and has been exceptionally well preserved. Rent a gold pan from the excellent Lakes District Museum and head down to the Arrow River behind the town to seek your fortune. And if you don’t believe there’s gold to be found — call into The Gold Shop to view priceless nuggets discovered locally.
9. Do a wine tour
As a winemaking region, Central Otago needs little introduction. Situated east of Queenstown, this is one of the world’s southernmost grape growing areas — and it yields distinctive pinot noir, chardonnay, pinot gris, riesling, and sauvignon blanc vintages. Explore under your own steam or let someone else take care of the driving on a fully guided wine tour. Top cellar doors include Chard Farm (with its mind-blowing mountainside vineyard) and Gibbston Valley — home to New Zealand’s biggest wine cave and a mighty fine cheesery to boot.
10. Sample top drops at The Winery
If your time in Queenstown is limited and won’t accommodate a day amongst the vines, a visit to The Winery in the city centre will suffice. Here there are 80+ wines from across the country available to sample. Dangerous!
Need a place to stay?
Oaks Shores
Oaks Shores offers contemporary one, two and three-bedroom apartment-style accommodation right by Lake Wakatipu. Most rooms provide gorgeous views of the lake, and the gas fireplaces are a really nice touch.
Fully equipped modern kitchens make self-catering a breeze, but the hotel does have an onsite restaurant and bar. There’s also a complimentary shuttle service to and from town.
Sherwood
You just know you’re in for something special at Sherwood, located a few minutes’ drive from the centre of town. This up-cycled motel complex offers stylish, eco-friendly guests suites and a remarkable onsite eatery. There’s a very strong emphasis on the use of local produce, inventive pairings of ingredients (many of which you may never have even heard of!), and impeccable presentation. The wine map (as opposed to the traditional wine list) is nifty.
For more travel inspiration, visit www.queenstownnz.co.nz.
Browse our range of New Zealand tours and experiences here.
Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of the top things to do in Queenstown? We would love to hear from you. Join the conversation on our Facebook page.
Cover image: Tourism New Zealand. Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Adam Ford is editor of Top Oz Tours and Travel Ideas, and a travel TV presenter, writer, blogger, and photographer. He has travelled extensively through Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, and the Middle East. Adam worked as a travel consultant for a number of years with Flight Centre before taking up the opportunity to travel the world himself as host of the TV series Tour the World on Network Ten. He loves to experience everything a new destination has to offer and is equally at home in a five-star Palazzo in Pisa or a home-stay in Hanoi.
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