BEST ACTIVITIES IN QUEENSTOWN

Queenstown is by far my favorite town in New Zealand! It is such a unique town with SO much to do! I have put together a list of my favorite excursions in Queenstown as well as a few things I wish I had time for. Queenstown is an adventure destination; known for bungy jumping and outdoor thrills. Even if you are not an adventure seeker (personally, I am NOT) there is something for everyone!

Best activities in Queenstown:

Jet Boat

Jet Boating is my favorite excursion in Queenstown! We rode with Thunder Jet and had an absolute blast. Jet boating is such a thrill and I couldn’t recommend it more. Stan, our driver, took us to Kawarau River where we cruised around for awhile before heading back to Queenstown!

Read More: Jet Boating in Queenstown

Queenstown Skyline Gondola and Luge

The Queenstown Skyline Gondola and Luge should be your first stop on a trip to Queenstown!

The Skyline is easily accessible from Queenstown. You can take the Queenstown Gondola up which is located just behind the center of town. The Gondola offers incredible views of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables Mountain Range so it’s a must in the city. You can either purchase a round trip or a one way to the Gondola. You can also follow the Tiki Trail to the Luge which is about an hour long hike from downtown.

Once you reach the top, there is the Skyline Restaurant, the Luge, and of course the most spectacular views. After soaking in the views of Queenstown be sure to head to the Luge! There are two tracks at the Luge one for beginners and the other is more advanced. Everyone must ride the beginners course before riding the adventure course so I highly recommend purchasing at least two tickets.

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Bike Ride

Biking around Queenstown is one of the easiest ways to check out the city and get great views of Lake Wakatipu. There are a number of biking trails in Queenstown making for an easy activity in the city! We wanted to enjoy views of Lake Wakatipu so we chose to ride along the Queenstown Trail which connects to the Lake Wakatipu Ride and the views are stunning! If you’re a more advanced biker there are a number of more challenging trails as well.

Rent Paddle Boards/ Kayaks

Head down to the waterfront area in Queenstown to rent Paddle Boards or Kayaks and enjoy Lake Wakatipu. Swim at your own risk – the lake is an average of 50 degrees year round – so cold!!

Wander the Streets

Wander and enjoy the streets of Queenstown, need I say more!? The town is perfectly situated on Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges including The Remarkables, Cecil Peak, Walter Peak, Ben Lomond, and Queenstown Hill making for a stunning view. It’s such a cool and unique town, so take your time exploring! Head down to the lake front to relax and just take it all in.

Hikes from Downtown:

Tiki Trail to Skyline Queenstown

While you can take the Gondola up to the Skyline in Queenstown, I suggest hiking up on the Tiki Trail! The hike is literally all up hill, but it’s pretty easy! It took us about 45 minutes to get to the top and there are some great views along the way. The beginning of the trail is located next to the Queenstown Gondola which is just behind the center of town. There’s a sign for the Tiki Trail which you follow to the top.

Queenstown Hill Walking Track

I did the Queenstown Hill Walking Track on my first trip to Queenstown and it’s awesome! It’s located off Belfast Street in Queenstown. You get such a great vantage point of Queenstown and I would definitely recommend it. The hike isn’t too challenging – about 2-3 hours.

Ben Lomond Track

This is one of my favorite hikes in Queenstown! It is very different from any other hike in the area. It has so many trees and is a very shaded hike! We passed a waterfall along the way which was gorgeous. There are a number of different hikes in this area so you can make it as long as you want. It’s a very easy hike to access from downtown Queenstown. The trail can also be accessed from the Tiki Trail.

Queenstown Trail

The Queenstown Trail technically isn’t a hike but it is perfect if you are looking for a nice and easy walking trail! It offers stunning views of Queenstown and is a very popular walking trail. It also connects to the Lake Wakatipu Ride if you are looking for a longer path.

Tours:

Dart River Adventures

The first time I visited Queenstown, my family and I took a tour with Dart River Adventures. The drive to Dart River and Mt Aspiring National Park is absolutely beautiful. It was an incredible tour that combines a short hike with a jet boat ride through the Dart River which is an absolute blast!

Read More: Jet Boating in Queenstown

Milford Sound

Head to Milford Sound! It’s the most well known spot in New Zealand – and for good reason. We opted for the coach – cruise – fly option and I could not recommend it more! The flight from Milford Sound back to Queenstown ended up being our absolute favorite part. Milford Sound is about 4 (ish) hours from Queenstown by car making for a pretty long day so if you can swing the flight back I would definitely do it.

Bonus: If you are looking for another spectacular Sound on the South Island, be sure to check out Doubtful Sound as well.

Read More: All things Milford Sound

Gibbston Valley Wineries

Being a wine lover, this is a tour I wish I had time for! There are SO many day trips from Queenstown to Gibbston Valley for wine tasting. This is the tour I would have done, if I had time! It is a self-guided biking tour through the wineries in Gibbston Valley. There are also a number of tours that don’t include biking..

Day Trip to Arrowtown

My family and I made a day trip to Arrowtown from Queenstown and had an absolute blast! It’s a quick 25 minutes from Queenstown so you can make a day trip out of it or take a few hours to explore the town. It’s a historic town with so much to see. The town quaint and adorable so be sure to check it out.

Must try Restaurants:

Fergburger

If you talk to anyone that has visited Queenstown, they will probably mention Fergburger! It is the hot spot of Queenstown and a must go to on my list. Fergburger is open from 8am – 5am every single day and there is a line out the door from open to close! There is also a gelato shop called Mrs. Ferg and a bakery called Fergbaker next door which personally I prefer, so be sure to check them out as well.

Devil Burger

One of our waitresses told us to check out Devil Burger because she prefers it over Fergburger! Since I’m not a burger person, I ordered a chicken burger and it was by far the best chicken burger I’ve ever had! I highly recommend ordering the Bottomless Pit. The menu was huge and had so many options. My fiancé, Max, and I actually ended up at Devil Burger more than once because it was so good.

Patagonia Chocolates

Patagonia Chocolates is a two story chocolate and ice cream factory with a great view of Lake Wakatipu. My boyfriend and I enjoyed grabbing some ice cream and sitting on the second floor to admire the view from Patagonia Chocolates!

CookieTime

If you’re anything like me, you’ll love CookieTime! I have a major sweet tooth and loved CookieTime. They serve everything from cookies, to cookie dough to ice cream. My favorite thing at cookie time was getting half cookie dough half ice cream. It was so satisfying. The cookie dough is amazing but actually gets to be a lot so I recommend mixing it.

Read More: here is a full guide to all of my favorite restaurants in Queenstown!

A few ideas for the Daredevil…

As I mentioned, Queenstown is a city of thrills! There are a number things to do in the city of you’re an adrenaline seeker. Bungy Jumping is a prominent activity in Queenstown as there is a popular jump that over looks the city. Here is a well known tour on trip advisor. Queenstown is also known for awesome Skydiving and Paragliding tours and I have linked both.

I absolutely love Queenstown and look forward to my next trip there! I hope you check out some of the spots and enjoy Queenstown as much as I do :)

Safe Travels,

Sarah :)