Things to Do in Queenstown New Zealand

Things to Do in Queenstown: Set amongst the jagged peaks of the Southern Alps and the crystal clear Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is an inspirational place of unparalleled experiences. Skydiving, bungy jumping, canyon swinging, rafting, paragliding, jet boating, heliskiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, walking, hiking and trekking are just a few of them. For a more peaceful time, take the scenic route with quiet walks along the lakeshore, boat rides, wine tasting, tours, local cuisine and shopping.

Experience Queenstown New Zealand

• The Adrenalin Capital of the World
• Log fires with seasonal cuisine
• Crystal clear Lake Wakatipu
• Spectacular backdrop of The Southern Alps

You´ll ❤️ these great things to see & do…

• Ski The Remarkables and Coronet Peak
• Bungy jump off the Kawarau Bridge
• Face the fear on a tandem skydive
• Go white water rafting down the Shotover River
• Hold on tight during a thrilling jetboat ride
• Cruise, sail, or speed up Lake Wakatipu
• See what lies beneath a Milford Deep Underwater Observatory
• Step aboard the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw
• Play 18 holes at stunning Jack’s Point
• Dine out at an award-winning winery
• Watch the sunset from a lakeside bar
• Catch a movie at Arrowtown’s hip cinema
• Visit Lake Wanaka, the world’s first lifestyle reserve

Where to Experience It in Queenstown

Queenstown is a compact lakeside town with the best of the region on its doorstep, so the easiest way to plan your things to do in Queenstown is by theme and by day trip. Where we have a matching activity, the name links to it.

• Adrenaline: bungy at the Kawarau Bridge, jet boating, white water rafting, skydiving and canyoning. See Active & Adventure.
• Lake Wakatipu: cruise on the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw, or choose a scenic cruise or water activity. See Boat Cruises & Water Activities.
• Views and walks: the Skyline Gondola, Queenstown Hill, the Tiki Trail and the Ben Lomond Track. See Walking & Hiking.
• Biking: the Queenstown Cycle Trail links lakeside paths, Gibbston and Arrowtown. See Cycling & Mountain Biking.
• Wine and food: Gibbston cellar doors, Arrowtown and Central Otago Pinot Noir. See Food & Wine and our wine tours.
• Snow: Coronet Peak and The Remarkables, with Cardrona within an hour’s drive. See Skiing & Snowboarding.
• Golf: Jack’s Point and Millbrook Resort are two of the region’s best-known courses. See Golf & Other Sports.
• Day trips: Milford Sound, Aoraki / Mt Cook, Glenorchy, Arrowtown and the historic Cardrona Hotel. See Scenic Flights for a view from above.

Events in Queenstown

Queenstown has events all year, from festivals and markets to big sporting fixtures, so there are always things to do in Queenstown that fit your travel dates. These are selected dates from the official Queenstown NZ event calendar (checked 16 October 2026). Please confirm dates with each organiser before you plan around them.

Coming up in 2026

• Glenorchy Grind, 17 October. A gravel ride along backcountry roads at the head of Lake Whakatipu.
• MindJam, 23–25 October. Informal conversations on big issues, hosted at the Lakes District Museum in Arrowtown.
• Queenstown Writers Festival, 5–8 November. An annual November event for book lovers.
• Queenstown Marathon, 14 November. Marathon (42.2 km), half marathon (21 km) and 10 km events, plus a 2.2 km kids’ run.
• New Year’s Eve fireworks, 31 December. Queenstown’s lakefront celebration to welcome 2027.

Annual highlights to plan around

• New Zealand Golf Open, February. Held at Millbrook Resort, with a Pro-Am format. Confirm the 2027 dates on the tournament site.
• At the World’s Edge Festival, October. A classical music festival with events across the region.
• Remarkables Market: a weekly Saturday market in the warmer months, with artisans, local produce and live music. Check the current season’s start date.

Queenstown After Dark

If you are looking for things to do in Queenstown at night, the official Queenstown guide points to bars, restaurants, soaking and lakefront views. Hours and seasons change, so confirm with each operator.

• Above the town: ride the Skyline Gondola with a buffet dinner for lights over Lake Wakatipu.
• Bars and live music: browse the official nightlife guide. Watch the sunset from a lakeside bar, then stay for the evening.
• Relax and unwind: soak in a hot pool or book a spa session. See the official hot pools guide and our Hot Pools & Health Spas.
• In winter: try ice skating in the heart of town or a visit to the ice bar, then warm up in a restaurant with a log fire.

Free Things to Do in Queenstown

Plenty of Queenstown’s best experiences cost nothing, which makes them good fillers between tours.

• The lakefront: stroll the lakeside, or relax at one of the lakeside beaches in summer.
• Queenstown Gardens: a peaceful retreat on the peninsula beside the lake.
• Queenstown Hill: a rewarding walk with 360-degree views over the town and lake.
• Tiki Trail: a steep walking track with panoramic views.
• Queenstown Trail: about 110 km of walking and cycling trails linking scenic spots.
• Town centre: wander through the centre to find local art and street performances.

Eat & Drink in Queenstown

Queenstown and nearby Arrowtown have more than 150 places to eat, from fine dining to casual cafés, and the wineries of Gibbston are a short drive away. Central Otago Pinot Noir is the local speciality to look for.

• Join a tasting at a Gibbston or Arrowtown cellar door, or book a New Zealand wine tour.

Queenstown by Season

Here are the best things to do in Queenstown in each season, based on Destination Queenstown’s seasonal guides.

• Summer (Dec–Feb): temperatures between 20°C and 30°C, with dawn as early as 5 am and dusk around 10 pm. Hike, kayak or swim in the lake, go zip-lining or mountain biking, and taste wine in Gibbston.
• Autumn (Mar–May): red and gold foliage, food and music festivals and quieter trails. Arrowtown is especially photogenic.
• Winter (Jun–Aug): four ski areas, heli-skiing and a lively après scene. Coronet Peak is about 20 minutes from town, The Remarkables about 45 minutes and Cardrona about an hour.
• Spring (Sep–Nov): blossom in the streets, gardens in bloom and spring skiing, which gives you snowy peaks and green valleys on the same day.

Good to Know Before You Go

• Flying in: Queenstown Airport is about 15 minutes from downtown. It has direct flights from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, plus Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and the Gold Coast.
• Getting around: the downtown area is compact and walkable, and there is a public bus network, ferries from Frankton to Queenstown and the Queenstown Trail for biking.
• By road: daily buses run to Queenstown from Wānaka, Dunedin, Invercargill and Christchurch. Highways are sealed, but allow extra time in winter for ice and snow.
• Day trips: Milford Sound and Aoraki / Mt Cook day tours from Queenstown take about 12 hours, so book an early start.

Approximate drive times from Queenstown

• Wānaka: about 1 hour
• Invercargill (Southland): about 2 hours
• Te Anau (Fiordland): about 2 hours
• Aoraki / Mt Cook: about 3 hours 30 minutes
• Dunedin: about 3 hours 30 minutes
• Christchurch: about 6 hours

Combine Queenstown With

Queenstown sits in the southwest of the South Island, so it pairs well with these nearby regions:

• Wanaka – about an hour north, for lakes, mountains and skiing
• Fiordland – Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound
• Southland – the Southern Scenic Route
• Mt Cook & Mackenzie – New Zealand’s highest peak
• Dunedin & Otago – wildlife and Victorian heritage on the coast

Popular themes in Queenstown

Active & Adventure · Skiing & Snowboarding · Boat Cruises & Water Activities · Food & Wine · Scenic Flights · Home of Middle‑earth™

Tours that include Queenstown

Each tour below stops in Queenstown, according to the route shown on its tour listing.

• 14-Day North & South Island Fly-In Small Group Adventure: 14 days, adventure tour. Rotorua, Taupo and Waitomo, then Tekapo, Queenstown and Milford Sound.
• 18 Day New Zealand Flashpacker Adventure: North & South: 18 days, adventure tour. Bay of Islands, Coromandel, Rotorua, Waitomo, then Queenstown and Milford Sound.
• 19 Day New Zealand Winter Tour: Auckland to Christchurch: 19 days, escorted coach tour. Waitomo, Rotorua and Wellington, then Queenstown, Wanaka and Franz Josef.
• 21 Day New Zealand Adventure Tour: Ultimate Fly & Coach Journey: 21 days, adventure tour. Coromandel, Rotorua, Taupō, Waitomo, then the West Coast, Queenstown and Milford Sound.
• 25 Day New Zealand Backpacker Tour: North & South Island Adventure: 25 days, adventure tour. Bay of Islands, Coromandel, Rotorua, Taupō, Waitomo, then Abel Tasman, Queenstown and Milford Sound.

More tours: South Island Tours · North & South Island Tours · Self Drive Tours · Wine Tours

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