Queenstown packs more adrenaline per square kilometer than anywhere else on earth, but it is far more than just the adventure capital. The town sits on the shore of Lake Wakatipu with the Remarkables mountain range as a backdrop, and within a 90-minute drive you can be in a gold-rush historic village, on a glacier-fed river, or standing at the foot of a fiord carved by ancient ice. Whether you want to jump off a bridge, taste Central Otago pinot noir, or hike one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, here is exactly what to do, where to go, and what it costs. Queenstown weather by month guide.
Things to Do in Queenstown: Adventure Activities
Bungy Jumping at Kawarau Bridge
The world’s first commercial bungy site, the Kawarau Bridge (43 meters) is 23km from Queenstown on State Highway 6 toward Cromwell. Operated by AJ Hackett, a jump costs NZ$205 for adults. You can choose to be dunked in the river from the waist up or stay dry. Open daily 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM (extended hours in summer to 6:30 PM). No reservation needed for the bridge jump, but the Nevis Bungy (134 meters, the highest in New Zealand at NZ$275) requires booking. Transport from the AJ Hackett store at the Station Building in town centre is included in the price. Minimum age is 13 for Kawarau, 15 for Nevis. Minimum weight 45kg, maximum 127kg. best time to visit Queenstown guide.
Shotover Jet
The iconic red jet boat tears through the Shotover River canyons at 85 km/h, spinning 360 degrees and skimming past rock walls with centimeters to spare. The experience lasts 25 minutes on the water. Tickets cost NZ$159 for adults, NZ$89 for children (5-15 years), free for under 5s. Departures run from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM every 15 minutes in peak season. Check-in is at the Shotover Jet base on Arthurs Point Road, a 10-minute drive from central Queenstown; free shuttles run from the Station Building. Wear warm layers , the canyon holds cold air even in summer. The minimum height is 1 meter. Book online at least a day ahead during summer and ski season. Queenstown events and festivals guide.
Skydiving over the Remarkables
NZONE Skydive operates from Queenstown Airport with jumps from 9,000 feet (NZ$299), 12,000 feet (NZ$349), and 15,000 feet (NZ$449). The 15,000-foot jump gives you 60 seconds of freefall at 200 km/h with views across the Southern Alps, Lake Wakatipu, and on clear days as far as Mount Cook 200km away. Allow 3 hours door to door. Weight limit is 100kg (extra charges up to 115kg). Minimum age 12. Skydiving is weather-dependent and cancelled 20 to 30 percent of the time due to wind or cloud , book for your first available morning and have a backup day. Photos and video packages add NZ$199 to NZ$329 depending on the package. Queenstown neighborhoods guide.
Things to Do in Queenstown: Scenic and Nature
Skyline Gondola and Luge
The gondola climbs 450 meters above Queenstown to Bob’s Peak in about 5 minutes, delivering the postcard view of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables. A round-trip ticket costs NZ$49 for adults, NZ$39 for children (5-14). Add the luge , a gravity-powered cart on a concrete track , for NZ$15 per ride (adult) with combo deals available. The luge track is open 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (to 8:00 PM in summer). At the top, the Stratosfare Restaurant offers a dinner buffet (NZ$85-95) with the same view through floor-to-ceiling windows , book 2 to 3 days ahead for a window table. Free parking at the base, or it is a 5-minute walk from central Queenstown. where to stay in Queenstown guide.
Milford Sound Day Trip
Milford Sound/Piopiotahi is a 4-hour drive each way from Queenstown (287km via Te Anau). Coach-cruise-coach packages run NZ$150 to NZ$250 per adult including a 2-hour cruise on the fiord itself. Buses depart Queenstown around 7:00 AM and return by 7:30 PM. The drive crosses the Southern Alps through the Homer Tunnel and is as much the attraction as the cruise , stops include Mirror Lakes, The Chasm, and the Eglinton Valley. RealNZ, Jucy Cruise, and Mitre Peak Cruises are the main operators. Fly-cruise-fly options (NZ$450-600) cut the day to 4 hours with a scenic flight over the Southern Alps. Rain gear is essential , Milford Sound gets 6,400mm of rain annually and the waterfalls are most dramatic in wet weather. Queenstown travel tips guide.
Ben Lomond Track
The Ben Lomond summit (1,748 meters) is the classic Queenstown day hike. From the top of the Skyline Gondola, the track climbs steadily through tussock and alpine scrub to the summit in 3 to 4 hours one way (6 to 8 hours return from town). If you skip the gondola and hike from Queenstown, add 2 hours and 450 meters of elevation gain through pine forest on the Tiki Trail. Total elevation gain from town is 1,438 meters. The summit delivers 360-degree views of Lake Wakatipu, the Remarkables, and Mount Aspiring National Park. Best hiked November through April , snow covers the upper track from May to October. Bring at least 2 liters of water, a windproof jacket (the summit is exposed), and check the MetService forecast before starting. Free. Start early , the parking at the gondola base fills by 9:00 AM in summer.
Things to Do in Queenstown: Wine and Food
Central Otago Wine Tours
Central Otago is the world’s southernmost wine region, famous for pinot noir grown on schist soils at 200 to 350 meters elevation. The Gibbston Valley, 25 minutes east of Queenstown on State Highway 6, concentrates a dozen cellar doors within a 10km stretch. Self-drive wine tours are straightforward , pick up a map from the Queenstown i-SITE , but organized small-group tours (NZ$180-260 per person, half day) include transport, 4 to 5 tastings, and a platter lunch. Key cellar doors: Gibbston Valley Winery (wine cave tour NZ$17.50), Chard Farm (dramatic gorge-side tasting room), Peregrine Wines (striking architectural building), and Kinross (five labels under one roof with a bistro). Most cellar doors open 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, tastings NZ$10-20 per flight, waived with bottle purchase.
Fergburger
The most famous burger in New Zealand operates from a tiny shopfront on Shotover Street. Fergburger is open 8:00 AM to 5:00 AM daily (21 hours), and the queue is a Queenstown institution , expect a 20 to 45 minute wait at peak meal times, longer on weekends. The classic Fergburger (NZ$14.90) is a half-pound beef patty with lettuce, tomato, red onion, aioli, and tomato relish. Call in your order at +64 3 441 1232 to skip the queue, though phone ordering closes during the dinner rush. Cash only for phone orders. Next door, Fergbaker does meat pies and pastries 6:00 AM to 4:30 AM, and Mrs Ferg gelato runs 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Things to Do in Queenstown: Day Trips
Arrowtown
Twenty minutes from Queenstown on the Arrowtown bus (Orbus route 2, NZ$2 with Bee Card), Arrowtown is a restored gold-rush village from the 1860s. Buckingham Street is lined with wooden miners’ cottages now housing cafes, galleries, and the Lakes District Museum (NZ$12 adults, open 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM). The Chinese Settlement at the edge of town preserves stone huts built by Chinese gold miners who came to Otago in the 1860s , the interpretive signs tell a frank story of isolation and discrimination. In autumn (April), Arrowtown’s tree-lined streets turn brilliant gold and orange, making it the most photographed spot in the region. The Arrow River trail is an easy 1 to 2 hour return walk through the gorge where gold was panned. Several cafes on Buckingham Street including The Chop Shop and Provisions do good coffee and brunch.
Glenorchy
A 45-minute drive along the western shore of Lake Wakatipu (45km, sealed road), Glenorchy is the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park and the starting point for the Routeburn Track. The drive itself is one of New Zealand’s best scenic roads, with the lake on your right and the Richardson Mountains on your left. The Glenorchy Lagoon boardwalk (30 minutes return, wheelchair accessible) delivers reflections of Mount Earnslaw on calm mornings. From Glenorchy, Dart River Jet Safaris runs jet boat tours up the Dart River into the national park (NZ$259 adult, 3 hours including a short forest walk). Several Lord of the Rings filming locations are in the Dart Valley, and guided tours (Pure Glenorchy, NZ$180) visit specific sites with replica props. The Glenorchy Cafe does solid venison pies and flat whites on the main street.
