Whenever you’ve got a town built next to a lake that’s surrounded by mountains, you’ve got a recipe for a beautiful destination with views galore.
And that’s why there’ll always be a debate about what the best views in Queenstown are.
There are so many amazing views in Queenstown that there’s never going to be a list everyone agrees on. And people will argue about how far away from the town of Queenstown you can be while you considered it.
In my eyes, views in Glenorchy and Wanaka should not be in an article about the best views in Queenstown.
So without yabbering on and on, these are my favourite Queenstown views. Views that give me warm fuzzy feelings when I think about them.
10 OF THE BEST VIEWS IN QUEENSTOWN*
BOBS COVE
There are lots of walks along Lake Wakatipu, but if I have to give one a place in the top views in Queenstown, it has to be from along Bob’s Cove Nature Walk track.
I wasn’t aware of Bob’s Cove until I was encouraged to visit by a person (now friend, Andrew) who picked me up hitchhiking out to the Mt Crichton Loop.
Wow! The nature walk is beautiful with the highlight being the viewpoint that overlooks the cove. The colour of the water is awesome on a sunny day…the pictures will give you an idea of what I mean.
MOKE LAKE
Moke Lake is one of the nice getaway spots that locals love to frequent.
I was talking to a friend who went camping at Moke Lake when she first arrived in Queenstown. Having arrived in the dark she was amazed when she woke up to see where she was. She loved it right away!
Moke Lake is surrounded by beautiful hills.
But I will say, not everyone is head over heels about Moke Lake having asked lots of people about it..they usually prefer Lake Wakatipu.
But, when it’s a calm sunny day, it’s a magical place to relax and the walk around Moke Lake is super cruisey.
I still need to get to the not so secret viewpoint for sunset sometime.
SKYLINE/BOBS PEAK
This is one of the most visited viewpoints in Queenstown, but you’ve got to give Bobs Peak credit. It’s stunning.
Bobs Peak is also known as Skyline because of the complex where some of the best things to do in Queenstown are (luge, bungy, dining etc).
There are various spots to get the view from Bob’s Peak, take your pick. In an ideal world I think you should work for the view by hiking the Tiki Trail…but most people do catch the gondola.
JANS PEAK
This might be the least visited view in this post. Getting to Jan’s Peak is a great little hike from the Skyline complex if you haven’t got time to go up to Ben Lomond. It’s a nice little pinch but you’ve got great ridgelines to walk along and get to see the paragliders take off.
And at the peak, you get drone-like views of Queenstown and views over Gorge Road which you don’t get in many places.
If you do hike up to Ben Lomond (below), you can return via Jan’s Peak which I recommend. This might well be my favourite view in Queenstown!
BEN LOMOND
The Ben Lomond Track is one of the best day hikes in Queenstown, and the Otago region…heck you could even say the South Island, or all of New Zealand.
It’s not just the hike that’s great, the views up towards Ben Lomond is impressive (some would say daunting). And the views from the top are insane. You’ve got 360-degree views over Queenstown, the lake, and all the surrounding mountains. It’s legit, incredible.
The view of the track from the saddle to the summit as seen from Bowens Peak isn’t too shabby either!
QUEENSTOWN HILL
If Ben Lomond is a little bit too daunting, consider walking up to Queenstown Hill for some epic views.
It’s certainly not an easy hike, but it’s great value and plenty of people will bring a picnic up here to spend a couple of hours basking somewhere near the top of the hill to enjoy one of the best views in Queenstown for a few hours.
BROW PEAK
The walk along Brow Peak is my favourite ridgeline in Queenstown…I think. It’s hard to choose.
This is one of the tougher hikes in Arrowtown with a steep ascent up to the ridge. From there you can walk all the way along to Coronet Peak if you want, but as long as you make it to Brow Peak, do what you want I say.
It’s an epic ridgeline line with one side of the ridge being a flat slop full of tussocks on one side, and on the otherside you have got an almost vertical drop. It’s a stunner!
Ah, and the views from along the ridgeline and peak aren’t too shabby either 😉
QUEENSTOWN BAY BEACH
I was thinking for quite some time about which of the beaches in Queenstown has the best view and couldn’t come to a decision.
But one of my favourite ways to spend a summer evening in Queenstown is to have a couple of beers and a burger while watching the sunset from Queenstown Bay Beach (the main beach in town).
The sun drops below the horizon on the far side of the lake from where you’re sitting so you get to sit in the warmth for ages. And the energy of the people around you is always good.
It’s a sunset I’m excited to spend lots of time appreciating this upcoming summer.
THE ARROWTOWN TREES BY THE RIVER
If you’re visiting Queenstown in the fall/autumn, make sure you get to Arrowtown. Despite being so close, you can go for a full day trip or just a quick visit.
The views of the autumn colours around Arrowtown are epic, particularly along the path following the Arrow River (where the photo above was taken from).
ARTHURS POINT CANYON
Arthurs Point is one of Queenstown’s best suburbs to live in and it takes less than 10 minutes to town.
And something surprising to me, there’s plenty of things to do in Arthurs Point.
The viewpoint above is at the end of the Oxenbridge Tunnel Track which is a short 10-minute walk each way. You’re looking at the turquoise Shotover River squeezing in between two canyon walls. Magic!
If you’re lucky with your timing, you’ll get to see the Shotover Jet come roaring through the canyon which would be fun.
And those are 10 of the best views in Queenstown in my opinion.
Queenstown is an easy place to get around so there’s no reason you can’t get to the majority of them when you’re in town.
*I haven’t put these Queenstown views in any particular order.
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Hey, it’s Jub here. I’m the guy behind Chur New Zealand, helping you have the best time hiking, trekking, walking…whatever you want to call it…in NZ. I’m based in Queenstown and am always out and about exploring trails, old & new. If you have any questions, reach out.