When I was thinking about what to write next, things to do in Arthurs Point flashed across my mind.
At first, the idea seemed silly. Arthurs Point is a small Queenstown suburb…but then I started thinking a bit more.
Turns out there’s a lot of things to do in Arthurs Point itself. It’s not just a point to use as easy access to Coronet Peak or as a quieter place to stay that’s not in the middle of Queenstown.
I’ll also talk about how you can get to Arthurs Point, and where to stay at the bottom of the post.
9 FUN THINGS TO DO IN ARTHURS POINT
1. TAKE A WALK ON THE MOONLIGHT TRACK
The Moonlight Track can be tackled in a variety of ways, but many people will do an out and back day walk starting from the Arthurs point end.
You park here at the trailhead and get straight onto the trail.
It starts with a quick ascent through some bush, then back down the hill as the trees give way and the views are epic as you walk above the Shotover River giving you views of the mountains and valleys. It’s impressive.
There’s no one common turnaround point from people I’ve talked to. It’s about 5km until you get the junction where you can go up to Ben Lomond or around to Seffers and Moke Lake.
This would be a good point to turn around for many, but you can always turn around earlier if you’d like.
2. RELAX AT THE ONSEN HOT POOLS
The Onsen Hot Pools are one of the most popular things to do in Queenstown.
There are 14 hot pools on-site. Nine are original hot pools that have private space and doors that open out to views over the Shotover Canyon which are great in the day and offer galaxy views in the evening.
I haven’t been in one of the five outdoor spas, but they lack privacy so I’d probably opt to go with the original style.
They’re not cheap but you usually find the best deals on Klook.com.
I’ll give them credit, after soaking in the hot pools for 50-minutes I felt amazing!
3. VISIT THE TWO CRAFT BEER SPOTS
Looking over Canyon Brewing and the Shotover River. Not a bad spot for a beer!
Two of the great places to drink craft beer in Queenstown are in Arthurs Point:
I’ve spent a lot more time at Cargo compared to Canyon so I’m going to be biased towards Cargo.
Canyon Brewing is a larger venue (and part of this Queenstown Craft Beer Tour), and you can see the massive vats of the brewery. Cargo is a smaller more homely venue I feel, with the outdoor seating mint in the evening…though the outdoor seating at Canyon is wicked too.
4. AND HAVE A DRINK AT THE GIN GARDEN
The Gin Garden is the newest spot that’s popped up in Queenstown. They’re a part of Broken Heart Spirits and will be an place to drink in the summer.
The interior is small, but the outside garden looks like it’s a spot I’ll be visiting a few times over summer.
The drinks aren’t overly expensive compared to the breweries above which is nice. And with a couple of light snacks, this is a great summer hangout spot.
5. SHOTOVER CANYON SWING
The canyon swing, the world’s highest, is one of the high octane things to do in Arthurs Point in the adrenaline capital of NZ.
You’ll get some freefall off the 109-metre platform for 60 metres before the swing gains tension and then your heart gets to come back to your body as you swing above the beautiful waters of the Shotover River (if there hasn’t been recent rain).
You’ve got the option of jumping solo or as a tandem jumper, in a variety of styles. And the staff are known to be great…they act light-hearted, but know what they’re doing and will ensure you push your limits.
6. RIDE ON THE SHOTOVER JET
If you’ve never been on a jet boat before, this is an awesome experience…which you can occasionally find on BookMe.co.nz for solid discounts.
The jet boat drivers are super talented as they navigate the river flowing between the canyon falls at speeds up to 90km/hour.
The rapids are enough to give you a rush, but add in some 360-degree spins and you’ll be hoping your lunch stays down 😉 It’s a great experience and once that gives you a genuine adrenaline rush. Especially when you skirt up close to the canyon walls.
7. TAKE A PHOTO OF THE EDITH CAVELL BRIDGE
As you drive into the heart of Arthurs Point you cross the 100+-year-old Edith Cavell Bridge. It’s a one-way bridge (you can also walk over the bridge) making for an easy way to get over the Shotover River 48 metres below you.
The bridge is a heritage structure, named after a famous nurse, and it’s not until I went down below that I appreciated how cool the bridge is.
The parabolic rib arch truss design which makes it so photogenic was designed by Frederick Furkert.
8. WALK THE OXENBRIDGE TUNNEL TRACK
The Shotover River on a dirty brown day…it’s normally a beautiful blue!
This is a short walk that takes you to a viewpoint of the Shotover River and passes next to an old steam train which is cool. It’s a short walk with just a couple of small undulations on the way.
It’s not something you must do in Arthurs Point, but it’s nice all the same. And no, you don’t get to see the tunnel!
9. RELAX AT MORNINGSTAR BEACH
There isn’t many sandy beaches in Queenstown, but at the end of the Morningstar Track, there’s a sandy beach you can relax on.
It’s not a big beach, but at the end of the track which is about a 10-minute walk, you can hang out next to the river with the steam engine to look at on the other side. And you’ll have the jet flying past from time to time.
WHERE TO STAY IN ARTHUR’S POINT
As a small suburb, there isn’t a massive amount of accommodation but it’s still one of the best areas to stay in Queenstown.
That said, there’s a vareity of options available on both Booking.com and Airbnb (24+ options).
I’ve mentioned a few accommodation options in Arthurs Point in my article on Queenstown Airbnbs:
And The Magic House is available for under $100 on airbnb.
On Booking.com there are a few options, with some of the more popular ones being:
HOW TO GET TO ARTHURS POINT
Arthurs Point is easy to get to from Queenstown.
Drive: It shouldn’t take you more than 10 minutes to drive from Queenstown to Arthurs Point. You simply follow Gorge Road out of Queenstown and that’ll take you straight there. You’ll likely need to cross the famous Edith Cavel Bridge (mentioned above),whidh isw a one-way road so just take you
Hitchhike: Hitchhiking around Queenstown is easy, and getting up to Arthurs Point is too. I’ve seen some people hitching around the library, but it’s not the most convenient place to stop.
I prefer walking a little past Fresh Choice and going from there.
Bus: There are regular buses that go from Queenstown to Arthurs Point. You’ll be wanting the #2 bus that says Arthurs Point.
You can view the timetable here.
The last bus leaves Arthurs Point at 9.55 am so you can have dinner, a couple of drinks, then cruise back down the hill.
From Arrowtown: you’ve got a 15-minute drive along Malaghans Road. You can also hitchhike on this route easily.
And the #2 bus mentioned above starts in Arrowtown, so you could take the long road from Arrowtown to Arthurs Point (~45 minutes).
If you’ve got any questions about Arthurs Point, things to do here, where to stay…whatever! Do let me know in the comments below, or email jub@churnewzealand.com .
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.