Frankton is growing, fast. And with that, the number of things to do in Frankton is increasing…it’s not just a shopping destination.
This post will cover things to do in Frankton inside the red border on the map below.
I’ll finish off the post with some recommendations on where to eat, drink, and stay in Frankton.
8 FUN THINGS TO DO IN FRANKTON
1. HANG OUT ON FRANKTON BEACH
Queenstown Beach is the most popular of the beaches in Queenstown, but plenty of people enjoy Frankton Beach too.
The benefits of Frankton Beach?
- You can park right by the beach and there’s parking is usually a breeze.
- It’s not nearly as crowded.
- It’s shallower, sometimes people will say it’s too shallow, but this means the water won’t be so cold!
So if you’re a beach bum, consider popping down to Frankton Beach for a couple of hours.
2. VISIT ALTITUDE BREWING
There are some amazing places to drink craft beer in Queenstown, and one of them, Altitude Brewery is in Frankton. It’s along the Frankton track (below) and not far from the beach (above) so you can incorporate these into your visit.
I’m a fan of their Sled Dog Hazy 🙂 There’s usually a food truck on site too.
If you love craft beer, this Queenstown Craft Beer Tour includes Altitude Brewery.
3. WALK ALONG THE FRANKTON TRACK
The Frankton Track is a popular commuting path between Frankton and Queenstown but is also a nice walking and cycling path in its own right.
It’s a very well maintained wide path, plenty big enough for two people to be side by side throughout, with minor undulations. You can hop on and off the track at various points and the Frankton end of the track has some of the best views…any time your walking along Lake Wakatipu with the Remarkables in the background you can’t go wrong.
You can also walk around to The Hilton where you can spend a couple of hours of relaxing at a good price here.
4. ENJOY A SCENIC FLIGHT
Frankton is where you’ll find Queenstown Airport, so in addition to scheduled flights, there are a few companies offering scenic flights around Queenstown. And because they depart from Frankton, that can be included in this list!
I’ve taken a flight with Air Milford (between Milford Sound and Queenstown), and it was incredible! But for those with a limited time, there’s the shorter option of going on scenic flights which will take under an hour.
Seeing the whole area from a different perspective is legitimately better than I expected. Book here.
5. PLAY A LITTLE GOLF
There are some amazing golf courses close to Frankton, but if you’re looking for cheap and cheerful, Frankton Golf Centre is where you’ve got to go.
There’s a driving range and the chance to play 9 or 18 holes. You can get some even better deals or BookMe.co.nz too.
6. GO SHOPPING
Whoops…sometimes I feel like this is a cop-out thing, but it’s becoming one of the more popular things to do in Frankton when its raining, with more shops opening on a regular basis.
In addition to having the three big NZ supermarket chains, there are two shopping areas in Frankton, 5 Mile, and Remarks Park.
I work (as of writing this at least) at Macpac so you should definitely come and visit us 😉
7. GO ROCK CLIMBING
The climbing scene in the area is massive, with some very skilled humans taking to the outdoor climbing walls. But there’s two spots in Frankton where you can test your skills on indoor walls.
Base Camp Adventures: This is an impressive climbing complex with lots of climbing walls and bouldering options. This is more expensive option, but there’s a great deal on Book Me which is great for first time climbers. The clip and climb system is cool!
Queenstown Events centre: The Rockatipu indoor wall is a much simpler set up at the events centre, but is friendly to beginner climbers, especially in the off peak times. It’s cheaper than Basse Camp and in a way more personal with a couple of instructors on hand to get you started on your rock climbing journey. Make sure to book online before you go.
8. WANDER THE REMARKABLES MARKET
The Remarkables Market happens every Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm from October to April.
If you get a sunny morning, this is a lovely market to spend time at with the location large enough for plenty of stalls and also lots of areas to sit down and eat the delicious things you’ve stumbled across. Give QT Pies a go if they’re there!
There’s plenty of artisans selling crafts as well, and you’ll usually have some live music going on. I love visiting this market, it has a great energy about it.
WHERE TO EAT & DRINK IN FRANKTON
There are a bunch of fun places to eat in Frankton, and to grab a beer.
FOR FOOD
- Baker’s Lane
- Boatshed Cafe
- Hikari Sushi Bar
- The Buzzstop Honey Centre & Cafe (you can do Honey Spinning there too)
FOR A BEER
- Altitude Brewing
- Crown Pub & Beer Garden
- Frankton Arm Tavern
And there you go, that’s an introduction on different things to do in Frankton. Some locals who live near Frankton find they rarely go into Queenstown as there’s more than enough activities in Frankton. And you don’t need to deal with traffic and parking 🙂
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.