I’ll give Queenstown credit. It’s an amazing town.
Yes it can be busy, but there are so many fun things to do in Queenstown for kids, adults, shoppers, foodies, adventure junkies…you get the idea. And it’s easy to escape the crowds.
There are activities in Queenstown to satisfy everyone’s interests.
Having spent well over a year living in Queenstown, here’s a list of things to do in Queenstown to help you figure out what activities and attractions will go on your Queenstown itinerary.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Ride the gondola
2. Walk the Tiki Trail up to the Skyline
3. Race your mates on the luge
4. Join the local community parkrun
5. Give the world famous Fergburger a go
6. Find the best ice cream
7. Watch sunset from the beach
8. Watch sunrise from Ben Lomond
9. Stay in a hut
10. Spend time in the Queenstown Gardens
11. Play Disc Golf
12. Sample the craft beer scene
13. Party up
14. Head to the Ice Arena
15. Have fun in the Thrill Zone
16. See Glowworms
17. Ride in a semi-submersible Shark
18. Scare yourself at the Fear Factory
19. Discover the beaches around the lake
20. Soak in the Onsen Hot Pools
21. Hop around all the Lakes
22. Visit the Saturday Markets
23. Play on World Class Golf Courses
24. Take a Flight to see Queenstown from above
25. Enjoy some pool/gym time at the Events Centre
26. Play all the Games at Kingpin
27. Go Canyoning in Gibbston
28. Visit an Ice Bar
29. Attend a Quiz Night
30. Try Trail Running
Note, this is only including things to do in Queenstown, this post on day trips from Queenstown will give you further inspiration if needed.
29 OF THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN QUEENSTOWN
Alright, it’s time to settle down with your beverage of choice and start planning what to do in Queenstown 🙂
1. RIDE THE GONDOLA
From the top of the gondola at Bob’s Peak, where the Skyline is, are some of Queenstown’s best views. On a blue-sky day, you’ll see Queenstown, large parts of the Lake, and The Remarkables.
While you can hike up there (details further below), most people are going to enjoy the 5-minute ride taking you 400+ metres up above Queenstown. It’s a pretty impressive structure to get going straight up the hill!
The Gondola isn’t cheap (prices here), but if you’re planning to do the luge, wine and dine, carry on up to Ben Lomond, watch the paragliders take off or whatever. It’s awesome.
I’m sure if this was true or not, but someone told me 80% of visitors to Queenstown take the gondola 😮
That makes it one of the most popular things to do in Queenstown for sure.
2. WALK THE TIKI TRAIL UP TO THE SKYLINE
If you like doing things the hard way, don’t worry about buying a pass for the gondola. You can walk the Tiki Trail up the hill too.
Let this be a warning though, it’s not an easy hike with over 400 metres of elevation gain over the 2km.
That said, if you enjoy a good walk, this is a great money-saving option 🙂
3. RACE YOUR MATES ON THE LUGE
One of the best things to do when you’ve taken the gondola up to Bob’s Peak is to go on the luge.
There are two tracks, red and blue, but everyone must take the blue track on their first run.
Both tracks are super cool, and I was surprised at how much speed I was taking around some of the corners as I hared after my friend. I do think it’s a bit pricey, but the three rides were epic and I’ll definitely do it again.
p.s. three rides likely aren’t enough if the queues are short, the time flies. It’s so much fun.
4. JOIN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY PARKRUN
If you enjoy running and the social element that goes along with it, head on down to the Queenstown parkrun on a Saturday morning.
As per the website, parkruns are free, weekly, community events all around the world (there are 33 in NZ alone).
The Queenstown parkrun is held within the Queenstown Gardens and gets 50+ people attending most weeks. I enjoy the course and it’s nice to run with a group of others who are out there having fun.
It’s super easy to meet people, and afterward, a lot will head to Yonder for coffee/tea etc.
The tea might cost you a few bucks, but the parkrun is one of the best free things to do in Queenstown.
5. GIVE THE WORLD FAMOUS FERGBURGER A GO
Fergburger needs no introduction. It’s the burger shop in Queenstown with super long lines.
While burger connoisseurs may complain that there’s nothing outstanding to justify the queues you’ll see, they do make a quality burger at a quality price for me.
There’s plenty of options, and I find the staff super cool there. And yes, there are vegan options.
Here’s a list of vegan burgers in Queenstown I’ve tried and a host of tips for being a Queenstown vegan.
RELATED READ: 11 THINGS TO DO IN ARROWTOWN
6. FIND THE BEST ICE CREAM
After devouring a burger, it’s time for an ice cream yea?
I’m not a massive ice cream fan, but you might well be. And like any somewhat cool city, there’s a few awesome places you can find quality ice cream (+ gelato & sorbet) in Queenstown.
The three top spots are:
- Cookie Time CookieBar
- Patagonia
- Mrs Ferg
7. WATCH SUNSET FROM THE BEACH
The sunset over Lake Wakatipu is stunning when the conditions are right, and a great spot to watch it from is Queenstown Bay Beach (the main beach on the waterfront).
With the sunset happening well after 9 pm in the summer, and before 6 pm in the winter, it’s a good idea to know roughly when you’re going to need to be there.
The best way to enjoy the sunset?
Grab a beer from Four Square, and a burger from Devil Burger and enjoy.
8. WATCH SUNRISE FROM BEN LOMOND
The Ben Lomond Track is a big day out for most people, but if you’ve got a headtorch and don’t mind hiking in the dark, the sunrise from the summit is incredible.
Even in the middle of summer, it can be cold up at the summit. Pack some warm clothes, along with plenty of water and food.
From the bottom of the Tiki Trail to the summit is about 8km, with over 1000 metres of elevation so it’s tough to predict how long you’ll need to leave before the sunrise is due, but I’d suggest at least 3 hours.
Regarding weather, I trust yr.no the most as it gives you the weather for the actual track, not just Queenstown in general.
If you’re planning to do lots of hikes around the country, these are some other apps I recommend for hiking.
9. STAY IN A HUT
Some would argue staying in a hut is a right of passage for kiwis. If you’ve never stayed in a hut before, but fancy giving it a go, these are four of the best overnight hikes near Queenstown.
Meg Hut is the best one for beginners but if you’re after a really gorgeous area, head to Skippers Canyon and stay at Crystal Hut.
Note, you might have heard people recommending Sam Summers Hut on the Mount Crichton Loop Track. You can’t stay here overnight any more 🙁 The hike is still great though!
10. SPEND TIME IN ENJOYING THE GARDENS
The Queenstown Gardens are a short walk from the town centre and are a little oasis with large trees, roses, a pond, and a few meandering paths within.
They’re a great spot to spend some time away from the crowds in town if you don’t have time to do any of the longer walks.
There are a few activities you can do there, beyond just walking around which I’ll get onto now.
11. PLAY SOME FRISBEE/DISC GOLF
This is another activity that’s in the gardens, and it’s one of the countries best frisbee golf courses. There are 18 marked holes, and you’ll see people playing throughout the year.
Need to hire frisbees (discs)? The ice skating rink and Small Planet have them available.
If you really love your frisbee golf, you can even catch one of the annual tournaments.
12. SAMPLE THE CRAFT BEERS
Like any good place in New Zealand now, there’s a thriving craft beer scene in Queenstown.
There are a few places in town itself that have craft beer options. I usually default to Atlas or Smiths Craft Beer House. Beech Tree is another solid option.
If you’re looking for actual breweries, your choices are:
- Altitude Brewery
- Cargo Brewery
- Canyon Brewing
- Searchlight Brewery
13. ENJOY THE NIGHTLIFE
While I’m in Queenstown, I lean towards finding the adventurous side, mixing with people trying to maximize the daylight hours leaving themselves tired come the evening. And for others, there’s the nightlife that’ll keep you going throughout the night.
On most nights of the week, there’s a party somewhere in Queenstown which is cool.
And while you’ll be doing well to get a beer for less than $10 at the above places, you can start your night off with $5 beers in a few spots in town. if you fancy a game of pool, you can go to Harry’s where it’s $2 a game and you can get pints of Export Gold for $5. Then there’s 1876 which has $5 options too.
When it comes to nightclubs, the places I tend to end up at (not that I go often) are Yonder, and World Bar. But if you ask your accommodation what events are on in town that night, you’ll quickly find out.
One of my favourite regular evening events is the open mic night at The Sherwood on the last Thursday of each month.
14. HEAD TO THE ICE ARENA
At the Queenstown Ice Arena, you can go onto the ice rink itself for about $15 (adult price) which includes ice skate rentals. The rink is kept in good nick and there’s a cafe in the building too.
Make sure you check the Ice Arena calendar before you plan to go as somethings there are other events on.
Like when the SkyCity Stampede host home games here in the NZ Ice Hockey League. Tickets are from $20-$30 which is reasonable, and while the quality of the game is never going to be up to NHL standard it’s a fun night out.
15. HAVE FUN IN THE THRILL ZONE
Right in the heart of Queenstown is Thrill Zone. An area where there’s lots of activities, all thrilling in their own way, for kids and adults.
I’ve only play Laser Tag there, and while the arena is pretty small our group of 11 people had a great time.
If you’re looking for things to do in Queenstown when it’s raining the Thrill Zone is a good place to start. Among others, you can also play:
- Paintless Paintball
- Glow in the Dark mini putt
- Escape Rooms
- Omni VR
- Kidz Club
And then head next door and have a beer at Smith’s for a debrief.
16. SEE GLOWWORMS
Sure, you might not be in Waitomo, but if you’re in New Zealand for a short time then you can see glowworms close to Queenstown.
In the evening walk on the One Mile Creek Track and there’s a spot where you’ll see glowworms making for one of the most fun things to do in Queenstown at night.
The track isn’t the easiest of walks, so you’ll want to take some good head torches. The next time I go I’ll mark the GPS point and post it here.
17. RIDE IN THE SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE SHARK
Describing how the Hydro Attack a.k.a. The Shark works to someone who hasn’t come across it before isn’t easy. And then when people have seen it from afar it’s hard to describe what it feels like inside the car park.
It’s not until you’re in the shark do you begin to understand what it feels like. I loved it, but with the price point over $100 for a 15-minute experience, it’s not for many.
Most surprising to me is you’re not secured with a seatbelt but you’re secure in the seat. You then spend the next 15 minutes flying around Lake Wakatipu making tight turns at speed, partial rolls, and diving up out of the lake.
The drivers cater to the kind of experience you want which is great, and it’s unlike anything I’ve done before. It’s similar to the Fly by Wire. When you see it, it’s a bit of a mind-boggle.
If you’re a true adrenaline junkie, this is one of the best things to do in Queenstown.
18. SCARE YOURSELF AT FEAR FACTORY
Fear Factory is home to one of the countries scariest attractions. Located in the heart of downtown, it’s weird how absorbed you get into the 10-20 minute experience.
Ideally, you’ll be in a group of four to six people (this size is best I feel) who are able to have fun and buy into the experience as you walk through the pitch-black Haunted Hotel.
And yes, it’s scary. Well for most. At the reception desk, they’ve got a live tally of how many people have chickened out. And I’ve heard people have pee’d their pants on the experience. Awkward!
Fear Factory is one of the best things to do in Queenstown when it’s raining, and something everyone can do regardless of how you’re getting around Queenstown.
19. DISCOVER THE BEACHES AROUND THE LAKE
While it’s not a place that’d jump to mind right away, there are some beaches in Queenstown.
We’ve already mentioned Queenstown Bay Beach for sunset earlier, but some of the other beaches are going to be more secluded like Wilson Bay.
Then you’ve got Frankton Beach at the end of the Frankton Track, some people say the water gets warm here!
There’s the spectacular-looking Bob’s Cove (and a hidden gem near Queenstown!), and then you’ve got lots of little hidden coves you can find on walks like the Seven Mile Track.
Basically, if you’re a beach lover, you can still get a dose of the beach while surrounded by mountains.
20. SOAK IN THE ONSEN HOT POOLS
The Onsen Hot Pools is one of the most popular attractions in Queenstown and they’ll often be booked out weeks in advance. That’s impressive considering they’ve got 14 cedar hot tubs (5 outdoor onsens and 9 original onsens).
There’s the option to combine a hot pool and spa package, but I have only experienced the hot pools.
The temperature of the hot pools is 38-39 degrees, which is certainly hot, but if you manage to stay in the pool for the full time, you’ll feel so fresh afterward. It’s felt like my skin had a full detox.
The views from the hot pools are epic too. During the day you get to look out over the valley, and at night on a clear night you get to see all the stars shimmering away (don’t forget to retract the roof).
This is definitely one of the most luxurious things to do in Queenstown.
p.s. If you’d prefer a more private experience, choose the original onsen.
21. HOP AROUND THE DIFFERENT LAKES
I mentioned beach hopping above, but you can also hop around the different lakes in Queenstown.
There are seven that are pretty close to Queenstown, and as you’ll see in the post linked above, they’re all pretty different (that’s Lake Alta in the photo).
The lakes are:
- Lake Wakatipu
- Moke Lake
- Lake Dispute
- Lake Alta
- Lake Luna
- Lake Johnson
- Lake Hayes
Lake Luna is the most off-the-beaten-path out of these. But they’re all awesome in their own way.
RELATED READ: GOOD REASONS TO VISIT QUEENSTOWN IN JUNE
22. VISIT THE SATURDAY MARKETS
The two regular Queenstown Markets are:
- Creative Queenstown Arts and Crafts Market: If you’re staying in downtown Queenstown, head for breakfast somewhere then head to this market that stretches along the Queenstown waterfront with people displaying their various creative endeavors. And there’s food and buskers about too! You’ll find this market every Saturday morning.
- Remarkables Market: From October to April (9 am – 2 pm) the Remarkables Market is a fun place to visit. Located close to the airport, you’ll find a variety of stalls here…and everyone running the stalls is so friendly. My favourite stall is QT pies (they’re all vegan)…but you’ll find something to tickle your tastebuds, and then you can enjoy the picnic areas and catch up with friends.
In addition to these, there are regular one-off markets throughout the year in Queenstown and the surrounding suburbs.
23. PLAY ON WORLD CLASS GOLF COURSES
If you fancy a game of golf, you’ve got some amazing golf courses in Queenstown!
The fancy golf courses are:
- Millbrook Resort
- Arrowtown Golf Club
- The Hills Golf Resort (above)
- Jacks Point Golf Course
- Kelvin Heights
That’s four pretty impressive golf courses, and if you were to play at each of them on your visit to Queenstown, your budget will need to increase :p But if you love golf, playing a round of golf at one of these courses needs to be one of your top things to do in Queenstown.
If you like a cheap and cheerful game of golf, the Frankton Golf Centre is where you’ll want to be.
24. TAKE A SCENIC FLIGHT TO SEE QUEENSTOWN FROM ABOVE
There are lots of scenic flight options you can take from Queenstown (or flights to Milford Sound etc), and I tell you what…the experience of flying in a small plane above Queenstown is amazing.
That’s Bob’s Cove in the photo above…it looks like a tropical island to me!
I’ve flown with Air Milford in one of the 12-seater planes and recommend them to everyone. Check out the reviews on Trip Advisor and Google and you’ll see I’m not the only one 🙂
25. ENJOY GYM/POOL TIME AT THE EVENTS CENTRE
The Queenstown Events Centre is pretty awesome, with facilities for lots of indoor sports. If you’re looking for things to do in Queenstown on a rainy day, you can keep yourself entered here with the pool and/or climbing wall.
The pool facilities are large. There’s a general swimming area where you’ll find the kids, a lap pool where you can get some lengths in, and then my favourite part…the hot pool! It’s way bigger than I expected.
As far as the climbing wall, it’s not a massive facility, but there are heaps of routes. Make sure to check it’s open if before you go. Beginners are more than welcome, and if you time things right you might end up with an instructor to yourself which is cool.
Check out the official website for the latest pricing details and opening times.
26. PLAY ALL THE GAMES AT KINGPIN
While the name Kingpin implies a tenpin bowling venue, that’s only one of the attractions in this massive venue. I’ve given the tenpin bowling and escape rooms a whirl, and they were both very well done…though we didn’t quite escape the room.
This place is fancy, and you could easily unload some cash if you get competitive on the arcade games. But you can distract yourself with some horrible amazing Karaoke. They’ve got a solid drinks menu, including high-end cocktails and while the food menu is extensive, it doesn’t exactly cater to vegans in Queenstown.
Other activities at Kingpin Queenstown include:
- Karaoke
- Arcade Games
- Laser Tag
- Table Tennis
- Virtual Reality
27. GO CANYONING
In a city full of adrenaline-pumping activities I think the opportunity to go canyoning is often overlooked. Based in Queenstown, Canyoning New Zealand runs two canyoning trips with one in Gibbston, close to Queenstown.
The total trip time is about 4 hours and you’ll get to experience canyoning in a gorge next to the Kawarau River. You start by walking under a highway but even then you’ve got no idea there’s a busy road nearby as you navigate the various obstacles.
The gear you get is great, and there are definitely some heart-pumping moments as you push yourself off waterfalls and abseil down to pools below. It’s a blast!
28. VISIT ONE OF THE ICE BARS
These are one of the most touristy things you can do, but the fact that there are three ice bars in Queenstown means they must be worth a visit?
I’ve compared all three ice bars in Queenstown here, but they’re all very similar, though the Queenstown Ice Bar being the newest seems to be the most ‘high end’ of the three. Look for some discounts on BookMe!
You don’t spend too long at the ice bars (1-hour max) usually, but it’s wise to book in advance. The ice bars are a great indoor activity in Queenstown to fill in your day.
29. ATTEND A PUB QUIZ
If you’ve got a free evening, check out this pub quiz calendar for Queenstown. There are quizzes from Sunday to Thursday throughout the town and sattelite suburbs.
Quizzes are always a laugh and it doesn’t matter if you’re a team of one, two, or six, you’ll be welcomed. Ideally you’ll book your table in advance but if you can’t show up early and you should be able to secure a table.
I’m a big fan of the Beech Tree quiz night on Wednesdays.
30. TRY OUT TRAIL RUNNING
The tempo in the wild
When people think of running, it usually involves roads and footpaths and that puts them off. But trail running is amazing, you get to hike whenever you like, eat lots of food, and get to go a little but further than you do when walking in the same time.
The running trails in Queenstown is some of the best in the country, and it’s a great introduction to the sport. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, and if you hike 99% of the time anyway, that’s cool!
I’ev written about five of my favourite trail runs in Queenstown. If you’ve never tried running on trails before, give Sunshine Bay a go, but if you’ve got some experience, you can’t go past the mission up Ben Lomond.
Woah, whether you’re looking for things to do in Queenstown in winter (read more about visiting Queenstown in winter here), summer, spring, or autumn, this list will keep you more than happy.
And if it doesn’t, well maybe the things to do in Arthurs Point or these Frankton activities are more for you.
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.