So you’ve done some cool walks and activities but now it’s time to decide where to go after Queenstown.
There are lots of options in all directions so it’s not an easy question to answer.
And for each of you, there’ll be lots of variables like the length of your trip, previous locations, interests, weather, and budget.
But I’ll address each destination in a general overview kind of way, and you can do further research where required.
Note: You’ll notice many of these places can be done as a day trip from Queenstown. We’ll ignore that option as each destination could be where you want to spend the next few nights.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Arrowtown
2. Glenorchy
3. Cromwell
4. Wanaka
5. Te Anau
6. Milford Sound
7. Invercargill (on the way to The Catlins)
8. Mount Aspiring National Park
9. Mount Cook
WHERE TO GO AFTER QUEENSTOWN
1. ARROWTOWN
The former gold mining town has a host of heritage sites, evident as you arrive in a town full of old school-looking buildings. What I love is the local Government has strict regulations in place to ensure that the history of the town is preserved.
Nestled on the Arrow River, Arrowtown is calm compared to the nearby chaos that can occur in Queenstown.
At one point in the 1960s, less than 200 people were left living in Arrowtown, but the population is now around 3,000.
For the golfers out there, The Hills Golf Course is right next to Arrowtown and has been seen in various lists of the top 100 golf courses in the world.
3 things to do:
- Enjoy one of these Arrowtown walks
- Pan for gold
- Stroll around the village filled with heritage buildings
Drive time from Queenstown: ~20 minutes.1
2. GLENORCHY
Glenorchy is a small settlement at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu. There’s only a handful of shops in the town, so you’ll want to get a few supplies with you before you go. But there are a couple of places to eat and the general store.
There are plenty of photo opportunities in this sleepy town that gets a lot of people passing through on the way to hikes nearby. Two popular options are the Routeburn and the Earnslaw Glacier Track. It’s a great base to access some of the best multiday hikes in South Island.
4 things to do:
- Watch sunrise from the wharf
- Visit Paradise
- See the reflections along the Glenorchy walkway (there’s a host of amazing walks near Glenorchy
- Stop at all the places on the Queenstown to Glenorchy Scenic Drive
Drive time from Queenstown: ~45 minutes.2
3. CROMWELL
Cromwell was developed on the back of a gold rush in the 1860s, but after that passed the town took over the title of a service town given its location between Wanaka, Queenstown, and Alexandra.
The fruit capital of the South Island has a rather random assortment of things to do here. For those who enjoy cycling, you might appreciate the relatively flat ground compared to many of the surrounding towns.
If you’re curious about the Heritage Precinct mentioned below, the story of how it came to be is easily digested in this 1-minute read.
Oh, and if you’re visiting in January or February, make sure to buy some fresh cherries.
- Ride along the Lake Dunstan Trail
- Visit the Cromwell Heritage Precinct
- Race around the Highlands Motorsport Park
Drive time from Queenstown: 45 – 69 minutes.3
4. WANAKA
If there was a poll about where to go after Queenstown, I think the most popular answer would be Wanaka!
Both Wanaka and Queenstown locals will claim their quality of life is better than the other. But let’s be honest, they’re both amazing destinations. It’s a privileged debate to be having.
Sitting on the shores of Wanaka, mass tourism to the town dates back to the first hotel opening in 1867 which led to the first sheepdog trials event worldwide. How random is that!
Since then it’s continued to be a popular tourist destination year-round with its lakeside positioning and surrounding mountains. It’s an adventurers paradise…and a gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park.
3 things to do:
- Enjoy one of the stunning Wanaka walks
- Get a photo of that Wanaka Tree
- Have fun at Puzzle World
Drive time from Queenstown: 1 – 1.5 hours.4
5. TE ANAU
Located on the shores of Lake Te Anau, the second largest lake in NZ, arriving in Te Anau means you’re at the gateway to Fiordland National Park.
For those continuing on beyond Te Anau, it’s the last regular stop for groceries and petrol. The town only became a place really once the Milford Track was opened to service those people.
In Maori, Te Anau means Place of the Swirling Waters. I assume swirling waters refers to Lake Te Anau?
As I was doing research for this post I read something saying that Te Anau is the walking capital of the world? I’ve never heard of that, but I like it.
3 things to do:
- Walk some, or all, of the Kepler Track
- Explore the glowworm caves
- Go Stargazing
Drive time from Queenstown: ~2 hours.5
6. MILFORD SOUND
Visiting the fiord, Milford Sound (the village and the fiord have the same name) is one of the most popular things to do in New Zealand, with many dubbing the place the 8th Wonder of the World.
That’s some high praise!
It’s an isolated part of the world, with the fiord ending 15km inland from the Tasman Sea. Many say that Milford Sound is worth visiting regardless of the weather as the rain makes the two permanent waterfalls, Lady Bowen and Stirling, more impressive and then dozens of temporary waterfalls appear too.
And with 6.5 metres of rainfall every year, there’s a good chance you’ll visit Milford Sound on a rainy day!
3 things to do:
- Hike the Milford Track
- Take a cruise on the sound
- Kayak on the sound
Drive time from Queenstown: ~3.5 hours.5
7. INVERCARGILL
Invercargill isn’t on the list of places to visit for most, but as you’ll see it’s got some unique attractions and is a gateway to the Catlins.
Invercargill has wider streets than you’ll see around most of NZ, and you’ll step back in time when you notice some of the old buildings are old (by NZ standards).
And for those from Scotland, you might notice some of the street names look familiar. They’re named after rivers in Scotland 🙂
3 things to do:
- Ride the Invercargill Heritage Trail
- Visit Demo World
- Have fun at Dig This
Drive time from Queenstown: ~2.5 hours.5
8. MOUNT ASPIRING NATIONAL PARK
There are three access points to the Mount Aspiring National Park walks, but the most popular entry point is via Wanaka where you can get easy access to the Rob Roy Track, and various huts. The other gateways are Glenorchy and Makarora.
In 1964 the area became the countries tenth national park and is also a part of the Te Wahupounamu World Heritage. If you’re looking for more stats about the park:
- Area: 3,562 square kilometres
- Highest Point: Mount Aspiring/Tititea at 3,033 metres
- It’s the 3rd largest of New Zealand’s 14 National Parks
In winter many of the day walks that are relatively easy in summer, will become dangerous in the winter. For those who really want to go for a walk, the Matukituki Valley is generally considered walkable year-round.
3 things to do:
- Hike the Rob Roy Glacier Track
- See the Makarora Rivers Blue Pools
- See the park from above in a helicopter
Drive time from Queenstown: 1.5 – 3 hours.5
9. MOUNT COOK
With the highest of the three peaks measuring at 3,724 metres, Aoraki/Mount Cook towers over the small village that’s a base for people who wish to take in the surrounding areas.
Mount Cook Village is the gateway to the National Park, but even if you’re not keen on hiking it’s worth a visit. The views from the town are awesome, and there’s a lot of effort that’s gone into the alpine centre. Unlike Milford Sound though, Mount Cook is best visited when the weather is good.
Fun fact: The first successful ascent of Aoraki/Mount Cook was in 1894 when Kiwi’s Tom Fyfe, John Michael (Jack) Clarke and George Graham made it to the summit.
3 things to do:
- Walk the popular Hooker Valley Track
- Visit the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre
- Stay overnight in the photogenic Mueller Hut
Drive time from Queenstown: 3 – 3.5 hours.5
I hope this post has given some great ideas on where to go after Queenstown.
If you’ve got any questions or comments, leave a message below or email me jub@churnewzealand.com .
RECOMMENDED READING
Glacier Hikes in NZ
A few of the different walks where you can see some of the countries glaciers.
30+ Facts about NZ
I’m almost certain you’ll learn something new in this post. I won’t bet on that though 😉
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.