Choosing where to stay in Queenstown isn’t going to make or break your holiday, but staying in the best area in Queenstown for you will make your trip better.
In this post, we’ll cover the 5 most popular areas to stay in Queenstown, break down the pros and cons to each.
WHERE TO STAY IN QUEENSTOWN
1. THE HEART OF QUEENSTOWN
The middle of Queenstown has everything you need and is easy to get to from the Airport.
When you’re staying downtown, you’re within walking distance of lots of things to do in Queenstown:
- Hydro Attack
- The gondola/luge
- Fear Factory
- Queenstown Gardens…and more
It doesn’t matter where you stay in Queenstown, you’ll likely spend a good amount of time in the heart of the town so it’s a great way to not have to deal with getting to and from there each time.
When there are lots of tourists in town, the locals tend to stay away from the hive of activity, so you can be sure everyone’s there for a good time…not that locals aren’t…you know what I mean!
Pros
- You’re within walking distance of enough Queenstown attractions (including free ones) to keep you busy for at least a week
- You’ve got enough of the best restaurants Queenstown to choose from to suit all budgets and dietary requirements
- Getting around Queenstown and surrounding suburbs with public transport is easy
- Accommodation to suit all budgets, and pretty much all of the hostels in Queenstown are here
Cons
- If you’ve got a rental car, make sure you’ve got a plan for parking as it can be limited/expensive. But there are free parking options on the outskirts of town and/or your accommodation may have some available
- The traffic in Queenstown can be hectic by New Zealand standards
- The nightlife scene is in the middle of Queenstown and depending on your accommodation you may find yourself hear noise late into the night
ARTHUR’S POINT
Arthur’s Point or no point. That’s a little phrase people living in Arthur’s Point like to say when talking about the best areas to stay in Queenstown…they love it. And honestly, I can see why.
Arthur’s Point is about 6km (less than a 10-minute drive) from the middle of Queenstown but feels like a million miles away. The place is mainly residential but has great access to town and the ski fields, and there are lots of attractions in Arthurs Point itself. Arthurs Point keeps growing on me.
Pros
- Easy access to Coronet Peak for the ski season, and some MTB trails
- Lots of activities, including the bungy, Onsen Hot Pools and the Moonlight Track
- Access to Arrowtown and the heart of Queenstown
- Parking is easy on the street and/or at your accommodation
- Two of Queenstown’s best places to drink craft beer, Cargo and Canyon are here
Cons
- The buses only come every hour with none after 10pm
- No supermarkets (there’s a small corner store)
- A limited number of accommodations, but there are some of Queenstown’s best Airbnb’s here
- It’s primarily residential so most things are closed relatively early
FRANKTON
Frankton has seen a lot of development in the last few years as they try to build enough infrastructure in the area to reduce the amount of traffic going into the town.
And it does seem to be working, with some friends who live here saying they can easily go weeks without venturing into downtown Queenstown given the number of things to do in Frankton.
That does mean the restaurant, bar, and cafe scene is catching on here with cool spots like The Crown, Hustl Cafe, and Tanoshi leading the way.
A lot of families like staying out here as accommodation options tend to be cheaper, yet larger than town, and you’ve got the supermarkets nearby easy access to the airport.
Pros
- Easy access to the airport
- You can get to town by bus easily
- You’ll avoid the majority of tourists
- There’s a couple of nice walking/cycle tracks close to the lake, including the Frankton Track
- In the winter you’ve got easy access to The Remarkables
Cons
- There’s the two big shopping malls, and other industrial areas so it can feel like a generic city a bit (stick close to the lake and you’re golden)
- There are no hostels in Frankton
ARROWTOWN
Arrowtown is an awesome little spot full of character. The town has plenty of old buildings around from the mining boom in the 1800s, and you can learn more about that at the Chinese Settlement. Beyond that, there are lots of things to do in Arrowtown and the immediate area you can stay here and not need to go into town. And something people forget is the network of Arrowtown walking tracks is phenomenal!
There might not be any supermarkets in Arrowtown (well there’s a Night and Day) but the selection of restaurants and cafes is impressive for a small town.
Pros
- There’s a relaxed feeling in the town compared to the chaos that can be the middle of Queenstown
- 3 amazing gold courses in the immediate area
- Prices to be on the expensive side
- Some of the best autumn colours you can find anywhere
Cons
- Everything tends to be closed reasonably early
- No supermarkets
- 30 minutes from downtown, which if you need to get there everyday to meet friends and what not can feel like a drag (it’s easy to get between Queenstown and Arrowtown)
SUNSHINE BAY/FERNHILL
Fernhill and Sunshine Bay are just up the hill to the west of town. If you’re a visitor to Queenstown and aren’t staying here, you could easily skip the area.
That said, it’s primarily a residential area meaning it’s on the quiet side. But that said, it can be really cold here in the winter…so maybe only stay here in the summer. You can get some great views though, and the Fernhill pub and fish and chip shop are always a winner.
Pros
- If you’re planning to catch public transport to/from town, the buses go every 15 minutes during the day which is great.
- You have direct access to some of the best MTB trails in the area.
- Your accommodation could well have some epic views over town and towards the Remarkables
- There’s a quieter/residential feel to the place
Cons
- The sun goes behind the hill early in winter and places can be cold (the name Sunshine Bay is not accurate :D)!
- If you have to walk home, the hill isn’t fun to walk up
- There are limited restaurant/dining spots in Fernhill itself
If you have any questions or thoughts about where to stay in Queenstown, leave a comment 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.