Whether you’re looking for an adrenaline rush or relaxing activities, Queenstown IS the destination for you!
With terrific picture-perfect scenery all year round, this quaint village turned top tourist destination is a Mecca for those who seek any kind of adventure. Tour around famous Queenstown attractions such as The Remarkables, Lake Wakatipu, and picturesque vineyards of Queenstown. Activities of all sorts are available no matter what season it currently is. Ride a gondola, go whitewater rafting, soar into the air— there are tons of Queenstown must-do’s you shouldn’t miss out on.
Here is a list of our recommended Queenstown activities you can do:
- Ride Queenstown Skyline Gondola and Luge Ride
- Take a leap of faith and try the Skydive Queenstown Experience with NZONE
- Have your well-deserved vacation at Onsen Hot Pools
- Cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard TSS Earnslaw
- Hire a jet ski on Lake Wakatipu
- Try out indoor skydiving by iFly
- Go paragliding and hang gliding at Coronet Peak!
- Go Orange-Jet Boating at Kawarau River
- Enjoy a drink Below Zero Ice Bar
- Experience virtual reality while in Queenstown
- Go on a wine tour
- Experience Middle Earth with this Lord of the Rings day tour
- Bike around Gibbston Valley Wineries
- Coronet Peak Ski Resort Skiing or Snowboarding Experience
- Fly over the Southern Alps
- Queenstown Private Helicopter and Wine Tour
- Jump off a cliff with Shotover Canyon Swing
- Experience Shotover River Rafting
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1. Ride Queenstown Skyline Gondola and Luge Ride with Optional Buffet Lunch or Dinner
Rise above and don’t miss out on a marvellous scene with Skyline Gondola. Credits: @skylinequeenstown
A Queenstown must-do activity is a ride on the Skyline gondola. Let the gondola take you up to Bob’s Peak, and soak up the majestic view of Queenstown 450 metres from the ground! Don’t forget to take photos of the stunning landscape of iconic Queenstown landmarks - Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables. Afterwards, enjoy a thrilling Skyline luge ride and zoom past your friends in this gravity-fueled ride across 1600 metres of banked corners, tunnels and dippers. Upgrade this amazing experience by adding a lunch or dinner buffet at the Stratosfare Restaurant!
2. Take a leap of faith and try the Skydive Queenstown Experience with NZONE
Queenstown is definitely best viewed from up above, and with this skydiving experience with NZONE, you don’t have to look far! Get to experience up to 60 seconds of free fall when you book either a 9,000, a 12,000, or a 15,000 feet skydive package, and lay your eyes upon the breathtaking scene beneath you—from the magnificent slopes of The Remarkables to the azure waters of Lake Wakatipu. Make this experience unforgettable by ordering your skydive video and photo package!
3. Have your well-deserved vacation at Onsen Hot Pools
Unwind and let your stress go away as you take a dip at one of the relaxing cedar-lined hot pools in Queenstown, overlooking the majestic alpine scenery of the stunning Shotover River. For a day or night dip, take your pick between the outdoor onsen experience which detoxifies your body using exclusive mineral water, or the original indoor soak experience where you can enjoy your bath in a private room with glass windows and a roof that you can open up. All hot pool spas are heated up to the optimal temperature and are infused with 100% Earth minerals to release tension in your body.
4. Cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard TSS Earnslaw
Enjoy the magnificent alpine scenery of The Remarkables aboard TSS Earnslaw! Credits: @realjourneys
Embark on a 90-minute cruise aboard the 107-year-old steamship TSS Earnslaw across the tranquil Lake Wakatipu! Get to see the surrounding iconic Queenstown attractions such as the snow-capped peaks of The Remarkables, Cecil Peak, and Walter Peak and breathe in the crisp fresh air as you marvel at the astonishing scenery that surrounds the lake. Inside the steamship, you can access its mini-museum and engine room to know more about the only operating hand-fired steamship in the Southern Hemisphere! You can add in a Walter Peak High Country Farm tour or BBQ lunch to enjoy more of the Queenstown must-do.
Please note that TSS Earnslaw undergoes annual maintenance (3 May - 24 June 2021) and does not operate during this period.
5. Hire a jet ski on Lake Wakatipu
Ride around Lake Wakatipu with your kid on a jet ski! Credits: @jetskiqueenstown
Don’t miss out on this chance to try out one of the most thrilling Queenstown activities: jet skiing on Lake Wakatipu. Ride up to Bob’s Cave or check out the tranquil Pigeon Island, and explore more hidden wonders of the lake for 30 minutes or 60 minutes on this self-guided jet ski rental. Complete with wetsuits, life jackets, fuel, and proper basic instruction, you are given the freedom to turn this activity into a thrilling adventure or a calm journey across one of Queenstown’s famous attractions.
6. Try out indoor skydiving by iFly
Badly want to experience skydiving yet terrified of the moment you jump from the plane? Don’t fret— indoor skydiving is made just for you! Feel the thrill of gliding through the air inside a state-of-the-art tunnel by iFly. You totally don’t have to worry about safety since expert guides will teach you how to move through the cushion-controlled atmosphere. Plus, you get a personalised flight certificate to immortalise this unforgettable experience!
7. Go paragliding and hang gliding at Coronet Peak!
Reach for the clouds when you go paragliding at Coronet Peak! Credits: @coronetpeaktandems
Take off from Queenstown’s highest peak during the summer or winter and try out paragliding or hang gliding at Coronet Peak! Breeze through the air for up to 15 minutes, and get an uninterrupted view of the beautiful Queenstown mountain scene and its winding rivers below. Beginners don’t need to worry because a professional flyer will ride in tandem with you. There is also an optional photo package you can avail to commemorate how you conquered the skies at Coronet Peak.
8. Go Orange-Jet Boating at Kawarau River
The list of exhilarating Queenstown activities doesn’t end! Hop on a thunder jet boat and sail down Kawarau River to Lake Wakatipu past a lush tree-lined path in this exciting jet boat experience! Choose between a 25-minute or 60-minute trip—all-inclusive of a guide that tours you around the river and all necessary safety equipment such as a spray jacket, life vest, and goggles.
9. Enjoy a drink at Below Zero Ice Bar
Looking for some unique Queenstown activities? Zip up your jacket as you head on over to Below Zero Ice Bar, and start sipping on cocktails literally in below zero temperature! Everything is made from ice— from the walls to the bar, even the glasses are frozen! Hand-sculpted by the world’s best ice carvers, Below Zero is certainly a Queenstown must-do you shouldn’t miss. The bar’s menu lets you choose from vodka shots, vodka cocktails or yummy mocktails.
10. Experience virtual reality while in Queenstown
Who knew escaping a zombie attack could be on your list of must do Queenstown activities? Get to experience the future with virtual reality at Hologate VR! From exhilarating roller coasters to massive snowball fights, the possibilities are endless! Walk through a haunted house or stroll along the land of the dinosaurs with your family or friends or compete with them on challenging rhythm and beat battles!
11. Go on a wine tour
You could never go wrong with a wine tour. Taste the best wines of the South Island! Credits: @queenstownwinerytours
Queenstown is known for some of the best wines in the world, and it definitely isn’t short on wine tours! Choose from five wine tours around the region and discover the best South Island wineries as you explore past sightseeing spots. Each wine tour has its own itinerary and charm, but you will surely have your fill of fine wine tastings paired well with cheese samples.
12. Experience Middle Earth with this Lord of the Rings day tour
Calling all Ringers! This Queenstown activity should be at the top of your list! Journey through different Lord of the Rings filming locations, starting at Glenorchy and ending at Lighthouse Rock. This exciting tour lets you recreate iconic film scenes as costumes and prop replicas are provided. Get mesmerised by the stunning landscape as you travel through Paradise Forest, Arrow River where you can try gold panning, and Skippers Canyon Road.
13. Bike around Gibbston Valley Wineries
Venture outside Queenstown and head on over to Gibbston Valley where you can hire a bike and explore the fantastic views of the area’s wineries. Pick between a standard bike or a premium e-bike and pedal the trail that takes you across Arrowtown. Both bike options come with a custom map that lets you know the best places you can visit, as well as a scenic shuttle to Gibbston Valley, bike helmets and repair kits, and pick up from your Queenstown accommodation.
14. Coronet Peak Ski Resort Skiing or Snowboarding Experience
Explore Queenstown’s snowy slopes and enjoy the ultimate skiing and snowboarding experience at Coronet Peak Ski Resort! Bundle up in warm clothes as you try out skiing. Beginners can start their day with a lesson while experienced skiers can immediately rent snow gear and enjoy the great day ahead. If you’re not into extreme sports, you may opt for the lift to soak in uninterrupted 360-degree views of the majestic white snow as well as spend the day in one of the restaurants or cozy cafes around.
15. Tour the Te Anau Glowworm Cave
Be mesmerized by the majestic rock formations inside Te Anau Glowworm Caves!
Have a lovely experience at one of the most recommended nearby Queenstown attractions, the Te Anau Glowworm Cave. Board a cruise vessel for a scenic half-day tour that lets you explore the cave’s limestone passages and takes you directly to the majestic underground waterfall. True to its name, the tour gives you a dazzling view of glow worms that inhabit a hidden grotto.
16. Fly over the Southern Alps
Ever dreamed of flying above magnificent mountains? With this ultimate high alpine flight in Omara, you get to try your hand at flying an incredible Duo Discus glider around the Southern Alps. With an experienced gliding instructor, soar over Mt Cook, Mt Aspiring, and the Glaciers, even all the way to see the Milford Sound, and bask in the unmatched beauty of the stunning Southern Alps in this Queenstown must do.
17. Queenstown Private Helicopter and Wine Tour
Treat yourself with this premium heli and wine tour, and visit three of Queenstown's finest vineyards! Another Queenstown must-do, this tour lets you enjoy a magnificent bird’s eye view of The Remarkables and the Gibbston Valley. Discover more about the area’s wine scene as you participate in wine tastings at 3 of the area’s premium wineries as well as a la carte lunch and a glass of premium wine at a vineyard restaurant.
18. Jump off a cliff with Shotover Canyon Swing
Experience thrill like never before as you swing through Shotover Canyon! Credits: @shotovercanyonswing
Let’s continue with the most heart-racing Queenstown activities! Face your fears and get to experience the world's highest cliff jump! Jump off a 109m cliff, complete with a 60m freefall and a 200m swing into the canyon. You can either go solo or tandem with a relative, a friend or your beau and choose from over 70 jump styles. Are you brave enough to try out the ultimate Pin Drop Jump?
19. Experience Shotover River Rafting
Go white water rafting at the stunning Shotover river and conquer the rapids with this Queenstown must do! The tour starts with a shuttle from the thrilling cliff edges of Skippers Canyon to your rafting start point. Challenge yourself as you paddle along the untamed waters of the river and sit in awe as you soak in the fantastic landscape that surrounds the river before going back to base where you can enjoy a hot shower.
