New Zealand’s adventure capital sits on a stunning alpine lake, packed with adrenaline and scenery. Here are the best things to do.
The 8 best things to do in Queenstown
The Kawarau Bridge is the birthplace of commercial bungy — or go bigger at Nevis.
Ride up for the iconic lake-and-mountain view, then race the luge down.
Cruise the TSS Earnslaw steamship or kayak the glacial lake.
A long but unforgettable trip to the fiord — cruise beneath waterfalls and peaks.
Blast through canyons on the Shotover or Dart rivers.
Taste Central Otago pinot noir in the valley near town.
A historic gold-rush village, golden with autumn colour in April.
Earn panoramic views over the Remarkables and the lake.
Suggested itinerary
Day 1: Skyline gondola, lake cruise, town. Day 2: Milford Sound day trip. Day 3: bungy/jet boat + Arrowtown and wineries.
Tips for visiting Queenstown
- Book Milford Sound and bungy ahead in summer
- Try a Fergburger — the famous (and huge) Queenstown burger
- Winter (Jun–Aug) adds world-class skiing at Coronet Peak and The Remarkables
What’s worth the money, and what’s just expensive
Queenstown will happily separate you from your savings, so here’s the honest cost reality. The Kawarau bridge bungy with AJ Hackett is about $275 NZD for one jump; it’s the original and genuinely thrilling, but if you only want the photo, free spectators get the same atmosphere from the platform. The Skyline Gondola is $52 NZD, jumping to roughly $81 with luge rides, and it’s a fair first-day win for the view, though queues at peak hours eat the experience.
- Overpriced for what it is: the Onsen Hot Pools run around $101 NZD for two in a daytime private bath. Lovely, but it’s an hour in a tub. Save it for a special evening, not a default.
- Best value big day out: a Milford Sound coach-and-cruise day trip is about $200–260 NZD all in, and the scenery genuinely earns it.
- Local free pick: frisbee golf in Queenstown Gardens is free; disc hire from the Ice Arena is $6 NZD, and the lakeside course is one of the prettiest anywhere.
The real local move is restraint: pick one or two paid headliners and leave room for the lake and the hikes, which cost nothing.
Queenstown FAQ
How many days do you need in Queenstown?
Three — adventure, a Milford Sound trip and the lake/wineries.
Is Queenstown only for thrill-seekers?
No — the scenery, cruises, wineries and Arrowtown suit everyone.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.