Let me start by saying Queenstown, New Zealand might be my absolute favorite place I’ve traveled to so far!
It has the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation – regardless of your interests there is so much to do. Plus, all of the locals are super friendly and will go out of their way to make sure your experience is unforgettable. Here is a list of the top things you should do when visiting Queenstown:
Queenstown Gondola
Our first hour after arriving in Queenstown, we walked a couple hundred feet from our hotel to the Skyline Queenstown Gondola. It was a gorgeous day out and pretty much everything in the town is within walking distance.
This is the best view in all of Queenstown, so if you’re visiting don’t miss out! I’m really glad we did this at the start of our trip since it allowed us to see all the places we were about to explore. You can purchase round-trip tickets right at the entrance and go up immediately. The gondola takes you up to Bob’s Peak and is the steepest cable car lift in the southern hemisphere, bringing you about 1,476 feet above Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu. We did this during the day, but I’ve heard the night-time views are great too!
Queenstown Luge
Kill 2 excursions with 1 stone! While taking the trip up to Bob’s Peak on the Gondola, add in a few Luge rides to enjoy the views longer and get a little adrenaline rush.
We luged about 4 times in a row because it was so fun. Race away!
Go Bungee Jumping
YES, that’s me! What better place to go than the adventure capital of the world?!
On Day 2 we went bungee jumping at AJ Hackett Kawarau Bridge, located just 20 minutes outside of Queenstown. This is the world’s first commercial bungee site, invented by AJ Hackett himself! We chose this site specifically because it is the original and they give the chance to touch the water of Kawarau River (if you want). I went into the water up to my elbows and it was amazing! They videotape and photograph your whole jump experience, which you can purchase afterwards. I did this so I could remember the experience forever.
I was so nervous leading up to the jump but am so glad I did it and would hands down do it again. If you are willing to take the dive, this is the place!
Tip: secure early bird pricing by purchasing tickets 15 days in advance
Wine Vineyards & Tastings
Get your heart rate down from bungee jumping and dive into the beautiful vineyards the Central Otago wine region has to offer. Within 40 minutes of Queenstown, there are about 200 vineyards! Fun fact: this is the southernmost growing wine region in the entire world. Queenstown and Gibbston are known for some of the best Pinot Noir in the region – however they still make fantastic Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, and Rose.
We drove 7 minutes down the road from Kawarau Bridge to Brennan Wines, where we tasted several of their wines. The staff were very informative, kind and inviting – there was even a cellar door puppy who ran up to us to get belly rubs. The atmosphere was very rustic and cozy – we ended up staying there for hours. And, we enjoyed the wine so much that we bought 5 bottles to bring home with us!
On our way back to Queenstown, we stopped at one more vineyard along the way – Kinross. They are the official cellar door for 6 high-end, boutique wineries in Central Otago. Our wine advisor was very knowledgable and had actually moved to New Zealand from France, where he worked on some well-known vineyards. The wines we tasted were delicious and the atmosphere was open and very enjoyable. We loved the Liquid Gold Pinot Gris.
Best part, the pricing for New Zealand wine tastings is very reasonable. Most of the vineyards we went to were $15 NZD to sample between five to seven different wines. And if you end up buying a certain amount of wine, they will waive the tasting fee!
Shotover Jet
Zip through the narrow Shotover Canyons in a jet boat going over 52 mph! Don’t forget, Queenstown is all about activities to keep your adrenaline pumping. Shotover Jet has high-performance speed boats designed to ride the canyon’s rapids, perform stunts, and make quick turns around cliffs (holds breath). The base is just a 7 minute drive from city center and they offer a free shuttle to drive you there as well.
This was booked for Day 3 and ended up being cancelled due to weather. Weather in New Zealand is very unpredictable. A good strategy for planning your trip is to do anything requiring good weather on the front end of your stay. That way, if it gets cancelled you can reschedule for the next day without missing out!
Tip: book 5 days in advance to get 10% off!
Skydiving & Lake Wanaka
Pass through beautiful mountains and landscapes for 1 hr and 15 minutes to get to Skydive Wanaka. We’re in the adventure capital of the world, so go skydiving if you’ve never been or do it even if you have because you seriously can’t beat this view. We had skydiving on our itinerary for the morning of day 3 before heading up to Auckland. Unfortunately, this also got cancelled due to weather while we were in our safety briefing 🙁 So close, yet so far.
Once you’re done with skydiving, head over to Lake Wanaka and the town of Wanaka. The Wanaka Tree is an iconic photo spot where you’ll find a lone willow tree marooned in the lake.
Visit Arrowtown
This is a perfect place to stop along the route from Wanaka to Queenstown. Arrowtown was established during the Otago gold rush and is located right along the Arrow River. Park your car and walk around a bit – this quaint little town has shops, cafes and restaurants to enjoy.
Lake Wakatipu
Last but not least, make sure you take a walk/run/bike ride around Lake Wakatipu – it’s Queenstown’s crown jewel and New Zealand’s 3rd largest lake. Along the path you may stumble upon the Queenstown Gardens, which has beautiful flowers, rose gardens, and a pond.
All in all, there is so much to do in Queenstown – you could spend weeks there.
If you’re like me and only have a certain amount of time there – these are the things you want to make sure to check off your list!
Comment below with the Queenstown activity you’d look forward to most 🙂
