Favourite Things to do in Queenstown
A GUIDE TO QUEENSTOWN, NZ
After years of being in love with this mountain resort town, we finally made the move to Queenstown in October 2021.
We’ve had a number of go-to spots, we’d visit each time in Queenstown, but we’ve also discovered some new Queenstown favourites.
So if you’re heading to the adrenaline capital of the world, scroll down for a local guide to QT.
A few of my favourite things to do in Queenstown
Walks & Hikes around Queenstown
It’s pretty obvious that our favourite thing to do in Queenstown is hiking. There are numerous walks and hikes for every level and we continue to discover more every month.
Here are a few favourites:
Queenstown Hill
It wasn’t until we moved here that we headed up this popular walk. You’ll find the trailhead a few minutes from town centre, straight up the steep neighborhood and onto a trail that wraps along a beautiful pine forest. As you continue higher and higher, you’ll be rewarded with a sweeping view of Lake Wakatipu and the nearby mountain peaks.
Ben Lomond: Easily one of the best hikes in Queenstown, you can head up to the Ben Lomond Saddle or for the experienced hikers make it to the Summit (please only attempt on good weather days). The views are insane, and you can even skip a section by taking up the gondola to skip a good hour ascent (and descent if you time it right). Double check the gondola hours, we missed a ride back down once and it was a brutal hike down the skinny, steep Tiki Trail with our toddler and fussy baby.
Moonlight Track: The photo above is taken just off this beautiful trail that begins in Arthur’s Point and loops around to connect to Ben Lomond and onward to Moke Lake. I love running sections of this trail and there are plenty of photogenic spots. In the case above, we walked and carried props for a photoshoot for Wandering Folk.
Other walks and hikes worth mentioning:
Bob’s Cove - an easy, family-friendly 30min hike to the top viewpoint that sits next to Lake Wakatipu just a couple of km outside of Queenstown.
Lake Alta (avoid during ski season) - drive up to the top of Remarkables parking lot and head up to this alpine lake hidden in the mountains. Head’s up it costs $10 to drive up this road in the off-season.
Tobin’s Track - this slow climb starts in Arrowtown, taking you higher and higher on a 4WD track to overlook Arrowtown and the nearby towering mountains. Best done in autumn during the insane foliage, see proof of that here from our babymoon with Lia.
brunch at bespoke kitchen or yonder
Upon landing at Queenstown Airport and collecting our rental car, our first stop is usually for food. Two places we return to often because of the coffee and brunch items is Bespoke Kitchen & Yonder.
Bespoke: Off the main strip, this cozy cafe welcomes you with woodland vibes and a food counter, you’ll drool over. Before you set your heart on cabinet food, take a peek at their menu. Changing with the seasons and local produce, Bespoke knows how to combine an array of flavours in healthy, hearty meals. I highly recommend the vegan bagel (from the counter), salads of the day, the vegan special off the menu (bring back the vegan mushroom benedict please!), their smoothies and a coffee. Always coffee.
Yonder: Serving up my favourite Welly roaster, Coffee Supreme, the decor, heated outdoor patio, tunes and cinnamon scrolls have me returning on a weekly basis. Their vegan bfast butty is a fav and their counter food always has a few vegan bites, just skip the vegan salmon (it’s cured carrots ha).
Other eateries on repeat:
Hustl, located at 5-mile shops, the loveliest staff who always remember my coffee order and have a great cabinet selection as well as food menu.
Locker Room, this American sports bars is spewing TVs showcasing all the sports, but weirdly enough have a secret vegan menu with classic American bar food like buffalo ckn wraps, tater tots, and cheap hot dogs.
Caribe Kitchen, when asked if I had cravings during my most recent pregnancy I could honestly say Caribe’s vegan burrito with a mandarin Jarrito.
wine tasting
Or beer tasting depending on your choice of beverage, I recommend doing both while visiting Queenstown. The city offers numerous wine tours for the Otago Region and also has a hop on, hop off bus that drops you down highway 6 into the Gibbston Valley where 12 wineries are waiting. There is also a great cycle trail for those wanting to work for your wine :) In 2020, my friend Tara and I joined Appellation Wine Tour for those wanting a guided driving tour.
If you’re looking for beer in Gibbston Valley, swing by Cargo Brewery . The church-turned-into-a-brewery offers a unique spot to enjoy both beer and wine with an expansive garden complete with a trampoline, soccer field, and plenty of outdoor seating.
For a brewery closer to Queenstown, stop into Altitude Brewing located on the Frankton trail or head out to Arthur’s Point for mountain views at Canyon Brewing. And if you’re just after a beer, pop upstairs to Smith’s Bar for the best beer selection in town.
Book a scenic spa
Hot springs are a common attraction across New Zealand, but there is one hot pool experience that everyone absolutely loves: Queenstown’s Onsen Hot Pools. Spend an hour in the hot pool while sipping bubbles and staring at the view. This tranquil boutique spa also offers massages, facials and evening lantern-lit pool sessions.
Adrenaline-fueled activity
I’m talking about what Queenstown is known for. Making hearts race and people take massive leaps of faith.
Bungee jump, skydive, hang glide, paraglide, parasail and so much more. The jetboats are crazy fun and even a cruise or ferry on Lake Wakatipu is worth it. I have yet to skydive in NZ, but I can highly recommend bungee jumping, hang gliding, jet boating and my favourite, a scenic flight. My (gifted) flight with Glenorchy Air to Milford and back was extraordinary. We were up close and personal with Mt. Tutoko and flew over the famous Sutherland Falls (see below for photos).
I didn’t realize how much fun a Jet Boat experience was until we tried it out in Skipper’s Canyon just out of Queenstown. There are a few options in the city, but driving down into Skipper’s Canyon and flying down the river amongst the mountains had me laughing and screaming like a girl on a roller coaster.
Not keen for this kind of experience, but still want decent vistas? Hop on the Skyline Queenstown, a gondola with impressive views over QT and the Remarkables. At the top you’ll find a cafe/bar, gift shop, panoramic viewing balconies and the beloved luge. For those wanting to avoid the hefty price for the gondola, hike up the Tiki Trail just near the gondola entrance. The hike takes an hour and offers incredible views all the way up.
Another option from Queenstown’s city centre is to drive up to Coronet Peak or the Remarkables (both ski fields) and run around looking for tall grass and epic compositions.
*head’s up, in summer, the road up the Remarkables costs $10 to drive on.
View from Remarkables road
View from Coronet Peak road
Indoor Activities
When the weather isn’t on your side here are a few ideas to kill the time:
Make your own perfume at Miller Road Fragrances. This was by far the coolest workshop I’ve ever done and I’m in love with my scent.
Go bowling, hit the arcade, and try an escape room at Kingpin, the newest indoor entertainment destination to arrive in Queenstown.
Seen a movie lately? Reading Cinemas is located downtown or head to Arrowtown’s Dorothy Browns where you can enjoy alcoholic beverages in this iconic retro theatre.
Basecamp Adventures offers indoor rock climbing, bouldering and the coolest clip ‘n climb room, great for active kids who are interested in climbing.
Road Trip to Arrowtown and Glenorchy
If you have the time and the wheels, a drive down to Glenorchy and Paradise is a great way to spend the afternoon. The road is scenic and windy offering views worth pulling over for and lake spots perfect for picnics. It takes about 45 minutes to reach the little lakeside town. It’s little red barn and pier are its landmarks.
Or pop over to Arrowtown, an idyllic mining town complete with the best sweet shop, historic sites and easy walking trails.
Other worth-mentioning things to do in Queenstown:
Stroll along the boardwalk and lakefront where vendors and buskers pop up often.
Come during winter and hit the slopes at one of the ski fields!
Don’t forget dessert. Ferg’s has some amazing gelato.
Stroll around the lake visiting the Botanic Gardens where you can play a game of frisbee golf.
If you want a peaceful camping spot, head out to Moke Lake and wake up surrounded by mountains.
Plan a trip to Fiordland. Head to Te Anau for Great Walk hiking trails. Get on the water with a cruise in Doubtful or Milford Sound. Just the drive into Milford is worth it.