Things to do in Queenstown: the big-ticket thrills, the free stuff and how to fit it in

Queenstown is the town that sells adrenaline, and it is very good at it. It is also one of the easiest places in New Zealand to have a brilliant time for free, because the mountains start at the end of the main street. The trick is choosing which big-ticket thing is actually worth your money, then filling the gaps with hikes, lake time and day trips.

All prices below are adult prices in NZD as at November 2026, taken from the operators’ own sites.

The famous ones worth the money

Skyline Gondola and luge

The gondola lifts you from Brecon Street to Bob’s Peak, about 480 metres above Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu, for the postcard view over the lake to The Remarkables. Skyline calls it the steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere.

• Gondola only: $69 adult, $48 child (6 to 14). Under-2s ride free.
• Luge: sold in gondola combos (3, 5 or 6 rides). Family packages are available.
• Food: combos with lunch or dinner at the Stratosfare restaurant start at $142 adult.

Sunset is the best time to go. Hours vary by season (on the day we checked, the gondola ran 9:30 am to 9:00 pm), so check before you head up.

Insider tip: walk up the Tiki Trail (below) and you get the same view for free. Buy luge rides at the top if you want them, and ride the gondola down if your legs are done.

Shotover Jet

The jet boat ride through the narrow Shotover River canyons is the classic Queenstown thrill, with 360 degree spins centimetres from the rock walls.

• Price: $199 adult, $109 child, family pass (two adults and two children 15 and under) $507. Shotover Jet says these prices are valid until 30 September 2027.
• Trip length: 25 minutes on the water.
• Departures: every 30 minutes, first trip 9:30 am and last trip 4:00 pm, seven days. Check in 30 minutes before.

Kawarau Bridge Bungy

The Kawarau Bridge is where commercial bungy jumping started in 1988. It is a 43 metre jump over the Kawarau River, about 23 km (roughly 25 minutes) from town at the Kawarau Bungy Centre, and you can choose to touch the water.

• Price: from $320 adult.
• Spectators: free to watch from the viewing platforms, which is honestly half the fun.

If 43 metres sounds too sensible, AJ Hackett also runs bigger jumps and swings around Queenstown, including at the Nevis. Prices vary by activity and combo.

Hot tubs and lake time

After a hike, a soak is the move. Private hot tub experiences overlooking the Shotover River at Arthurs Point are popular and book out in peak season, so reserve ahead. In summer, swimming at the town beach or Frankton is free, though Lake Wakatipu stays cold all year.

The TSS Earnslaw, a coal-fired steamship that has been sailing Lake Wakatipu since 1912, runs cruises from the town wharf to Walter Peak. It is a gentle way to see the lake if you have had enough thrills.

Free and cheap things to do

• Queenstown Gardens: a 2 km loop (about 40 minutes) on the peninsula next to town, with lake views and the disc golf course.
• The lakefront: sunset on Marine Parade costs nothing and looks expensive.
• Watch the bungy: viewing at Kawarau Bridge is free.
• Arrowtown: the drive and the walks are free (see day trips).
• Picnic instead of restaurant lunches: Queenstown food is great but not cheap. A supermarket picnic on the lakefront saves real money over a few days.

Best walks from town

These come from DOC’s Queenstown day walks brochure. Times are for an average walker.

Ben Lomond is a demanding full-day hike, and DOC warns to be prepared for snow and ice above the bushline from April to November. The section between the saddle and the summit crosses private land. Start early, carry plenty of water and warm layers, and turn around if the weather closes in.

A historic cottage in Arrowtown. Photo: Elaine Carstens via Pexels.

Day trips

Arrowtown is about 20 km from Queenstown, roughly 25 minutes by car. It is a former gold-mining town with a heritage main street, walking tracks along the Arrow River and a historic Chinese settlement from the gold rush era. In autumn the trees turn gold and it is genuinely one of the prettiest places in the country.

Glenorchy is about 46 km away at the head of Lake Wakatipu, around 45 minutes by car. The drive along the lake is the attraction itself, with lookouts all the way. Bobs Cove and the Twelve Mile Delta (a filming location for The Lord of the Rings) are on the way.

Milford Sound is the big one. DOC says to allow about 4.5 hours one way from Queenstown without stops, or about 2.5 hours from Te Anau. There are no fuel stations or shops between Te Anau and Milford Sound, and traffic signals at the Homer Tunnel can add up to 20 minutes. Options:

1. Coach and cruise from Queenstown: a long day, but someone else drives.
2. Self-drive with a night in Te Anau, which turns it into two relaxed days.
3. Fly-cruise-fly from Queenstown: expensive, weather-dependent, unforgettable.

Where to eat and drink

Queenstown punches above its weight for food. The town centre has everything from bakeries to fine dining, and the queue outside Fergburger is a Queenstown landmark in its own right. Arrowtown has excellent cafes and a few good restaurants, and the Gibbston Valley wineries (on the way to the Kawarau bungy) are made for a long lunch with a sober driver.

Book dinner ahead in peak season, especially on weekends.

Where to stay

• Central Queenstown: walk everywhere, pay for it. Best if you do not have a car.
• Frankton: near the airport and big supermarkets, cheaper, with a short bus or drive into town.
• Fernhill and Sunshine Bay: quieter, hilly, with lake views.
• Arrowtown: a calmer base with character, 25 minutes away.
• Holiday parks: good value for campervans and families, and some are walkable to town.

Note that freedom camping in and around Queenstown is tightly restricted, so plan paid sites if you are in a campervan. Our freedom camping guide explains the rules.

Getting around

The town centre is compact and walkable. Public buses link the airport, Frankton, Arthurs Point, Arrowtown and other suburbs. A rental car makes the most sense if you want to do Glenorchy, Arrowtown trails, the Crown Range to Wānaka or Milford on your own schedule. Parking in central Queenstown is limited and mostly paid.

Queenstown by season

Summer (December to February): long evenings, warm lake swims and every hike open. It is also peak season, so book the jet boat, bungy, hot tubs and dinners ahead.

Autumn (March to May): our favourite. The poplars and willows around Arrowtown and the Wakatipu Basin turn gold, the crowds thin out after Easter and the light is beautiful for photos. Mornings get crisp, and higher tracks can see the first snow.

Winter (June to August): ski season, with Coronet Peak and The Remarkables close to town. Expect frosty mornings, short days and snow and ice on higher tracks such as Ben Lomond. The lower walks, gondola and lake are all still great.

Spring (September to November): fewer people, lambs in the paddocks and snow still on the peaks. The weather is changeable, so keep a flexible plan for big outdoor activities.

Sample itineraries

Three days, mid-budget

1. Day 1: Queenstown Gardens in the morning, Shotover Jet after lunch, gondola at sunset.
2. Day 2: Queenstown Hill in the morning, afternoon in Arrowtown, dinner in town.
3. Day 3: Drive to Glenorchy with stops at Bobs Cove, back via the lakefront for a swim if it is warm.

Three days, budget

1. Day 1: Tiki Trail up, ride the luge once, walk down. Picnic on the lakefront.
2. Day 2: Ben Lomond Saddle (summer only), early night.
3. Day 3: Arrowtown walks and watch the bungy at Kawarau Bridge for free on the way.

Doing Queenstown as part of a bigger trip? It is days 6 and 7 of our 14-day South Island road trip.