Queenstown is a city in the Otago region of New Zealand. It is widely considered a resort town where people come looking for leisure and adventure. Some of the best things to do in Queenstown include exploring the mountains, adventure activities, wineries, winter sports, and town attractions.

The city sits on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. The majority of popular places to visit in Queenstown and around it are centered around this vast lake. You take the road route or hike trails to reach these places. You can also enjoy leisurely boat cruises for Queenstown sightseeing. This tour will also take you to small islands in the lake and other distant Queenstown tourist attractions around it.

Queenstown is also close to several majestic mountains including the Remarkables, Walter Peak, Cecil Peak, and Ben Lomond. These along with the lakes and rivers have become hotspots for adventure activities in Queenstown. You can go for bungee jumping, kayaking, paragliding, helicopter tours, skydiving, river rafting, and more.

Aside from adventure, the places to visit near Queenstown are also known for their majestic natural beauty. You get to explore a variety of landscapes with an abundance of features during Queenstown travel. There are forests, rivers, lakes, mountains, gorges, waterfalls, caves, grasslands, and rocky terrains. These Queenstown attractions have gained significant popularity since they were featured in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Exploring natural landscapes and adventure activities are popular during summer. But come winter, Queenstown travel is all about snow. People come here for the majestic winter festival and to ski down the slopes of mountains.

These are the top things to do in Queenstown in winter. You will get to attend a variety of themed events and cruise over the snow in several different ways. Aside from skiing, you can also enjoy dog-sledge rides, snowboarding, snow-mobile rides, snow-shoe hikes, and so on. It is a happening time for the city as well as the mountains around it.

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Top 34 Tourist Places to Visit in Queenstown, New Zealand

1. Skippers Canyon

This vast landscape is blessed with picturesque natural beauty. It is among the most beautiful places to visit near Queenstown, New Zealand. Shotover River carves the valley creating streams, waterfalls, caves, and gorges. You will see endless lines of hills, forests, and grasslands.

This place was also the centre of attention during the gold rush. The Canyon is also known for some of the best things to do around Queenstown. You have to come to Skippers Canyon for bungee jumping, mountain biking, river rafting, and more.

It is not just limited to adventure activities in Queenstown, the canyon is also widely known for beautiful trails marked with natural and historical sites. There is much to explore in the Skippers Canyon and you need at least a day to even tour a part of it.

Here below I am mentioning most two popular activities to do at Skippers Canyon

• Jet Boat Ride at Skippers Canyon
• Half Day 4WD Tour at Skippers Canyon

2. Kiwi Birdlife Park

This wildlife conservation park is dedicated to the national bird of New Zealand: Kiwi. You will get to see, meet, and even interact with these magnificent birds when you visit the birdlife park. You can even feed the fluffy birds. It is among the most fun things to do in Queenstown for families.

The birdlife park also has several other birds, a few reptiles, and a bee centre. You can easily spend an hour or so exploring the park when you visit Queenstown.

I suggest you should get your Admission Ticket to Kiwi Birdlife Park in advance.

3. Milford Sound

This fiord is part of the Fiordland National Park. It’s an inlet flowing through hills. This is among the most beautiful places to visit in Queenstown, New Zealand.

In the summer, it’s sapphire blue water with greenery all around and tall dark mountains all around. During winters, the snowclad mountains create a magnificent backdrop.

This piece of paradise is also known for numerous outdoor activities to do in Queenstown, New Zealand. You can come here for a boat cruise, kayaking, hiking, and so on.

It is also a popular Queenstown attraction for stargazing and is home to the underwater observatory. You will need at least a day dedicated to Milford Sound to truly experience it.

I suggest you should book a Full Day Trip to Milford Sound in advance.

4. Queenstown Hill

This 2976 ft. tall mountain stands on the edge of the town. It is one of the most popular spots for Queenstown sightseeing. You can get amazing views of the city as well as Lake Wakatipu.

You can reach the top by road or take a hiking trail through the forested mountain. The trail will give you a chance to see some Queensland tourist attractions that are otherwise missed. You need about 3 hours to explore the hill, more if you are planning for the hike.

I suggest you should go for an ATV (Quad Bike) Tour on Queenstown Hill.

5. Remarkables Market

This farmer’s market is held every Saturday from nine in the morning till 2 in the afternoon. The market sells all sorts of items ranging from handicrafts to food products. It is among the best places to go in Queenstown to shop for fruits, vegetables, bakery items, cheeses, chocolates, wines, ceramics, knit clothes, and more.

You will also get to try out local street food and desserts while exploring the market. All in all, it is a great place to shop or roam around mingling with locals for a couple of hours.

6. Lake Wakatipu

This massive lake is home to some of the most beautiful sights you will see around Queensland. The lake is surrounded by forests and mountains. It is also home to several places to visit in Queensland including picnic spots, nature parks, resorts, and beaches.

However, the lake is most popularly known for boat cruises, hiking trails, fishing, jet-boating, kayaking, paddle boating, and other adventurous activities in Queensland. You can spend hours and hours exploring different ways to enjoy this lake.

I suggest you should try a Vintage Steamship TSS Earnslaw Cruise of Lake Whakatipu.

7. Jack’s Point

Sitting on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, this luxurious settlement is one of the most popular leisure destinations around. It is a resort-like establishment with houses, markets, villages, golf courses, restaurants, and so on.

The clubhouse of Jack’s Point is especially popular for dining with a view experience. You will need about 2 hours from Queenstown sightseeing to explore the place.

8. Queenstown Gardens

These botanical gardens are known for a variety of leisure activities. It is among the top things to do in Queenstown city centre for families. You can enjoy leisurely strolls, enjoy sports, check out the various plant species, enjoy views of the flowers, and more.

The gardens also have several facilities for outdoor and indoor activities to do in Queenstown, New Zealand. The place has Ice Hockey, Lawn Tennis, Disc Golf, Skating, BMX Biking, and so on. You can easily spend an hour or so enjoying the gardens.

I suggest you should try a Segway Tour of Queenstown Garden.

9. Coronet Peak

This snow-clad mountain peak is the hotspot for skiing, snowboarding, mountain lodge retreats, and other fun things to do in Queenstown in winter. Unlike most skiing destinations, Coronet Peak is also open during the night.

Aside from snow activities, you can also go for paragliding and hot-air balloon rides. You will need a couple of days during Queenstown travel to enjoy this place.

If you are planning to visit Coronet Peak then you can book a Round-Trip Transport Service to Coronet Peak.

10. Queenstown Trail

The city is surrounded by incredibly beautiful countryside. You can go hiking, trekking, or cycling around the city. You can explore the landscapes or visit the nearby towns, farms, valleys, or wineries. These pastoral lands are some of the best places to see in Queenstown. Any trail you pick will need at least an hour to complete.

I suggest you should Hire an Electric Bike to Explore Queenstown Trail.

11. Onsen Hot Pools

This spa retreat is one of the best things to do near Queenstown. As the bulk of your trip will be spent exploring nature, you need some time to relax and treat yourself.

You can enjoy baths and spa treatments with the view of the magnificent Alps. It’s a treat for sore muscles and eyes. You can easily spend a couple of hours enjoying the hot pools.

12. Main Town Beach

The main town beach sits on the banks of Lake Wakatipu. You can enjoy the tides of the lake and enjoy swimming, watersports, and beach activities. People can also simply enjoy strolls along the beach’s waterfront. These are among the best things to do in Queenstown in summer times. You can easily spend a couple of hours enjoying the place.

13. Arrowtown Trip

The Arrowtown sits on the banks of River Arrow. It developed during the 1860s gold rush and has a few historical sites from the time. One of the best things to do around Queenstown is go to River Arrow with a pan to try your luck finding gold.

Within the town, you should check out the Lakes District Museum and Gallery. It is one of the best places to visit in Queenstown to learn about the region’s history. You need 2 to 3 hours to explore the town and its surroundings.

I suggest you should book a Half-Day Trip to Arrowtown in advance.

14. Queenstown Underwater Observatory / Time Tripper Queenstown

This observatory gives you a glimpse of the life beneath the surface of Lake Wakatipu. It is one of the best things to see in Queenstown for families. You get to see a variety of fishes, eels, ducks, and more. It takes about an hour to explore the place.

I suggest you should book your Ticket of Time Tripper Queenstown in advance.

15. Routeburn Track

This trekking trail begins from the Southern Alps and goes all the way to Te Anau. It covers a large of the Southern Island of New Zealand. Routeburn is among the most popular trails in the world.

It was even covered by the National Geographic among the top 11 trails. The 32 km track goes through both Mt. Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park. Even if you pick a part of it, you need at least a couple of hours from Queenstown travel to explore the trail.

I suggest you should book a Full Day Guided Routeburn Valley Walk in advance.

16. Glenorchy Trip

This is yet another beautiful town among Queenstown tourist attractions. The town is surrounded by beautiful landscapes and these are the actual highlights of the trip.

The surrounding forest, mountains, and valleys were heavily featured in the Lord of the Rings films. You will find some of the most beautiful places to see in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Around Glenorchy, you will find The Misty Mountains, Isengard, Lothlorien Forest, Ithilien, Amon Hen, and several other locations from the movies. The area is also known for outdoor activities near Queenstown including fishing, hiking, horseriding, and photography. You need at least a day to explore the town and the wonders of nature around it.

I suggest you should book a Half-Day Lord Of The Rings Tour to Glenorchy in advance.

17. The Remarkables Mountain Range

Just about an hour away from Queenstown, this mountain is quite popular for skiing. The mountain has skiing slopes for all levels: beginner to expert. The Skii trail is best known for the 357-meter vertical drop. It is among the best things to do near Queenstown, an incredible thrill for those who can pull it off. You need 3 to 4 hours skiing down the Remarkables.

If you are planning to visit the Remarkables then you should book a Return Ski Shuttle to The Remarkables.

18. Kayaking

Owing to its lakeside location, there are several spots to go for kayaking around Queenstown. Some of the most popular spots include Moreton Bay, Brown Lake, Sunshine Coast, Lake Wakatipu, and many more. You can also enjoy nice kayak tours through valleys and to islands. Even for beginners, it is one of the top adventure activities in Queenstown, New Zealand.

I suggest you should book your Kayaking Activity in advance.

19. River Rafting

If you are looking for a little more thrill, you can go for river rafting or white water rafting when you visit Queenstown. The best places to visit near Queenstown for this adventure activity are the Shotover River, Kawarau River, and Dart River. The last one you can also tour in a canoe or paddle boat. You need about 2 hours to enjoy river rafting in Queenstown.

Here below I am mentioning two different River Rafting Activities in two different Rivers.

• Shotover River White Water Rafting Trip
• Kawarau River Rafting Trip

20. Helicopter Ride

From the water to the skies, there is no shortage of ways to explore nature. This is among the best things to do in Queenstown, New Zealand if you want to admire the vastness of natural landscapes. You can take a helicopter tour over the Southern Alps, Milford Sound, and Snow Clad Mountains.

The helicopter tour gives you a whole different perspective and view of the expansive landscapes. The sights are among the most memorable things to see in Queenstown. You need at least 2 hours for the skybound tour.

I suggest you should book a 50-Minute Glacier Explorer Helicopter Ride from Queenstown

21. Lake Hayes

This lake is a popular location for outdoor activities near Queenstown. People come here for swimming, fishing, kayaking, hiking, rowing, and more. It is especially popular among places to go in Queenstown for bird-watching.

Some of the birds you can find here include Grey Duck, March Crake, New Zealand Shoveller, Paradise Shelduck, Black Swan, Australian Coot, and more. You can easily spend a couple of hours exploring the lake and its surroundings.

22. Ice Bars

There are three ice bars among Queenstown attractions. These are Minus 5 Degree, Below Zero, and Queenstown Ice Bar. Each of these is themed after an ice castle. Everything is designed to look as if it is made from ice. Much of the stuff actually is.

It is among the top things to do in Queenstown at night. These nightlife venues are also popular for their themed zones and drinks. It’s a great place to dedicate an evening here to chill.

I suggest you should book a Minus 5 Ice Bar Experience with 2 Cocktails in advance.

23. Boat Cruise

You can cruise the vast lakes around Queenstown enjoying views of the mountains, fine dining, and entertainment. You can take a cruise just to roam the lakes or for guided Queenstown sightseeing.

There are also lunch and dinner cruises. The latter also involves beautiful sunset views of the Alps. If you feel like exploring nature, you can also take cruises to little islands in Lake Wakatipu and enjoy a day of picnics, beaches, and hiking. For any of the cruises, you will at least require 2 to 3 hours.

I suggest you should book a 90-Minutes Cruise Tour in advance.

24. Jet Boat Tours

If you are looking for something more thrilling than a calm boat cruise, you can zoom through the lakes and rivers in a speed boat. It is among the most fun things to do in Queenstown, New Zealand.

The ride takes you on an adrenaline-thumping journey. You will go through narrow gorges, rock formations, frothing rapids, and open lake. You can get speedboat rides to explore Shotover River, Lake Wakatipu, and Skippers Canyon. This experience will need at least 2 hours.

I suggest you should book your Ticket for the Jet Boat Ride in advance.

25. Queenstown Gondola

The Gondola ride takes you from the city to the Bob’s Peak. Along the way you get wonderful cityscape views and also the picturesque Alps. Upon reaching the top, you can enjoy a variety of outdoor and indoor things to do in Queenstown.

You can go for hiking or enjoy a picnic at a height. There are also cafes, restaurants, and bars if you enjoy food and drinks with a view. The Skyline Complex is among the best places to visit in Queenstown for star-gazing.

Owing to the height, you face very little light pollution. This gives you a view into the depths of the night sky. You should take a few hours from Queenstown travel to enjoy the ride and attractions on the top.

26. Wine Tasting Tour

The surrounding mountains have given way to wonderful wineries around the city. There are also several Queenstown attractions where you can try out different varieties of wines. However, the best way to experience the regional variants is to roam the mountains and sip it straight from the source.

The wineries give you incredible tasting sessions against the backdrop of the mountains with cheese, chocolates, and more. You can take 2 to 3 hours from Queenstown sightseeing to enjoy this experience.

Actually, there are so many tours of Wine Tasting in Queenstown, but here I have listed Top-Rated Wine Tasting and related tours. You can book any of the below tour as per your interest.

• Central Otago Wine Tour from Queenstown – Includes 4 Vineyards, Lunch & Wine
  
• Hop On Hop Off Wine Tours
  
• Queenstown’s Beer Tour
  
• Queenstown’s Gin Tour
  
• Guided E-Bike Tour with Winery Visits and Tastings

27. Queenstown Arts & Crafts Market

Also known as the Queenstown market, the shops here sell handmade products and artisan-crafted items. It is one of the top things to do in Queenstown city centre. You can buy locally-made products, paintings, textiles, jewelry, decorative items, and more. You will need about an hour or so to explore this market.

28. Bungee Jumping

This is one of the most thrilling adventure activities to do in Queenstown, you need to jump. Shoot off from a platform and dive headfirst towards divinely beautiful scenery.

The Kawarau Bridge is the best place to go in Queenstown for bungee jumping. There you can also try out other adventure activities to do in Queenstown including Zip Ride, Nevis Bungy, Ledge Bungy, Nevis Catapult, Nevis Swing,  and Ledge Swing. You will need about an hour or so for this activity.

29. SkyDiving

Speaking of diving headfirst towards the ground, you can also go skydiving when you visit Queenstown. You can get on a plane and when you reach the Remarkables mountain range, just jump.

You will fly through the clouds and enjoy the wind on your face and a delightful view of the mountains. You will need 3 to 4 hours for this activity.

I suggest you should book your SkyDiving Activity in Advance.

30. Paragliding

And speaking of flying through the clouds, you have paragliding. Here you jump off a cliff and glide in the air enjoying a bird-like view of the incredible natural landscapes. There are two places to visit near Queenstown for this adventure activity: Bob’s Peak and Coronet Peak. You need 3 to 4 hours for paragliding.

I suggest you should book your Paragliding Adventure in advance.

31. Mount Aspiring National Park

While there are several things to do around Queenstown to explore the wonders of nature, only a few places have as much abundance of wildlife as Mount Aspiring National Park. It is also home to more than 60 species of birds and hundreds of insects.

There are two particularly popular trails in this National Park: Blue Pools and Rob Roy Glacier. The first is a  natural pool where you can swim after the long trail. It is one of the most beautiful things to see in Queenstown.

The latter one leads you to a 600 ft. tall waterfall. That too is a magnificent sight. Either of these trails need 4 to 5 hours. But, if you want to explore the National Park even more, you would need a couple of days.

I suggest you should book a Full Day Mt. Aspiring Canyoning Adventure in advance.

32. Activities to do in Queenstown in Winter

The drastically changes when the snow starts. There are a lot of things to do in Queenstown in winter. You can go skiing, snowboarding, sledging, snowmobile rides, tobogganing, snowshoe hikes, ice skating, and a lot more.

Plus you have the amazing Queenstown Winter Festival. It is an amazing cultural experience if you are looking for things to do in Queenstown city centre. You have markets, performances, food festivals, and a lot of fun activities. Winter is among the best times to visit Queenstown.

33. Gibbston Valley Winery

If you are not going for the entire wine tour, you should at least visit this one Queenstown tourist attraction if you have any love for wine. It is best known for having the largest wine cave in the world.

The winery is also known for its handmade wines. You can enjoy wine-making, wine-tasting tours, and bike tours. You will need about 2 hours to explore this place.

I suggest you should book a Gibbston Valley Wine Trail Tour in advance.