Queenstown is the capital of tourism activities in New Zealand. With scenic mountain ranges, literally called ‘The Remarkables’ in the distance and sitting next Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand’s longest lake, it is the perfect city to take in the scenery. I’ve been a few times with both family and friends so this post is a list of some of my favourite things to see and do!
Where to Stay in Queenstown
Want to get the most out of a trip in Queenstown? Book the 7 – day Rhythm & Alps Festival Trip with Contiki – All of your accommodation is included. Plus, it includes glamping in the VIP section of one of New Zealand’s most picturesque music festivals.
If you’re staying during a different time of the year, there’s quite a few beautiful options on Airbnb. I stayed at this Luxury Lakehouse Villa which has a lovely view of the lake, accommodates up to 8 people and also has a spa pool.
Food & Drink:
BBQ Buffet at Walter Peak
A special mention for the buffet at Walter Peak that you can get to via the TSS Earnslaw. The selection of food is divine! There’s multiple kinds of meat, salads and desserts. Desserts come in different portion sizes for however much of a sweet tooth you may be.
Fergburger
Known for their large and tasty burgers. Fergburger is extremely popular, it pays to order ahead on the phone or you’ll be waiting in lines that can take up to an hour to get through! Sometimes you can even see the line of people go around the block for these burgers!
Remarkable Sweetshop
It turns out this store is named after the nearby mountain range but their selection of fudge really is nothing short of remarkable! There are so many flavours of fudge to choose from so have fun taste testing all of them in store. My favourite flavour is the crème brulee and there is also an exclusive flavour of the month! After trying a bunch, I recommend buying a gift box to take a few flavours home with you. Otherwise price is according to the weight of the fudge piece you’re buying.
You can order fudge/lollies online to ship around NZ with up to two free samples of fudge to try!
Cookie Time Cookie Bar
Cookie Time are a local New Zealand brand. Their cookies have large chocolate chunks! At this cookie time bar, you can have them served in so many different forms – hot cookies, giant thickshakes, hot chocolates etc! There’s also a lot of merch for sale like cookie muncher plushies and branded clothing & cups.
Ice Bars
These are a lot of fun. They provide you with jackets and gloves to stay warm but I still recommend layering up. The bars have gorgeous ice sculptures around the room, ice board games, ice air hockey tables and and even drinks are served in thick ice glasses.
There are a few options in Queenstown. So, if one is fully booked, you can try to squeeze in at one of the others.
Gibbston Valley Winery & Restaurant
There are a range of tours you can choose here, from just the cave to the full winery.
We enjoyed a tour of the wine cave, which included a wine tasting with paired cheeses, and learning how all the showcased products are made on site. It is a literal cave, with huge wine barrels stacked up along the walls inside it. A great experience before heading over to the store and restaurant where you can buy all of the things you just tried.
You can also order wine tasting flights and cheese platters at the restaurant afterwards.
Sights & Activities in Queenstown
Onsen Hot Pools
You’ve probably seen these pools on instagram – it has a stunning view of the shotover river and mountains. Spa packages include an hour in the onsen with a complimentary snack and drink of your choice.
Jet Boat Rides
There are a few options around Queenstown but my favourite is the Shotover Jet which is 30 minutes and goes through the Shotover river & canyons. You might also see this jetboat go past if you visit Onsen Hot Pools!
TSS Earnslaw
This famous steamship takes you across Lake Wakatipu on a 90 minute cruise to Walter Peak. The cruise alone starts from $109 but I recommend adding on the bbq buffet. At Walter Peak, you can enjoy a guided farm tour, sheep show and a gourmet bbq buffet or just a regular meal at the cafe.
Timetripper
This is a cheap family friendly activity, about $20, if you’re looking for something to do along the pier. It is a 30 minute cinematic experience that tells the mythology and history of Queenstown. After the show, large windows are revealed showing under the lake where you can drop a coin in to donate and feed the fish – you’ll be able to see large trout and eels.
Skyline Gondola & Luge
A luge is like a gravity powered go kart. There’s a couple of tracks that will take you down a short part of the side of the mountain. This is the most scenic luge there is!
You’ll have to take the Skyline gondola up the mountain. At the top you’ll see all of Queenstown and how its surrounded by the mountains and lake. There’s also a café up here so you can get a hot drink and enjoy the view.
Rhythm & Alps
From Dec 29 – 31 Cardrona Valley, between Queenstown and Wanaka, is taken over by this New Years Festival!
Check out my blog post – Rhythm & Alps New Zealand’s most picturesque music festival!
Thanks for joining me on my journeys!
If you’d like to see more photos, check out my Queenstown Pinterest Board
Let me know if there’s any more cool things to do around Queenstown and follow me on more journeys below!
