Activities in Queenstown

The Queenstown Trail is a 130-kilometre network of walking and cycling trails connecting Queenstown, Arrowtown, and the surrounding countryside. Built to New Zealand Great Ride standards, it follows river gorges, lakeshores, and historic gold mining routes.

Onsen Hot Pools is a luxury geothermally inspired bathing experience set on a cliff edge above the Shotover River gorge in Arthurs Point. Private cedar-lined hot tubs offer views of the river canyon and surrounding mountains.

The Remarkables is a dramatic mountain range rising to 2,319 metres directly across Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown. In winter, it operates as a family-friendly ski field; in summer, the access road provides hiking access to alpine lakes and ridgelines.

The Routeburn Track is one of New Zealand's ten Great Walks, a 32-kilometre alpine crossing linking the head of Lake Wakatipu to the Hollyford Valley. It traverses through primeval beech forest, across alpine meadows, and past dramatic mountain vistas.

The TSS Earnslaw is a vintage twin-screw coal-fired steamship that has been cruising Lake Wakatipu since 1912. Known affectionately as the "Lady of the Lake," she is one of the oldest commercial passenger steamships still operating in the Southern Hemisphere.

Coronet Peak is Queenstown's closest ski field, just 25 minutes' drive from the town centre. Rising to 1,649 metres, it offers wide-open terrain, night skiing, and panoramic views across the Wakatipu Basin.

Ben Lomond (1,748m) is the dominant peak towering directly above Queenstown. The challenging track climbs nearly 1,500 vertical metres from the town to the summit, rewarding hikers with one of the most spectacular 360-degree panoramas in the Southern Alps.

Shotover Jet is Queenstown's original jet boat experience, operating since 1970 in the narrow, rocky Shotover River canyons. The bright red jet boats reach speeds of 90 km/h while performing 360-degree spins just centimetres from canyon walls.

The Kawarau Bridge is the birthplace of commercial bungy jumping, where AJ Hackett and Henry van Asch pioneered the sport in 1988. Jumpers leap 43 metres from the historic suspension bridge into the turquoise Kawarau River gorge.

Walter Peak High Country Farm is a historic lakeside sheep station across Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown, accessible only by the TSS Earnslaw steamship. Set against the dramatic backdrop of Walter Peak (1,800m), it offers an authentic taste of New Zealand's farming heritage.

The Nevis Bungy is New Zealand's highest bungy jump at 134 metres — a terrifying 8.5-second freefall from a pod suspended by cables over the remote Nevis River valley. It is consistently ranked among the world's top bungy experiences.

The Ledge Bungy is an urban bungy experience located at the top of the Skyline Gondola on Bob's Peak, 400 metres above Queenstown. Unlike traditional bridge bungys, jumpers leap freestyle from a cantilevered platform over the town.

The Dart River Wilderness Jet is a half-day adventure combining a jet boat ride up the remote Dart River with a guided wilderness walk through ancient beech forest. The Dart Valley, part of Mount Aspiring National Park, was used extensively as a Lord of the Rings filming location.