Full-day Queenstown tour: Glenorchy, Arrowtown & Crown Terrace

Four landscapes tour: lake, gold mining town, mountain vistas. Explore diverse scenery in one day

A full-day sightseeing tour from Queenstown visits Glenorchy, Arrowtown, and Crown Terrace Lookout with a private guide and vehicle. You drive the shores of Lake Wakatipu past the Remarkables, walk the Glenorchy Boardwalk through wetlands, explore Arrowtown's heritage buildings and the Chinese Settlement, and stop at Crown Terrace for panoramic views across the Wakatipu Basin and Lake Hayes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Queenstown and Surroundings

• Drive along Lake Wakatipu shores
• Visit Glenorchy town and boardwalk
• Optional jet boating or horseback riding
• Explore Arrowtown gold rush village
• Visit Arrowtown Chinese Settlement
• Lunch at a cozy café in Arrowtown
• Browse boutiques for souvenirs
• Stop at Crown Terrace Lookout

The experience

Six hours of driving and walking covers three distinct stops, each one a different reason to leave Queenstown. The route follows Lake Wakatipu's northern shore to Glenorchy, a small settlement at the lake's head where the Remarkables and Humboldt Mountains rise directly from the water. A walk along the Glenorchy Boardwalk takes you through wetlands with mountain backdrops. The area is known for its use in film locations, though the tour itself focuses on the natural setting rather than movie history. The drive back south passes through Arrowtown, a gold rush village built in the 1860s beside the Arrow River, where 19th-century buildings line the main street and the Lakes District Museum documents the era when Chinese miners worked the riverbed.

Arrowtown sits in a valley and holds its own for a few hours. You can wander the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement to see how miners lived, browse the local shops, or walk to the Arrow River itself. The town has cafés for lunch (not included in the tour), and the quiet streets mean you move at your own pace rather than being herded through. Crown Terrace Lookout comes last, positioned on the Crown Range Road with sightlines across the Wakatipu Basin toward Lake Hayes and the Remarkables ridge. The lookout is a short stop (a place to stand and photograph rather than explore), but it reframes the landscape you've driven through all day.

Your guide is English-speaking and travels with you in a private vehicle. Bottled water and onboard WiFi come with the booking. Pickup is included, so you don't arrange transport to the starting point. The tour suits all fitness levels, though the Glenorchy Boardwalk is a casual walk and Arrowtown's streets are flat. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the day.
• bottled water.
• onboard WiFi.
• English-speaking guide.
• hotel or accommodation pickup.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 11:00

Book up to4h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 44 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Queenstown Shuttles & Private Tours

Is this one for you?Pickup is included, so you don't need a rental car or arrange your own transport from where you're staying in Queenstown. The six-hour loop works as a single day without requiring an early start or late return.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Glenorchy Boardwalk like to walk?

The Glenorchy Boardwalk is a leisurely walk through wetlands with mountain views. It is a gentle outing, not a hike, and takes you through serene surroundings at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu.

Can I pan for gold in Arrowtown?

Gold panning is available as an optional activity in Arrowtown at the Arrow River, though it is not part of the standard tour itinerary. You have time to arrange it on the day if you wish.

How much time do you spend in Arrowtown?

The itinerary includes a stop in Arrowtown long enough to explore the town's heritage buildings, visit the Chinese Settlement, and have lunch at a local café. The exact duration depends on your interests and pace.

What can I see from Crown Terrace Lookout?

Crown Terrace Lookout offers panoramic views across the Wakatipu Basin, including Lake Hayes and the Remarkables mountain range. It sits on the Crown Range Road and is a prime spot for photography of the landscape you've driven through during the day.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not included. Arrowtown has cozy cafés and restaurants where you can eat during the stop, and you have time to choose where and what you'd like.