Things to do in Queenstown
The unmissables
Most booked
Milford Sound & Fiordland: Small Group Cruise from Queenstown★ 4.93 (3,664) · 13h
Top rated
Milford Sound: Premium Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown★ 4.90 (2,647) · 13h
Best value
Queenstown: Shotover River Jet Boat Ride & Canyon Thrills★ 4.84 (2,856) · 25m
Recommended (7)
Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly from Queenstown: Scenic Flight & Fiord★ 4.94 (2,196) · 4h 30mNZ$ 795View ›
Queenstown: Lake Wakatipu 90-Minute Scenic Cruise & Remarkables★ 4.76 (1,570) · 1h 30mNZ$ 79View ›
Lord of the Rings tour Queenstown: Film locations with costumes★ 4.94 (1,486) · 4h 30mNZ$ 199View ›
Queenstown: Tandem Skydive & Wakatipu Basin Views★ 4.71 (1,474) · 3h 30mNZ$ 359View ›
Lake Wakatipu Cruise & Walter Peak Farm: Gourmet BBQ Lunch★ 4.77 (1,374) · 3h 30mNZ$ 169View ›
Queenstown Segway Tour: Lake Wakatipu & Gardens★ 4.94 (1,287) · 2hNZ$ 99View ›
Queenstown: Zipline Adventure Tour & Skyline Gondola Views★ 4.85 (1,018) · 2hNZ$ 119View ›Top rated (10)
Queenstown Off-Road Buggy Self-Drive Creek CrossingsA self-drive buggy experience near Queenstown puts you behind the wheel of a capable off-road vehicle on real terrain — steep climbs, creek crossings, forest tracks — with a professional guide leading the route and stopping at lookout points over Lake Wakatipu. Training and all safety gear are included, plus return transfers from central Queenstown and complimentary photos taken at the viewpoints.Is it for me?You drive the whole experience yourself, which is what makes this different from a guided tour where someone else handles the wheel — it suits anyone who wants hands-on control of the buggy and the confidence that comes with steering through real terrain while a professional guide navigates the route and calls out the line. The guide stays with you and training is built in, so first-time off-road drivers book this as often as experienced ones do.
Lake Dunstan Cycleway: E-Bike Rental & Return ShuttleYou’ll cycle lakeside cliffs from Cromwell to Clyde on an e-bike, pausing for wine at Carrick Winery or coffee afloat on Lake Dunstan. With info boards along the way and a friendly local shuttle back (plus all your gear sorted), you’ll finish tired but grinning — it’s that kind of day.
Lake Dunstan Bike Hire & Boat: 42km Ride & Return CruiseYou cycle 42km from Cromwell to Clyde on a trail carved into the rockface, with e-bike assistance available to keep your group together. After reaching Clyde, a shuttle takes you to the Dunstan Explorer boat, which returns you to Cromwell along the same route you just rode, showing you sections of the trail invisible from the water. The day includes all bike gear, a safety briefing, shuttles, and the boat return — you just show up and ride at your own pace.Is it for me?Right for groups or families who want a full-day adventure without navigating logistics themselves — the shuttle timing, boat coordination, and bike setup are all arranged, leaving you to focus on the ride and the view. The e-bike option makes it accessible to mixed fitness levels, which is why it works for ages 15 to nearly 80.
Wine Tours Arrowtown: Flexible Winery Shuttle & TastingsYou board at noon from central Queenstown and spend the afternoon moving between wineries in Arrowtown and Gibbston Valley at your own pace, with a local guide offering suggestions and tasting tips. Tastings and food are your choice and your cost at each stop. The shuttle returns you by 6pm, or drops you at a dinner reservation if you're staying out.Is it for me?Right for wine drinkers or curious explorers who want to taste through Central Otago without being herded through a fixed schedule. Expect a relaxed afternoon moving between a few wineries at your own pace — that flexibility is exactly what makes it feel less like a tour and more like a local's afternoon out.
Queenstown: Lord of the Rings Film Locations & PropsYou visit five Lord of the Rings filming locations across Queenstown's valleys, dress up in authentic props, see original scripts and production call sheets, and stop for tea in Arrowtown — all in a half day without arranging transport or timing the stops yourself. The guide's knowledge of the production makes the difference between standing in a pretty valley and understanding why it was chosen.Is it for me?Right for Lord of the Rings fans who want to see the actual filming locations without renting a car or planning the stops themselves — the guide's knowledge of the production and the authentic props make the difference between a scenic drive and understanding why each valley was chosen.
Queenstown: Grant Peak eBike Tour & Private Trail RideYou’ll ride premium eBikes up Grant Peak on Queenstown’s only private trail with a local guide—expect wild views over Wakatipu Basin, stories of gold miners and Maori legends along the way, plus photos and gear included. You’ll finish tired but happy—and maybe still thinking about those mountain winds days later.
Milford Sound Fly & Explore: Queenstown Scenic Flight & WalksYou fly from Queenstown over Lake Wakatipu and the Dart Valley, descend into Milford Sound, then walk three separate tracks—one flat and scenic, one with views from above, one to a hidden waterfall—with time for a café stop before flying back. The whole day runs roughly eight hours, and you skip the cruise-boat crowds entirely.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Milford Sound without the cruise-ship experience and prefer a smaller group—the flight gets you there from a perspective most visitors never see, and the walks keep you away from the main terminal crowds.
Queenstown: Kids Quad Bike Family Adventure & Parent RideYou’ll ride your own quad bike alongside your kids just outside Queenstown — no experience needed. With a friendly local guide setting the pace for young riders, expect laughter, muddy clothes, and real family memories. Safety gear, rain jackets if needed, transfers from town and complimentary photos are all included so you can focus on having fun together.
Milford Sound Scenic Flight from Queenstown & FiordlandYou're picked up from your Queenstown accommodation and flown across Mount Aspiring and into Fiordland National Park, with close views of Mitre Peak and Stirling Falls. Every seat has a window, the pilot provides commentary throughout, and you're back in town within about an hour of takeoff. All fees and taxes are included, so there's nothing extra to pay on the day.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Milford Sound's main highlights without committing to a full-day cruise or driving the Milford Road — the flight gets you there and back in under three hours total, which works if you're short on time or prefer not to spend hours on water.
Queenstown to Arrowtown: Bike & Wine Tour with ShuttleYou’ll ride easy trails from Arrowtown into the heart of Central Otago wine country, stopping at cellar doors like Rockburn and Kinross for tastings or lunch. With a local guide sharing stories and a return shuttle included, this bike & wine tour lets you soak up riverside scenery and vineyard warmth at your own pace. There’s something quietly joyful about ending your day among vines as the sun drops behind those hills.
Lowest price (10)
Queenstown: Lake Wakatipu Time Tripper Show & Underwater ObservatoryYou’ll start right under Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown for the Time Tripper show—a wild animated ride through 90 million years of history and legend. See ancient glaciers form before your eyes, hear stories from locals, then watch real fish and eels glide past in the Underwater Observatory. It’s quick but surprisingly moving—you might leave seeing Queenstown with new eyes.
Queenstown: Fear Factory Haunted House & Live ScaresYou walk through the old Lockhart Hotel's dark corridors following red lights while live actors create real scares around you. The 30-minute experience works best with friends, though solo runs are possible. If you chicken out, you join their list; if you make it through, you've got a story. It's located in Queenstown's CBD on Beach Street, so no transport hassle to get there.Is it for me?Book this if you want a genuine scare with friends or a solo challenge in Queenstown's CBD without needing transport or planning around opening hours; the 30-minute format fits into an evening and the live-action setup means no two runs feel quite the same.
Gibbston Valley Wines Winery Tour: Taste four wines in a cave, New ZealandGibbston Valley Wines winery tour in New Zealand is a 45-minute guided walk through Home Block vineyard, the winemaking facility and into the region's largest wine cave, where you taste four of the winery's handcrafted Pinot Noirs. The tour runs with a live English-speaking guide and is not open to visitors under 16; all areas are wheelchair accessible.Is it for me?Walk through the vineyard and winemaking facility to see how Pinot Noir is actually made, then taste four wines in the cave where they're kept—context transforms everything.
Queenstown Airport Transfer: Private Door-to-Door ServiceYou get picked up at the airport by a named driver within 30 minutes of landing, travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with Wi-Fi and phone chargers, and arrive at your door without arranging transport or worrying about luggage space. Child seats and pram accommodation are available on request, and the driver shares local tips along the way. The booking is confirmed in advance with your mobile number, so you know exactly who is meeting you before you land.Is it for me?Book this if you're landing with luggage, traveling with children, or simply want to avoid the taxi queue and know exactly who is picking you up — the pre-booking and fixed route mean you can step straight from the airport into a car without arranging anything else.
Go-Kart Racing in Cromwell: 650m Track Near QueenstownHighlands Motorsport Go-Karts is an outdoor go-kart racing activity in Cromwell, Central Otago, where you drive a German-built Rimo kart around a 650-metre track edged with tyres and concrete features. The track sits 45 minutes from Queenstown Airport, and you can race solo or bring friends and family to compete. Helmets and safety gear are provided; drivers must be at least 10 years old and 140 cm tall, while tandem passengers can be younger if they meet the 120 cm height requirement.Is it for me?Book this if you're coming as a group or family and want everyone racing at once—the two-seater karts let younger kids or non-drivers ride along, and the track is built for head-to-head competition rather than a solo time trial. Solo racers work just as well; the single-seater option is there if you want to chase your own fastest lap without company.
Kiwi Park Queenstown: Kiwi Encounters & Conservation ShowYou choose a Kiwi Encounter time slot (eight options daily, Oct–April; seven in winter), watch the birds with a guide, then catch the Conservation Show on the same ticket. The audio guide covers the rest of the park's 20 native species. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early, and book ahead if you're visiting in peak season—the Kiwi House caps at 80 people per session.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see a kiwi without a multi-day wilderness trek—the scheduled sessions and included guide mean you get close to the birds and understand what you're looking at, all within a couple of hours in central Queenstown.
Queenstown: Omni VR Multiplayer Gaming with Motion ShoesYou put on motion-tracked shoes and a VR headset, then run through fully immersive gaming scenarios — zombie apocalypse, tactical missions, haunted environments — either solo or with friends using in-headset voice chat. All equipment is provided, and the experience works for anyone between 1.4 and 1.95 meters tall. Sessions run at Queenstown's first Omni VR station, accessible by public transport.Is it for me?Right for groups or friends who want a genuinely physical gaming experience that feels different from screen-based VR — the motion shoes are what make running inside the game actually work, which changes how immersive it feels.
Queenstown Airport to City Center: Private Transfer & WiFiYou get picked up at arrivals with a personalized sign, driven directly to your hotel or address in a private air-conditioned vehicle, and dropped off without extra stops. The 30-40 minute journey includes free WiFi and bottled water, and the driver waits for your luggage and knows the route. Child seats are available on request, and the return transfer from your hotel to the airport works the same way — fixed price, no negotiation, no surprises.Is it for me?Book this if you land in Queenstown with luggage and want to reach your hotel without arranging a taxi, negotiating a price, or waiting in a queue — the driver meets you at arrivals, handles your bags, and takes you directly to your door.
Glenorchy tour from Queenstown: Lake views and local storiesThis 4-hour guided tour departs central Queenstown and travels to Glenorchy in a small luxury vehicle with a local guide who shares Māori history and mythology through storytelling. The route includes photo stops on the journey, then two hours of free time in Glenorchy to walk the lagoon, visit the Red Shed (a restored historic building linked to the old Lake Wakatipu steamers), browse Mrs Wolly's General Store, or sit in a café. The tour returns to Queenstown by the same route. Air-conditioned vehicle, professional guide commentary and all fees are included; lunch and beverages are not.Is it for me?Choose this if you want a local guide's storytelling during the drive to Glenorchy, then free time to explore the town on your own rather than follow a structured itinerary.
Queenstown: Hop-On Hop-Off Wine & Beer Tour, 45-Min LoopsYou board a small-group bus (max 8 people) with a map and a choice of 20+ wine, beer, and food stops across Queenstown and Gibbston Valley. Hop off and on as you like—buses run every 45 minutes—so you can spend hours at a winery cave, take a bungy break, or grab lunch without planning the whole day in advance. Half-day and full-day tickets let you customize your own itinerary, and the driver handles the route while you skip the rental car and designated-driver logistics.Is it for me?This works well if you want to taste wine and beer across Central Otago without renting a car or arranging a designated driver—the flexible schedule and small group size mean you're not locked into a guide's pace or a fixed route.
