Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world! There are heaps of adrenaline-filled things to do, but also plenty of more chilled (and budget-friendly) options too. This guide covers all the best things to do in Queenstown: from chill to adventurous, from free to splurge-worthy.

Free & Budget-Friendly Things to do in Queenstown

Visit Arrowtown Market

This small town is just a 20 minute drive from Queenstown. It is an old Gold Mining Town that has over 60 preserved 19th-century buildings and miners’ cottages. On Sundays (From end of October – April) there is a cute market that is open from 10am to 2pm. If you don’t happen to be in the area on a Sunday though, Arrowtown is still worth visiting, it’s a very quaint town and the views on the drive up are lovely!

Hike Queenstown Hill

Queenstown hill is a 5km out-and-back hike that will take you around 2.5-3hours to complete (500m elevation gain). I would highly recommend it as it’s accessible from the town centre and the 360° views from up there are beautiful!

Hike Ben Lomond

Ben Lomond is a more challenging hike. Depending on your start point in town, it is a 11-14km out-and-back hike with a whopping 1400m elevation gain. It takes most people 6-8 hours to complete. If you don’t fancy hiking the whole thing, taking the Skyline Gondola from town to Bob’s Peak. By doing this, the total hike time drops to 4-5hours. Please note, during winter, this mountain is covered in ice so you need technical gear like crampons and ice-axes to complete.

Lakefront Stroll

Downtown Queenstown has a beautiful lakefront trail and there are plenty of cute cafes to stop and get a drink (or ice cream)! Yonder and Queenstown Cafe are great cafe options.

Visit an Ice Bar

This is a bit of a random one but we managed to find an amazing deal on bookme. You can come to Queenstown Premium Ice Bar and get entry and a cocktail/mocktail for around $20NZD (£9). It was my first time visiting an ice bar and it was a pretty cool experience.

Bowling

Another slightly random but great way to spend an afternoon in Queenstown is to go bowling. For some reason, bookme were selling sessions for $2 per person when we were there in March 2026 which is a crazy good deal!

Day trip to Glenorchy

Glenorchy is an hour away from Queenstown by car. Multiple Lord of the Rings scenes that were filmed here so definitely go if you’re a fan- they even offer Lord of the Rings Tours. Even if you’re not, there are many beautiful photo spots in the area so still worth visiting. Glenorchy can easily be done on a budget if you have your own car but if you would rather join a tour, I would recommend this very reasonably priced tour.

Bigger Splurges that are Worth Doing in Queenstown

Bungy Jumping

I think Queenstown is the best place to do this once in a lifetime experience as it is home to the first commercial bungy- Kawarau Bungy. But if you would rather go all out and experience a 134m drop, I would recommend the Nevis Bungy. This is the one I did and, although I was pretty terrified before taking the jump (look at my photos if you don’t believe me), I loved it so much that I went a second time and did the Nevis Swing too!

Gondola and Luge

This is an iconic thing to do in Queenstown- I really loved it because it was a combo of admiring some beautiful views and then having great fun racing my friends. If you book the Gondola and Luge as a package in advance online, it’s cheaper.

Steamship Cruise

A cruise on the TSS Earnslaw is the perfect thing to do in Queenstown if you want to have a chill afternoon but still do something unique. This is not your average cruise ship, it’s a 1912 coal-powered steamship that is still fully operational.

Milford Sound Day Trip or Scenic Flight

Milford sound is a must-do trip whilst in New Zealand. If you are going by car and have some time on your hands, I would recommend doing it as a 2-3 day trip but if you are more limited on time, make sure to do a tour: either a coach + boat tour or a flight + boat tour. For more information on this amazing place, check out my Te Anau to Milford Sound guide.

Shotover Jet

This fun activity is only 15 minutes outside of Queenstown. It’s probably the best thing to do in Queenstown for those of you wanting something fun and slightly adrenaline-filled but that’s not as terrifying as throwing yourself out of a plane or off a ledge.

How to get to and around Queenstown

If you are road tripping through New Zealand, you will most likely be coming here from East (Mount Cook or Lake Tekapo) or the West (Franz Josef via Wanaka). If you are wanting to hire a campervan, I would recommend Motorhome Republic. For car hires, I would recommend Airport Rentals. These platforms are great because they allow you to compare different companies to find the best car/campervan for you. If you aren’t sure whether to buy or rent your vehicle, make sure to check out my guide.

As for getting around Queenstown, the city centre is very walkable but you will be happy you have your own vehicle when it comes to going to places like Arrowtown and Glenorchy.

Where to stay in Queenstown

If you want to stay at a campsite, I would recommend staying at Hampshire Holiday Parks- Queenstown Lakeview. For those of you wanting a hotel, The Dairy Hotel Queenstown is my recommendation. Regardless of where you stay, it is really important you book well in advance of coming to Queenstown, especially if you are visiting in summer as many places sell out.

How long to stay in Queenstown

For Queenstown itself, 4 days is enough to wander the town, try a few cafés, go on a hike and do at least one adventurous activity. However, if you plan to do some larger trips e.g. to Milford Sound or Glenorchy, I would recommend to stay for at least 6-7 days so you don’t feel rushed.

FAQs

What is the best time to visit Queenstown?
Peak times to visit Queenstown are December-February for summer and July-September for ski-season. I have been in peak season and just after. In my opinion, March was the best time to visit as the weather was still great but there were fewer crowds!

Is Queenstown expensive?
It can be, especially for big-ticket activities like bungee jumping or Milford Sound tours. But there’s plenty to do for free or cheap too, like hiking Queenstown Hill, wandering Arrowtown, or the Ice Bar for around $20 NZD.

Do I need to book activities in advance?
Yes, especially in peak summer months (December-February) – bungee jumping, Milford Sound tours, and even accommodation can sell out well ahead of time.

Is bungee jumping in Queenstown worth it if I’m nervous?
I was genuinely terrified before my first jump but I loved it enough to go back and do the Nevis Swing too. If you’re on the fence, the Kawarau Bungy (the original commercial bungy site) is a slightly gentler introduction than the 134m Nevis drop.

Should I drive to Milford Sound myself or take a tour from Queenstown?
Driving yourself takes 4+ hours one way, so most people either join a coach/boat or flight/boat tour, or break the trip up by staying in Te Anau overnight. My Te Anau to Milford Sound guide covers this in more detail.

Is Queenstown walkable?
The town centre itself is very walkable, but you’ll want your own vehicle (or tours) to reach Arrowtown, Glenorchy, and some hiking trailheads.

Final Thoughts

There are so many things to do in Queenstown that no matter what your personal preferences are- whether its nature, adrenaline, good food – you will find something to do that you will genuinely enjoy. This place is so wonderful that my husband and I are seriously considering moving here!

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