Queenstown Attractions
Queenstown is an old gold-miners' settlement on the east side of Lake Wakatipu, unchallenged as the leading tourist center on the South Island. It is well supplied with hotels and other accommodations and offers a varied program of entertainment and leisure activities throughout the year. For the more energetic tourist there is a choice of activities, including bungee jumping, jet-boat trips, white-water rafting, paragliding and rock climbing.
Read More
Town Center
In the Queenstown Town Center is a pedestrian zone with shops and restaurants. Also in this area are a number of historic buildings and churches.
Activities
There is plenty of scope for pony trekking in the hills round Queenstown, and for rides to some of the large sheep farms or abandoned goldfields in the area. Other activities for the adventurous are tandem parachute jumps, paragliding and ballooning. A trip in a balloon is a marvelous way of seeing the beautiful country round Queenstown.
Kingston Flyer
A steam train, the Kingston Flyer, runs between Kingston, at the southeast end of Lake Wakatipu, and the little township of Fairlight.
Motor Museum
In the northwest of the town, near the lower station of the Skyline Gondola, is the Motor Museum (collection of vintage and veteran cars).
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 |
Underwater World
On the pier at the end of the Mall is Underwater World, where trout and eels are visible in the clear waters of the lake; they are fed here, but otherwise live freely in the lake. Beside the pier are marks showing the level to which the lake rose in the floods of 1878 and 1983.
Queenstown Surroundings
Bob's Peak
A cableway, the Skyline Gondola, runs up to the summit of Bob's Peak (446 m; 252), from which there is an overwhelming view. Immediately below is Queenstown; beyond this is Lake Wakatipu; and beyond this again, forming a striking backdrop, are the peaks of the Remarkables.
Read More
Lake Wakatipu
Surrounded by the mountainous landscape, the scenic Lake Wakatipu is an important tourist attraction in the area.
Remarkables
There are a number of tracks, of varying grades of difficulty, through the beautiful mountain landscape of the Remarkables, which rise to 2300m.
SS Earnslaw Cruises
Cruises on the SS Earnslaw, which first went into service in 1912, are very popular. Some of the cruises include visits to sheep farms that are accessible only by boat. (The ship is taken out of service in June for its annual overhaul.)
Shotover River
The Shotover River is a challenge to the adventurous visitor, with trips by jet boat in which the steersman has to battle against strong currents, and white-water rafting in kayaks or rubber dinghies. There are organized rafting trips lasting several days, with overnight accommodation in tents.
Skipper's Canyon
A trip through the 20km long Skipper's Canyon in a specially equipped bus is an exciting experience. Drivers who do the trip in a hired car are not covered by insurance.
The return trip can be by jet boat for part of the way.
Those interested in Bungy jumping can do a 104 m (340 ft) jump from an old gold-mining bridge over Skipper's Canyon.
The return trip can be by jet boat for part of the way.
Those interested in Bungy jumping can do a 104 m (340 ft) jump from an old gold-mining bridge over Skipper's Canyon.
Coronet Peak
Queenstown is the most popular winter-sports center in New Zealand, the season lasting from June to September or October. Coronet Peak (1650m), 15km north of the town, has excellent skiing facilities.
Greenston-Caples Track
This walk, a circuit which takes about four days, runs through the valleys of the Greenstone and Caples Rivers, which both flow into Lake Wakatipu. The best starting-point is Elfin Bay, on the west side of Lake Wakatipu.
More New Zealand Resources
- Queenstown tours & things to do by Viator
