Heading to Queenstown? Make sure you’ve got these 13 Must-Do’s on your list. From iconic walks to ubiquitous bungy jumps, these are the things to see and do in and around Queenstown that you won’t want to miss.
1. Queenstown to Glenorchy drive
This has got to be a frontrunner for the most scenic drive in New Zealand. Forty-five minutes of emerald lake water and bush-clad hills against a backdrop of snow-touched mountains. It’ll probably take a lot longer than 45, actually, because you’ll be wanting to stop every five minutes, have a look around and pinch yourself that it’s real. The landscapes may look strangely familiar. This is major Lord of the Rings territory, with scenes from all three movies shot in and around Glenorchy. Epic scenes of beech forest marching down the hillsides, set against towering, majestic mountains. The Dart River offers great hiking and primo jet boating, as does Lake Wakatipu itself, of course.
2. Glenorchy Walking Trails
Glenorchy is also the launchpad for some of New Zealand’s best multi-day tramps and Great Walks. The famous 32-kilometre Routeburn Track and the 61-kilometre Greenstone Caples Track both start here. But you don’t have to be an intrepid tramper to enjoy the world-class wilderness of the area. For those short on time or endurance, there is also a plethora of short strolls and day walks to enjoy. You’ll want to get out and walk here. Towering beech forest is dwarfed by even higher mountain ranges and blue lakes, braided rivers and tumbling waterfalls abound. Get a taste of the Routeburn Track on the Routeburn Falls Hut day walk, learn about the region’s gold mining history on the Invincible Mine track, take an easy loop around the Glenorchy Lagoon or stroll through native beech forest to the shores of Lake Sylvan. In Glenorchy, you’re spoilt for choice.
3. Routeburn Track
As one of the country’s most famous Great Walks, you’ll need to plan ahead and book this one well before peak season. There are four huts along the track: Routeburn Flats Hut, Routeburn Falls Hut, Mackenzie Hut and Howden Hut and there is an emergency shelter at Harris Saddle. Will you need it? Not if you’re sensible. But it’s a three- to four-day walk that straddles two national parks: Mount Aspiring and Fiordland. You’re in an unpredictable world that can change in minutes. Stick to the (pretty easily negotiable) track and you’ll have a stunning time. You’ll also need to organise your transport, because once you’ve walked in, whether from the Glenorchy end or The Divide egress, you’ll not be walking back. There is a massive variety of landscapes on this unprecedentedly stunning trek: unparalleled views, surrounded by alpine splendour or looking back where you’ve been at turquoise tarns be-stilled beneath the tussock and barren vegetation. Most breathtaking are the views from the Harris Saddle and the top of Conical Hill, where you can see even waves breaking on the West Coast.
4. Bungy Jump
In 1988, Kiwi AJ Hackett and his cohort Henry van Asch launched the world’s first commercially operated bungy jumping site above Queenstown’s Kawarau River. More than three decades on and it’s still going strong: if you’ve never taken the leap, this is a good place to begin. If you need to rope in a friend for support, you can tandem here, too – although, as they’ll tell you with glee, ‘sharing the thrill doesn’t halve the fear’. True, though, this is about challenging yourself. Suspended 134m above the canyon floor – you’re freed of all earthly burdens and sent hurtling to the bottom of the valley. No doubt you’ll be straight back up, asking if you can go again. This is a thrill that is kind of unmatchable. If you’re in Queenstown, you just gotta bungy.
5. Nevis Catapult
If you’ve already had a go at throwing yourself off bridges or ledges and swung through scenically spectacular gullies, you’ll definitely want to try being flung across an isolated valley by catapult. On the outskirts of Queenstown, reached by a bus ride along narrow gravel tracks that’s an adventure in itself, you’ll find Nevis Playground, home to the Nevis Swing, Australasia’s highest bungy and now, the new Nevis Catapult. On a system of cables and bungy cords, you’ll be catapulted 150 metres up, out and across the Nevis Valley, experiencing up to 3Gs of force as you reach speeds of almost 100 kilometres an hour in just 1.5 seconds. The rugged and remote landscape here is mesmerising, for spectators and adrenaline junkies alike – if you can manage to keep your eyes open.
6. Queenstown Hill Time Walk
The Queenstown Hill Time Walk is a rocky delight and when you summit, you’ll be surprised at the staggering views from above the tree line. The Remarkables, Cecil Peak, parts of Lake Wakatipu and the Kawarau River all slide into view. The Time Walk features a series of information panels that showcase the past, present and predicted future of this stunning part of the world, each explaining the different epochs on Lake Wakatipu. They include depictions from the first Māori settlements through the heady gold rush years to the more recent development of Queenstown into the adventure capital of the world. Representing all this, a reward near the top of the climb, is a huge ironwork sculpture called ‘The Dream Basket’, a link from past to present and into the future. The walk itself is a strenuous but doable 500m climb that you’ll be well glad you took the time to do.
7. TSS Earnslaw
The TSS Earnslaw is the last remaining coal-fired steamship in the Southern Hemisphere, launched the same year as the Titanic. Unlucky for some, perhaps, but the TSS Earnslaw is still powering people around the beautiful waters of Lake Wakatipu over 100 years on. Once a crucial method of ferrying people, sheep and provisions back to the isolated stations around the lake, she has been restored to her original condition, kauri timber decks and all. Pace the decks, pinot in hand, as you cruise one of the most beautiful waterways in the world. A lake cruise on this piece of history is a great way to relax after the rigours of all that adventure sporting.
8. Rob Roy Glacier Track
This track takes you into Mount Aspiring National Park via dense beech forest. Waterfalls tinkle, birds sing, then you’re above that tree line and into the alpine. The drive the start of the Rob Roy Glacier Track, the Raspberry Creek Car Park, is almost as adventurous as the walk to the top of the glacier. Sealed tarmac gives way to gravel gives way to rutted track then boom! You ford the river. Multiple times. If you’re in a two-door rental, you may want to reconsider. The hanging glaciers beneath Mt Rob Roy will leave your jaw hanging; waterfalls scythe down the cliffs, great chunks of mountain seem to frame every view... and persistent kea will attempt to steal anything not nailed down. It’s a popular track, for good reason: it’s negotiable, beautiful, accessible and awesome.
9. Shotover Moonlight Mountain Marathon
Challenge your fitness and your endurance by running off road at the Shotover Moonlight Mountain Marathon in Queenstown. Held each year in February, the race can be a full marathon at 42 kilometres, or your choice of shorter 30, 21, ten and five-kilometre courses, all held on the spectacular Ben Lomond High Country Station. Whichever length you choose, the race includes beautiful and diverse terrain.You’ll climb and descend through tussock lands, traverse mountain ridges, beech forest and creeks, scramble down a scree slope, up a ladder climb beside a waterfall and even through a tunnel on the valley floor. While the full course is an exceptionally challenging race, the Shotover Moonlight Mountain Marathon also uses the full palette of the Queenstown landscape. Even if you’re not running, you can come and enjoy the scenery on the edge of Moke Lake to watch the racers finish.
10. Arrowtown
Autumn is the best time of year to visit Arrowtown to catch it in all its golden glory. But rest assured it’s equally pretty in summer, too. Speaking, though, of gold, it was that alluring substance that was responsible for many of the settlements around here: gold rushes in the 1860s meant these wild, exotic locales were suddenly filled with hardy folk looking for that lode. The discovery of gold in the Arrow River in 1862 meant the settlement came alive. And while tourism has replaced the long-gone gold rush, Arrowtown remains splendid and alluring as a shimmering nugget. More than 60 of its original buildings are still standing proud. They’re cute, but majestic, too. The gold-era Chinese settlement is something else. Tiny huts, for what were effectively second-class citizens stand as an important contrast to the rest of the town. Make sure you stay in Arrowtown at least long enough to eat: it is spoiled for its size by seriously good eateries, from plush dining rooms to convivial pubs. All of them serving Central Otago pinot, of course.
11. Roys Peak
Possibly New Zealand’s biggest Instagram celebrity, Roys Peak in nearby Wānaka is instantly recognisable for its spectacular views. A popular but challenging day walk, tackling Roys Peak is via a 16-kilometre return track that should take you around six to seven hours. After a steep climb to the 1,578-metre summit you’ll be rewarded with magnificent vistas over Lake Wānaka, Mount Aspiring and the snowy tops of the Southern Alps, all synonymous with the region’s insta-friendly landscape. When you drink in the sights of auburn tussock, alpine meadows and the blue hues of Lake Wānaka gleaming in the summer sun, you’ll see why snapping a selfie here is so irresistible. Be aware though, the track runs through private farmland, so dogs are not allowed. And, as such a popular walk there is limited parking in peak summer.
12. Wānaka Waterfall Climb
While you're in Wānaka, why not scale a 450 metre-high waterfall and stay dry. You don’t need to be an expert to take on the world’s highest waterfall climb. At Wildwire Wanaka you’ll climb via ferrata – which literally means ‘iron path’ in Italian – alongside Wānaka’s Twin Falls to experience dizzying heights and remarkable views. Traverse a network of rungs, plank bridges and foot pegs as you climb the rocky gully; cross in front of the tumbling water on a one-centimetre-thick cable. You’ll be blown away by the mountain views, stretching across to Lake Wānaka as you climb higher. Stop for a picnic along the way at the hidden plunge pools. There are several climbing options to choose from – all of them safe and suitable for people with no climbing experience at all.
13. Lake Wānaka
There’s something about spending time next to a lake that’s good for your soul. In Wānaka, the lake is so picturesque you may never want to leave. New Zealand’s fourth largest lake at 192 square kilometres, Lake Wānaka is long, narrow and along with nearby Lake Hāwea, make great, scenic spots for water sports. There’s a variety of ways you can interact with the lake – it’s an aquatic playground for anglers, water-skiers, jet-skiers, jet-boaters, sailors, fizz-boaters, swimmers and windsurfers... and more. Picnic under weeping willows, take a photo of #thatwanakatree, ride or walk the flat and pretty Outlet Track along the lakefront. Or for something a little different, you can visit Mou Waho Island. There, you can have the unique and mind-twisting experience of swimming in a lake on an island on a lake. But whether you’re wharf jumping, walking or wading, lakes are the place to be in Wānaka.
Looking for more? Check out these other Kiwi Gems in and near Queenstown:
- Discover 10 Kiwi Gems in the Southern Lakes District that you've never heard of
- Zoom down the slopes at Cardrona Alpine Resort – in summer
- Take an off-road adventure to an abandoned gold-mining town
- Visit a lake on an island on a lake in Wānaka
- Find serenity at Bob's Cove
- Take a hot air balloon ride above Queenstown
- Walk or ride around Queenstown's Moke Lake
