What to do in Queenstown
Queenstown!
If you only had time to go to one place in New Zealand, this would be the place to go! This town embodies exactly what the South Island is known for – laid back vibes, beautiful mountainous landscapes, and adventure! It’s full of travelers from around the world – you’ll see a backpacker on every corner!
There’s so much to do and see while you’re in the area – (if this is your only stop in NZ I would definitely recommend to rent a car for a few days so you can see the surrounding area!)
Here’s some of my favourite things I did while I was there:
Lake Wakatipu
This is the lake that Queenstown is on- there’s tons of boat companies that can take you for a tour around the lake – super gorgeous as the mountains are right there!
If you’re not up for spending money on a tour, there’s lots of places to sit and relax along the lake! There’s benches and open grass areas where you can lay down and take in the beautiful view!
Gondola/Luge
If you want to get a panoramic view of the city from above, take the gondola up the mountain! At the top there’s a luge track where you can go for a ride and race your friends! (There’s a package deal if you take the gondola up where you can do the luge track for like $5 so why not?!) There’s some restaurants and ice cream shops at the top too!
Ben Lomond Summit
This hike was HANDS DOWN the best hike I’ve ever done!
If you took the gondola up the mountain, veer to the left and you’ll find a path that leads you to the Ben Lomond Summit. WARNING: it’s a long strenuous hike (~4-5 hours roundtrip) so bring snacks and drinks! The views along the whole path are absolutely breathtaking – and once you get past the final uphill stretch you’ll get a view like the one above!
Bungee Jumping/Canyon Swing
Queenstown is the home of bungee jumping – created by AJ Hackett ! If you’re going to do it anywhere, here’s the place to do it! If you’re super ballsy try the Nevis Bungee – it has an 8.5 second freefall! INSANE. It’s the highest bungee in New Zealand.
If you’re a little less crazy (like me) try the Shotover Canyon Swing! It’s the worlds highest cliff jump. It’s less intimidating than bungee, and there’s lots of fun ways you can choose to fall off the platform! I chose the classic ‘swing’ where they hang you and then ‘cut’ the rope and you fall! IT WAS INSANE!!
Milford Sound
About an hour outside of Queenstown is a place called Milford Sound. It’s an area that was carved by glaciers during the ice age which makes for breathtaking views of the fiords and waterfalls! The best ways to explore the area are by boat – there’s lots of tours you can do (kayaking, ferry, etc). I took a ferry tour through the waters and it was beautiful! Near the ferry port there’s a few icecream shops and convenience stores, I bought some snacks and sat on the benches for hours just staring at the amazing scenery!
Wanaka
If you’ve rented a car, I would definitely recommend to drive up to Wanaka! It’s less busy than Queenstown and just as beautiful! The lake itself is beautiful with lots of beaches – make sure you go see the famous Wanaka Tree! There’s lots of hikes to do around here including the popular Roy’s Peak Hike! If you’re not up for such a strenuous hike, there’s a smaller one called Mount Iron which gives you awesome views of the surrounding mountains and Lake Wanaka!
Skiing
I visited the South Island in the summer months, but if you’re in Queenstown in the winter months there’s tons of places to ski! There’s The Remarkables, Coronet, and Cardrona that are the best in the area! Check them out and let me know what they’re like!
Thanks for reading xx
Steens
