Looking for Bucket List things to do in Queenstown? Here’s the ultimate list:
Looking up “things to do in Queenstown” brings up hundreds of options—thrill rides, nature walks, wineries, scenic flights… it’s exciting and overwhelming. Where do you even start?
When Bill and I spent several months exploring New Zealand, Queenstown quickly became one of our favorite stops. Whether you’re here for heart-pounding adventures or laid-back lakeside strolls, we’ve narrowed down the very best experiences to make your trip unforgettable.
If you’re a traveler who wants the ultimate blend of nature, food, fun, and once-in-a-lifetime thrills (without spending days planning it all), this list is for you. We’ve done the legwork—now you just need to decide what to try first.
Let’s dive into the top things to do in Queenstown and start filling your New Zealand bucket list! The Table of Contents can help you jump to the specific things you’re interested in, or just read all the way through to capture some new ideas!
Come follow along as we explore!
No Rental Car? No worries. There are plenty of tours you can book that leave right from Queenstown!
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Bucket List Things to Do in Queenstown
Known as the Adrenaline Capital of the World, Queenstown is packed with tons of heart-pounding activities. See how many Bucket List experiences you can check off in this stunning destination!
#1 – Take a Shotover River Extreme Jetboat Ride
Take an exhilarating ride over the rapids as your jetboat cruises through the narrow canyon on the Shotover River, swerving and maneuvering around tight corners. Your heart will be pumping for sure! Transportation from Queenstown is provided.
This is one of the most popular jetboat rides, and it’s also one of the shorter ones at 30 minutes, making it easy to fit in with other activities during your action-packed days in Queenstown.
#2 – Go on a Small-Group Zipline Adventure
Imagine soaring through the air over the gorgeous Queenstown mountain and Lake Wakatipu landscape. There are three different zip line courses to choose from with different levels of intensity and skill levels.
This tour starts at the peak at the top of the Skyline Gondola, right above the heart of Queenstown. Guides and safety equipment are provided.
#3 – Jump out of a plane with NZone Skydive Queenstown
Have you always dreamed about free-falling through the air, at up to 124 miles per hour? That will get your adrenaline going! Then once your parachute deploys, you can gently float down while taking in all the scenic views.
With 3 different elevations to choose from, this is a tandem skydive and your guide will keep you safe. My cousins did this adventure and they loved it!! Photo credits: Diane Sewall
#4 – Try your hand at Shotover River White Water Rafting
Have you always wanted to try white water rafting? Here’s your chance to do it on the upper portion of the Shotover River.
This half day excursion takes you up to Skipper’s Canyon where you’ll don a wetsuit and other safety equipment before you spend up to 2 hours navigating the challenging rapids of the river.
A hot shower and a return to Queenstown is the perfect end to your adventure.
#5 – Jump off a cliff with Queenstown Tandem Paragliding
If gliding and drifting over the beautiful scenic countryside is more your style than zip-lining or sky-diving, then this is the option for you!
Transfer from Queenstown up to Coronet Peak for a safety briefing and gear fitting. Your guide will fly tandem with you as you float back down into the valley.
I will definitely be doing this activity next time I come back to Queenstown!
#6 – Go Skiing and Snowboarding
People come from all over the world to ski in New Zealand. The mountain ranges offer 4 different ski fields in or near Queenstown to experience amazing skiing and snowboarding in the winter months between June and October.
Some of the ski fields, such as Coronet Peak and Cardrona, also offer mountain biking and alpine disc golf in the summer months of December – March.
#7 – Bungy Jump off a Bridge
This is the ultimate adrenaline rush for thrill seekers in my opinion. They say that Queenstown is where bungy jumping was invented.
There are many bungy jumping options in town, but AJ Hackett is the original and most popular, offering jumping at the Kawarau Suspension Bridge in Gibbston Valley.
AJ Hackett also offers options for Swinging, Catapulting, and Zip Riding, in case you need more thrills.
#8 – Spend a Half Day Canyoning
Here’s your chance to combine ziplining, rappelling and swimming through a narrow slot canyon, just 10 minutes away from Queenstown. This high-energy guided activity for active and fit travelers includes a wet suit and all equipment that is needed for a thrilling, but safe activity.
Don’t have much time in New Zealand? Base yourself here. There are SO many things to do in Queenstown, plus day trips to Glenorchy, Arrowtown, Wanaka and Milford Sound. You can easily fill up a week or two here!
Awesome Food and Drink Activities in Queenstown
#9 – Eat a Fergburger!
The most popular place to eat in all of Queenstown is at Fergburger, a friendly burger joint, right in the middle of downtown. There is ALWAYS a line out the door to get a taste of this iconic burger.
Is it worth all the hype? Taste it and let me know. Located at 42 Shotover Street, the hours are from 8:00 AM to 4:30 AM (yep, they really are open for 20+ hours per day!)
Kari’s Tip: Save (a lot) of time in line by calling in your order at +64 03 441 1232. Then when it’s ready, you can just pick it up and go! Menu available at https://fergburger.com/
#10 – Take the Queenstown Wine Sampler Tour
This expert-guided tour lets you experience both the amazing scenery of New Zealand along with samples of the wonderful wines grown in the Gibbston Valley at four different wineries. This guided luxury van tour also explores NZ’s largest underground wine cave.
Here are some other options for wine tours in the Gibbston Valley:
- Classic Wine Tour: 3 Vineyards, Caves and Cheeseboard – Note, this company offers different tours on different days. Pay close attention to get the tour you want. But don’t worry, they all involve wine! 😉
- Gourmet Food, Wine and Cheese Tour
- 5-Hour Wine and Food Sampler Tour
#11 – Cruise on the TSS Earnslaw with BBQ Lunch
Enjoy a cruise around beautiful Lake Wakatipu on a vintage steamship called the TSS Earnslaw. Stop at The Colonel’s Homestead for a delicious BBQ meal (the reviews literally RAVE about how amazing the food is!)
After the meal, wander the beautiful gardens by the lake or watch a demonstration of sheep shearing before returning on the boat back to Queenstown.
#12 – Join the Queenstown Gin, Beer and Wine Tasting Tour
Enjoy an educational experience and tasting of locally produced gin, beer and wine from three different distilleries in central New Zealand. Along the way, see stunning mountain vistas, beautiful gorges and scenic vistas. Nice to leave the driving to someone else!
Other Popular Things to Do in Queenstown
#13 – Take a Glacier Explorer Flight
Fly over the dazzling scenery in the glacier capped mountains surrounding this part of New Zealand. See the sparkling beauty of Mount Aspiring National Park and many hidden glacial lakes and canyons.
This 50 minute flight includes a landing on top of a glacier to take amazing photos. This is definitely a splurge worth checking off your bucket list!
#14 – Go to Mt Cook & Hike Hooker Valley
Here’s an awesome way to see a whole lot of central New Zealand in this full-day, small group tour. Pass by the most amazing scenery and photo ops on your way to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park where you can hike the 3 hour Hooker Valley Track.
The popular HV Track is on many people’s Bucket List so here’s your chance to do it! The tour also includes stops at quaint mountain villages, salmon farms and orchards so you can sample the local produce and cuisine.
#15 – Ride to Riches: Arrowtown-Queenstown e-Bike Tour
Cycle the area from Arrowtown to Queenstown by electric bike at your own pace on this self-guided tour. Includes e-bike rental, helmet, maps, shuttles to starting and pick up spots, and everything else you need.
Explore the beautiful trails, passing by bridges, cute small towns, yummy cafes and restaurants, gorgeous mountains and sweet alpine lakes such as Hayes Lake.
#16 – Check out the Lord of the Rings Scenic Half Day Tour
Did you know that many parts of the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed in the Southern Alps of New Zealand? This half-day tour takes fans to several locations where the movies were filmed around Queenstown, Glenorchy and Paradise Valley.
Morning and afternoon options are available and a snack is included!
#17 – Take the Gondola up to the Skyline
To get spectacular views of Queenstown and the surrounding mountains, you can take the Skyline Gondola up to Bob’s Peak.
Once you arrive at the top, there are so many things to do. Take pictures of the amazing views, ride a Luge, or bungy jump off the Ledge. There are several restaurant and shopping options as well.
Book online before you go to see all the different packages that are available, plus you’ll save time by not waiting in line for tickets.
#18 – Go on a Queenstown Segway Tour
See a ton of Queenstown in a short amount of time with this one or two hour guided Segway Tour.
Learn all kinds of fun things about the area as you drive along Lake Wakatipu, passing through the downtown and waterfront area and out towards the Frankton end of the lake. Tons of scenic overlooks and photo opportunities in this beautiful area.
#19 – Visit the wildlife at Kiwi Park
Located right in the heart of Queenstown, this wildlife sanctuary allows you to get up close and personal with some of New Zealand’s native bird species, including the nocturnal Kiwi bird which is very difficult to find (believe me, I tried!).
Featuring Kiwi Encounters and educational presentations throughout the day.
FREE Things to Do in Queenstown
#20 – Hike the Trails
New Zealand is renowned for it’s amazing hiking. During our time in Queenstown, we hiked many different scenic trails. Through the woods, along the water, through the wetlands and more.
And around every corner, there is another breathtaking scene.
Most of the hikes we did fall into the Easy category. But there are tons of options if you want a more moderate or challenging hike.
#21 – Explore the surrounding areas by car
Several days, we set off exploring in our rental car. North, south, east or west, I usually had a list of places I wanted to see in that direction, but if we saw a road that looked interesting, we followed it.
See #27 – 30 below for specific day trips from Queenstown.
#22 – Watch the adrenaline seekers get their thrills
We didn’t partake in all of the high-speed activities available in Queenstown, but we had a lot of fun watching many of them. In just one day, we saw:
- the Jetboat riders shooting the rapids on the Shotover River (#1)
- people racing down Coronet Peak on mountain bikes at crazy-fast speeds (after they rode up the chairlift with their bikes mounted) (#6)
- paragliders jumping off a cliff and taking flight (#5)
- bungy jumpers plunging off the Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge (#7)
Watching is free to do and we enjoyed hearing all the whoops and hollers as people experienced these fun activities.
#23 – Watch the sunset over Lake Wakatipu
Watching the sun set over the lake and mountains is the perfect thing to do after a busy day of exploring. Then get some rest before tomorrow comes!
#24 – Hang out at the Waterfront
There is always something happening down by the water in Queenstown – live music from street performers (look for the guy with the piano!), great people watching and enjoying the views of Lake Wakatipu.
During the warmer months (October to April), there is a market there on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You can shop local artists and small businesses from the area to see what they are offering.
#25 – Visit the Queenstown Gardens
The botanical gardens in Queenstown feature lovely paved walking trails, beautiful flowers and trees, and a variety of activities for all ages. There are benches to enjoy the lake views, playgrounds, disc (Frisbee) golf, lawn bowling and tennis courts. Head to the Queenstown Bay Beach to enter the Gardens and enjoy!
#26 – Take a walk
There are tons of walks starting right from the downtown area. Check out the Wharf Walk, the Harbour View Walk, Lake Esplanade, or the Queenstown Trail along Lake Wakatipu.
Learn more about the most popular hikes in Queenstown, rated Easy, Moderate and Challenging.
Day Trips from Queenstown
Queenstown is great in and of itself, but it’s also surrounded by nearby towns that offer their own brand of awesome. Here are a few short day trips you could take while staying in Queenstown:
#27 – Glenorchy
A beautiful drive that takes about 45 minutes, IF you don’t stop anywhere. But there are so many scenic stops and overlooks to visit as you travel along the shoreline of Lake Wakatipu.
I’d plan on at least an hour and a half to get there, more if you decide to hike at any of the stops.
In my opinion, some of the best places to stop include Sunshine Bay, Wilson’s Bay, and Bennett’s Bluff Overlook.
After we got to Glenorchy and stopped at the iconic red barn for a photo, we ventured farther north to the end of the Routeburn Track and Paradise Valley.
We only hiked a small bit of the Routeburn, but we really enjoyed talking to the hikers who were completing the 3-day track. We cheered them on as they crossed the bridge at the finish line!
Back in town, we also hiked the Glenorchy Lagoon Scenic Walkway – a boardwalk that travels through various terrains with beautiful mountains on all sides.
If you don’t have a car for your Queenstown stay, you still can visit this gorgeous area. Here are some tours offered right from Queenstown:
- Lord of the Rings Scenic Half Day Tour from Queenstown – visit several of the sites where the movies were shot
- Glenorchy & Paradise Half-Day Scenic Tour – Let someone else do the driving so you can focus on all the amazing and beautiful scenery between Queenstown and Glenorchy.
This guided half-day tour makes several scenic stops, including the village of Glenorchy, before heading up to explore Paradise Valley.
For sure, the next time we go to New Zealand, we plan to spend a week or more in this unbelievably gorgeous area near Glenorchy!
#28 – Arrowtown
Only 20-25 minutes away from Queenstown, this quaint historic gold-mining town has cute shops and restaurants and a beautiful park along the river.
And there are at least 15 different hiking and biking trails – pick up a map at the Lakes District Museum on Buckingham Street. You can even pan for gold here or visit several other historic sites.
We spent several hours in Arrowtown, hiking along the river and just wandering around the streets and galleries of this beautiful town.
Next time we come back to the area, we plan to stay in Arrowtown instead of Queenstown.
#29 – Wanaka
Beautiful Wanaka is a 75 minute drive northeast of Queenstown. You can go either over the Crown Range Road or through the Kawarau Gorge and Cromwell. Both are beautiful scenic drives.
Nestled on the shores of Lake Wanaka, the town offers great dining and shopping. Along the lakefront, you can swim, boat, go jetskiing or paddleboard, birdwatch and take in the views.
There are tons of hikes available in the area, including Roys’ Peak which has been described as “lung and leg busting”. (We did not attempt that one!)
The one thing you MUST do before leaving Wanaka is take a picture of #ThatWanakaTree. It’s the iconic shot for this area and you can find the tree growing out in the lake, to the left of the downtown area. It’s a 3 minute drive or a 20 minute walk from downtown Wanaka.
#30 – Milford Sound
A cruise on Milford Sound in Fjordland National Park is very high on many people’s Bucket Lists and most tourists prioritize seeing it when they are in New Zealand.
Doing it as a day trip from Queenstown is a very popular option. You can:
- Drive yourself – it’s about 5 hours each way, but you can stop whenever you want at the many scenic stops.
Book your cruise first (this is the one we did) – and then leave early enough so you get there in time.
It’s a very long day, but the drive is one of the most gorgeous that New Zealand has to offer.
- Take a Bus Tour from Queenstown – Let someone else do the driving while you sit back and enjoy the ride.
Several scenic photo op stops are provided along the way.
- This full-day (12 hour) coach bus tour also includes lunch and the Milford Sound Cruise.
Or this tour is with a smaller group in a luxury van, but does not include lunch.
- Fly from Queenstown – Save a LOT of time (but pay quite a bit more) when you fly to and from Milford Sound in a small plane with an experienced pilot.
Soar over beautiful mountain vistas, experience a two hour cruise in the Sound, and then fly back. No matter which way you look, it will be stunning!
Total trip, about 4-5 hours.
Conclusion: Is Queenstown Worth Visiting?
Absolutely 100%! I’d even go as far to say, if you only had time to go one place in New Zealand, Queenstown is where I would spend my time. Plenty to do, plenty to see, plenty to experience, all in a nice compact geographical region.
Next time we come back, I look forward to exploring the Glenorchy area more thoroughly, and some of the areas south of Queenstown. I want to try paragliding, hang out in the waterfront area by the lake, and do some more hiking.
FAQs about Queenstown
Do you need a car to explore Queenstown?
Having a car is a great idea if you are touring more of the South Island like we did, or if you decide to stay outside of the Central Business District (CBD) in Queenstown.
But you not NEED to have a car if you stay right in the CBD. All of the tours and excursions leave from this area, and there are tons of restaurants and bars and coffee shops. Queenstown is a very walkable city so you’re able to see and do a lot of things without having a car.
How many days should I spend in Queenstown?
Once you get there, stay as long as you possibly can! There is SO MUCH to see and do that I would recommend 7 full days. But if Queenstown is just one stop on a longer trip, then I’d say 3-4 days minimum.
What’s the best time of year to go to Queenstown?
I don’t honestly think there is a bad time of year to visit Queenstown. It just depends what you hope to see and do while there. Remember that their seasons are opposite our seasons in the US because they are in the Southern Hemisphere.
So their Summer is December – February. This is also when the school kids are out their summer holiday break, lasting about a month around the holidays.
Many Kiwis use this time to travel with their families so lodging and rental cars are in high demand. Book WAAAY ahead if you plan to visit during the New Zealand summer.
But the temperatures are warm and the weather mostly beautiful during this time of year. We were there in January – February and we wore shorts and t-shirts almost every day.
Winter (June – August) is prime ski season so if you want to experience that, it’s the perfect time to come to Queenstown. But know that some of the roads and passes over the mountain may be closed due to the snow.
Fall (March – May) is when the harvest happens at the wineries so there are lots of activities around that if you are a wine lover. It’s also a shoulder season so there should be more availability for cars and lodging.
And Spring (September – November) is also a quieter time of year for visitors. My cousins went in November and had good weather, but they were also wearing long pants and jackets most of the time, due to the cooler temps.
More New Zealand Posts
Here are some more posts about New Zealand, including some that I’m still working on. If you’d like to receive emails when I’ve posted new content to the site, please complete the short form above.
- New Zealand Overview – Facts & Travel Tips You Need to Know – the currency, time zone, driving, language, drinking water and more
- Why the South Island was Perfect for our New Zealand Road Trip
- Safe Driving In New Zealand – 10 Things You Need to Know
- Lots more posts coming soon!
Queenstown
- 20 Most Popular Day Hikes in Queenstown, New Zealand
- 30 Popular Things to Do in Queenstown, New Zealand
- More coming soon!
Kaikoura
- Ultimate Guide: 25 Things to Do in Kaikoura, NZ (2025)
- Tips for Exploring the Kaikoura Peninsula & Walkway
- Coming Soon: Experiencing the Albatross Encounter
Lake Tekapo
- Lake Tekapo Stargazing – Where to Stay to See the Stars for FREE
- More Coming Soon!
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