Why is Queenstown Such a Popular Destination?
Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s most popular tourism meccas and is indeed the country’s adventure capital. Many even go one step further to coin Queenstown as the world’s adventure capital. Queenstown is located in the lower portion of New Zealand’s South Island approximately 500km to the South West of Christchurch and is nestled amongst the dramatic Southern Alps and situated along the breathtakingly beautiful Lake Waikapu. Queenstown is therefore not usurpingly a great base for those seeking to lap up all the adventure activities New Zealand famously offers and also acts as a great place to stop and rejuvenate before heading further into New Zealand’s Southern Alps and also it’s spectacular Fiordland Region, home to Milford Sound.
Queenstown doesn’t just attract adrenaline junkies but also those who love wining and dining, relaxing amongst beautiful nature and of course those heading up to the ski resorts in winter and those who love biking, hiking and kayaking in summer. With Queenstown truly offering something that everyone will love it is not hard to see why it is so popular with Australians and those from around the world and alike!.
Travelling to Queenstown. What you need to know
Flights
Queenstown might just technically be a town of just 15,000 inhabitants but so big is its tourism industry that it commands an international airport with connections to most New Zealand cities and many regional centers and also direct flights from Australia Including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane serviced by Air New Zealand, Jetstar and Qantas. Expect the flight to take about 3.5 hours from Brisbane and about 3 hours from Sydney or Melbourne. Flying down from Auckland meanwhile takes just shy under two hours with either Air New Zealand or Jetstar. For flights from Australia generally expect slightly higher prices than flying into the much bigger Christchurch International Airport.
Accommodation
Queenstown offers a wide range of accommodation options to suit all tastes. Here there are numerous hostels and budget motels catering the budget traveler, holiday parks for those touring New Zealand by road. Plenty of the mid range and high end hotel chains are also present all up to the most luxurious of properties. Whilst prices tend to be higher than elsewhere in New Zealand, good specials can still be had when booking in advance or during off peak periods
Booking.comWeather
Queenstown is a beautiful place to visit at any time of year. Due to its inland location and setting amongst the Southern NZ Alps at around 300metres above sea level Queenstown experiences perhaps a more varied temperatures than much of the rest of NZ. Queenstown has a four season oceanic climate. During summer expect long, mild and albeit occasionally warm days with still relatively cool nights with average average highs ranging from 19 to 22 Celsius. During Spring and Autumn expect generally cool days with average maximums ranging form 12-18 degrees and minimums in the low single digits. Winter can be cold for southern hemisphere standards with maximums usually below 10 celsius and minimums slightly below zero. Snow is known to occasionally fall right down to the town from late Autumn to early Spring. With a moderate rainfall of around 750ml annually spread fairly evenly across the months it is not uncommon rain at anytime of the year although its rarely in high quantities.
The two peak seasons for Queenstown are Summer for those coming to engage in outdoor adventure activity which is best suited by the gloriously long mild days whilst Winter is also the other main time and attracts a distinctly different crowd heading for the ski resorts of the likes of Cardrona and The Remarkables. Spring and Autumn are also fine times to travel especially if wining and dining and relaxation is on the agenda and travelers will benefit for cheaper prices too. All up you won’t be disappointed any time you visit Queenstown but some months are more suitable for certain activities than others. We’d recommend keeping up to date with the New Zealand Met Service website for all the latest conditions, forecasts and warnings especially if engaging in any sort of adventurous activities
Costs
Queenstown is generally one of the pricier destinations in New Zealand but can still be enjoyed with a more limited budget if planned right. Expect to pay $30-$50 a night for communal budget lodgings such as hostels, $100-$150 for budget hotels and motels, $150-$200 for mid range hotels and anything north of $200 for luxury hotels.
When dining out expect to pay $15-$25 for a takeaway or meal at a casual dining restaurant and north of $25 for more upmarket and licensed restaurants. Drink prices at bars and restaurants can be pricey with pints often topping $15. To save money it may be worth shopping at the supermarket and dining in some nights and buying alcohol at the supermarket will also save considerable money.
Food and drinks are not just the only thing pricey in Queenstown but also the magnitude of adventure and other sightseeing activities that you can do. Obviously extreme sports in spectacular locations commands very high safety standards and operating costs so the high prices are understandable but will burn through your holiday budget quickly. Expect to pay $100-$300 for most adventure activities such as Bungy jumping, zipping, Jet boat rides, canyon swinging and helicopter flights and even more for skydiving. Even less adventurous activities such as wine tours can cost nearly $200. If you treat the cost of these experiences the right way, the rare experience of actually being able to do them ultimately becomes priceless however!
Our top Queenstown recommendations
Partake in Extreme Adventure Activities!
You name any sort of extreme adventure activity and there is a far chance that it can be done in Queenstown or the nearby region. Whether its Bungy Jumping, Canyon Swinging or ziplining over the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers or Jet boat riding along it or even off roading atv, helicopter flights and skydiving in the nearby region are just some of the many extreme activities you can do year round in Queenstown and surrounding region!
Hit up the Slopes of the Southern Alps
Queenstown is blessed to be nestled amidst the heart of New Zealand’s Southern Alps and during the winter season offers some of the best ski resorts and conditions in the southern hemisphere. 4 of the most popular ski resorts within easy reach are the Remarkables, Cadrona , Treble Cone and Cornet Peak. Although exact opening and closing dates can be subject to weather conditions, Queenstown’s ski season generally runs from mid June through to early October.
Explore the Gibbstown Valley and broader Otago Wine Region
Fancy a more relaxing afternoon in between all the adventure and thrill seeking of your Queenstown stay? Look no further than spending a day exploring Queenstown’s magnificent Gibbston Valley. Located only around 20 minutes from central Queenstown and at the heart of the Central Otago Wine Country this is a food and wine lovers paradise set amongst the specular scenery of the Southern Alps . Whilst the region is most noted for having many of New Zealand’s most prestigious and oldest wineries the region is also coming quickly abuzz with award winning restaurants, craft breweries and distillers and truly offers something everyone will love.
Visitors to the region are spoilt for choice with the ways to it explore it. Take your hire car or embark on a shuttle bus to visit the wineries at your leisure or head on a dedicated wine tour that will whisk you to some of the region’s best and back again. Another option is to cycle the Queenstown Trail which connects the Gibbstown Valley with Queenstown where there are even winery tours by bike – albeit drinking and cycling might be a questionable decision for some! Bike hire companies also offer a shuttle service to or from the region making it possible to cycle just one way of the journey if you want to enjoy more time exploring the region.
Enjoy the stunning shores of Lake Wakatipu and The Steamer Wharf
The Queenstown foreshore situated along the shores of Lake Wakatipu is one of the most iconic and most photographed places in Queenstown. Any trip to Queenstown wouldn’t be complete without daily walks to the foreshore and Steamer Wharf which is one of the liveliest (and most upmarket) areas of town. Here you’ll enjoy a thriving restaurant and bar scene and is a great place to be for sunset. The boat docks here are also the main hub for many of the water activities you can engage in over Lake Wakatipu and this is especially where you can get a number of jet boat tours from who almost seem to be competing for your business!.
On a fine day you can also not go wrong taking an extended walk around the shores of Lake Waikapu which will guarantee stunning vistas across the lake and of the Remarkables Mountain Range.
Take a day trip to Historic Arrowtown and beautiful Wanaka
If time permits it is absolutely worth taking a visit to the nearby town of Arrowtown. Located just 20 minutes to the east of Queenstown or less than a half hour drive here you’ll find a quint historic gold mining town dating back to 1862. Arrowtown is one of the most picturesque settlements in New Zealand and as living historic settlement it has many stories to tell and is a great place to learn all about the region’s gold mining history. Alternatively this town located at the banks of the Arrow River is a great place for a day trip form Queenstown and offers a great mymarid of cafes , restaurants and bars and a number of boutiques selling homeware, souvenirs, wool and designer clothing.
Located around an hours drive north of Queenstown or a 70km drive, the resort town of Wanaka is often touted as a quieter and more laid back alternative. We are of the firm belief though that neither should be forgone for the other and if Queenstown is your main base Wanaka is still a great place for a daytrip or if heading to Queenstown from the North a great place to drop by first! Located on the spectacular shores of Lake Wanaka and nestled amongst the towering Southern Alps, Wanaka is one of the most spectacular looking towns in New Zealand. Wanaka is also a great base for exploring Mt Aspiring National Park and Lake Hawea. Those heading to New Zealand for the ski season can also base themselves in the town for the likes of the Treble Cone Ski Area, Soho Basin, Snow Farm or the Cardrona Alpine Resort.
Take the Gondola up Queenstown Hill
One of the must things to do that can be done straight out of Queenstown is a visit to Queenstown Hill. Whilst it is possible to take the approximately 1 hour hike up the 907m hill most will opt to take the Skyline Gondola instead. The Gondola is the steepest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and will whisk you 450 meters to the summit in less than 10 minutes. Whilst at the top of Queenstown Hill you can soak up some of the most famous vistas of Queenstown overlooking the Southern Alps and Lake Wakatipu, indulge in the fine dining at the Stratosphere Restaurant or even go lugeing on the dedicated and thrilling raceway. The summit of Queenstown Hill is also a convenient starting point for some of the region’s most famous hikes such as the Ben Lomond Trail.
Take a Day trip out to Milford Sound or Mount Cook NP
If your trip around New Zealand isn’t otherwise visiting Milford Sound or Mount Cook NP, it is still worth considering dedicating one of your days in Queenstown to a huge daytrip out to the likes of Milford Sound or Mount Cook NP. Whilst it will certainly be a long day, it is well worth getting up early for! A number of operators based out of Queenstown offers day trips that can be booked whilst staying in town.
Climb the Ben Lomond Trail
For those looking for an advanced hiking challenge look no further than undertaking the Ben Lomond Trail which offers stunning views of the Remarkables and Cornet Peak from the highest vantage points in Queenstown. It is best to start the hike at its official starting point behind the Summit of Queenstown Hill and it could take from 5-8 hours to complete depending on fitness levels. Be aware however this is a physically demanding hike and only should be attempted by those with a significant level of experience. If visiting the trail in winter like we did don’t expect to get far before snow and black ice make it too sketchy for most people to continue! For those wanting to seriously do the track it is best waiting to the warmer months!
Hike or Bike your way though the Queenstown trail
Queenstown is a bike riders paradise where the 120km Queenstown Trails offers so many options for biking around the beautiful Lake Wakatipu and Lake Hayes and the wider Gibbston Valley. Thrill seekers will also love the downhill Queenstown Bike Park offering another 30km of world class downhill MTB trails. Bike hire is extremely easy in Queenstown with numerous hire operators offering a full range of bikes including those with full suspension and even electric motors. Whilst prices vary expect to pay around $70 for full day MTB hire or $130 electric bike. Even better some hire companies also even offer complimentary shuttles out to key settlements in the Gibbstown Valley such as Arrowtown giving the rider more time to leisurely explore the region and return to Queenstown on their own time.
Enjoy the town’s buzzing nightlife and great restaurant scene
As Queenstown is perhaps the most iconic tourism mecca in New Zealand and attracts a wide range of tourists from around the world it is no surprise that Queenstown has a buzzing nightlife. Especially during peak seasons it is not uncommon to see packed bars and clubs busy well into the early hours. With over 100 licensed premises, Queenstown has everything from bars catering to the budget conscious traveler to those seeking high end wining and dining experiences. Whilst you are guaranteed to have a great time during the day in Queenstown the fun never stops here after the sun goes down!
