Good to know
Good to Know
- Tell someone where you're going, check conditions before setting out and start early to avoid late-day hiking
- Queenstown is near three of New Zealand's Great Walks, two national parks and a stunning collection of short walks, day walks, and multi-day hikes
- Booking bike rentals in advance is recommended during peak summer months (December-February)
- Winter weather varies considerably — one day sunny in light sweater, the next bundled in full winter gear; Queenstown itself is considerably warmer than the mountains or ski fields
- The favourable climate allows for year-round biking
- Queenstown offers more than 450kms of mountain biking trails across 7 world-class bike parks with numerous uplift options and jump parks
Climbing
Half-day (4 Hours)
- Type
- Guided Rock Climbing
- Price
- NZ$349
- Description
- This action-packed trip is suitable for all levels and requires no previous experience, allowing climbers to feel natural rock while scaling local climbs or challenging themselves on steep technical climbs
Queenstown Climbing Centre
- Type
- Indoor Climbing Centre
- Description
- Features Clip 'n Climb for action-packed activity, Sport Wall for climbers of all abilities, and a Bouldering Wall with 250sqm of modern bouldering
4 Hours Including Transfers
- Type
- Via Ferrata
- Description
- About 4 hours including return transfers from central Queenstown, with about 2 hours actually on the Via Ferrata
Water Sports
45 Minutes
- Activity
- Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP)
- Rental Price
- NZ$25
- Description
- SUP board rentals are inexpensive, with boards big enough to take a little one along for the ride
45 Minutes (Two-person Kayak)
- Activity
- Kayaking
- Rental Price
- NZ$50
- Description
- Two-person kayak rentals allow exploration of small bays and secluded beaches
30 Minutes per Ski
- Activity
- Jet Skiing
- Rental Price
- NZ$127
- Description
- Jet Skiing is self-drive with no license required, though drivers must be over 15 years old
15 Minutes
- Price
- NZ$155
- Activity
- Hydro Attack Shark
- Description
- A unique underwater jet-ski-like machine where you sit behind the driver and the windscreen closes over you, allowing you to fly across the water before making fast dives below the surface
Lake Cruises
- Description
- From historic steamships to modern luxury digs, there are multiple ways to enjoy a leisurely cruise down Lake Wakatipu
White-Water Rafting
- Price Range
- NZ$219
- Description
- White-water rafting experiences on scenic rivers accessible to all skill levels, with commercial trips typically running on the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers
Canyoning
- Description
- A thrilling full-day activity involving climbing, jumping off waterfalls, rappelling, swimming, and trekking down a canyon with a qualified guide
Parks And Gardens
Queenstown Gardens
- Description
- A beautiful botanical garden on Lake Wakatipu's shores accessible via a loop walk
Hiking And Walking
Queenstown Hill Walking Track
- Duration
- 1.5-2 hours round trip
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Description
- A moderate hike taking 1.5 to 2 hours round trip, approximately 2.5 km each way, leading to the "Basket of Dreams" sculpture with panoramic views over Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, and surrounding mountains
Ben Lomond Track
- Duration
- 6-8 hours (summit) or 3-4 hours (saddle)
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Description
- A rewarding summit hike taking 6-8 hours round trip to reach the summit, with a shorter option to the saddle taking about 3-4 hours
Jack's Point Track
- Duration
- 4 hours return
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Description
- A nearby walk with stunning lake and mountain views taking around 4 hours return, hiking over undulating grassland and scattered scrub high above Lake Wakatipu
Bob's Cove Track
- Duration
- Varies
- Difficulty
- Easy to Moderate
- Note
- Located about a 20-minute drive from Queenstown
- Description
- A beautiful walk along the shore of Lake Wakatipu that passes through forest with mature stands of red beech, through secluded beaches with many places to stop and swim
Routeburn Track
- Duration
- Multi-day (2-3 days typical, can be done in 1 day if fit)
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Description
- One of New Zealand's Great Walks accessible from Queenstown, a pristine wilderness hike linking Mount Aspiring National Park with Fiordland National Park
Winter Sports Day Trips
Coronet Peak
- Key Features
- Built for thrill-seekers and cruisers with wide-open groomers, natural rollers, gullies, steeps and mellow zones perfect for every kind of skier and rider
- Distance From Center
- 16-20 minutes drive
- Note
- The only ski field in New Zealand that is open for night skiing
- Description
- The closest ski area to Queenstown, just 16km from the town center
The Remarkables
- Key Features
- Caters for skiers of all levels with expansive beginners area through to exciting touring and backcountry terrain, accessible via high-speed chairlift with world-famous views overlooking the Wakatipu Basin
- Description
- Located around 45 minutes from Queenstown
Cardrona Alpine Resort
- Key Features
- Features epic panoramic views and massive ski area spread across three wide-open bowls, perfect for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities with gentle slopes for beginners and challenging runs for experts
- Description
- Located between Queenstown and Wanaka, approximately one hour drive from Queenstown
June to October
- Note
- Several companies offer shuttle services from Queenstown to ski fields with pick-ups from central locations or hotels, and ski areas operate their own buses from Queenstown with multiple departure times
Cycling And Mountain Biking
Queenstown Trail
- Difficulty
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Description
- One of New Zealand's Great Rides, boasting a 150km network of trails past lakes, across rivers and through vineyards
Queenstown Bike Park (Ben Lomond Trails)
- Access
- Accessed via the Skyline Mountain Bike Uplift, which rises 450m in minutes
- Day pass
- NZ$125
- Operating Season
- End of September to Early May
- Description
- Offers 45 world-class tracks for riders of every skill level, with beginners cruising down Hammy's Track and advanced riders taking on steep descents and jumps on tracks like Huck Yeah and Grundy
Coronet Peak Bike Park
- Day pass
- NZ$69
- Operating Dates
- 9th December - 1st April
- Vertical Descent
- Over 1700 meters
- Description
- Has 16 mountain biking trails ranging from beginner level (Green) to very advanced (Black), with notable trails including Coronet XC (intermediate Grade 3), Coronet DH (expert Grade 5), and Rude Rock
Wynyard Bike Park
- Description
- Offers thrilling downhill tracks with a 226m descent featuring switchback berms, steep creek sections, and jump park action, including the legendary Dream Track known for its 18m gap jumps
Arrowtown to Gibbston River Trail
- Description
- For intermediate riders, this historic trail meanders through wineries and over suspension bridges
Organized Sports And Recreation
Bungy Jumping
Locations
Kawarau Bridge
- Note
- World's first commercial bungy site
The Nevis
- Description
- Towering 134 metres above the Nevis River, known for being one of the highest bungy jumps in New Zealand with intense freefall and amazing views of the rugged Nevis Valley, ideal for thrill-seekers
Ziplining
- Price Starting From
- NZ$119
- Description
- Starts from the top of Bob's Peak at the end of the Tiki Trail, with the Moa tour including the world's steepest zipline
Milford Sound Day Trip
- Type
- Small-group tour
- Price
- NZ$289
- Includes
- Tour stops at several impressive viewpoints on the way from Queenstown plus a cruise in Milford Sound included
- Note
- One of the most popular excursions from Queenstown, though it's a 5-6 hour drive each way for a 2-hour boat ride
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this nature, parks & outdoor activities research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
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- 43.queenstownnz.co.nz
- 44.singletracks.com
- 45.newzealand.com
- 46.skyline.co.nz
More About Queenstown
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.