background

Queenstown Guide

Queenstown has earned the reputation as “adventure capital of the world” for good reason – there are probably more ways to get an adrenaline rush in this awesome little town than you can hope to achieve in a lifetime. From bungy jumping to skydiving to jetboating - there really is something for everyone!

With a high turnover of tourists, Queenstown’s nightlife is busy every night of the week. If you don’t want to party the night away, there are countless amazing restaurants, a movie theatre, bowling alley, hot pools, and (during winter) night-skiing.

Stray passengers stay in the centre of Queenstown. Surrounded by amazing alpine and lake views, it's the perfect place to rest your head in between your adventures.


Population: 28,000 residents

Vibe: A backpacker haven - plenty of fun to be had, good food to be eaten and stunning scenery to be admired. It truly is nature's playground!

Known for: Being the 'Adventure Capital' of the world

Must Do: Bungy jump at Kawarau Bridge - The first commercially operated bungy in the world!


THINGS TO SEE AND DO

Bungy Queenstown New Zealand

Hit the trails

If you're feeling brave and have a whole day to spare then why not hike to the top of Ben Lomond, Queenstown's highest peak. After a few hours of hiking you'll be greeted with a spectacular panoramic view!

For those who fancy something a little easier, you can walk up Queenstown Hill and back again in 2-3 hours or follow the 45 minute Tiki Trail to the top of Bob's Peak and witness the Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu from above.

Embrace the adrenaline rush

Skydiving, bungy, canyon swinging, paragliding, ziplining, white-water rafting, sledging, quad biking, horse trekking, luging, extreme jet boating and world-class trekking are just a few things that are available all year round. It's the perfect time to splash some cash!

In the winter (July – September) the region is transformed into a haven for ski bunnies and snowboarders, particularly popular with Australians looking for the white stuff. There are three ski fields within a 45 minute drive from Queenstown – Cardrona, Coronet Peak and The Remarkables – with regular shuttle buses from the town centre. You can book a full ski package at Cardrona in your Stray Mate app!

Chill out and recover

If throwing yourself off a great height isn't your thing, the scenery is breath-taking and it is easy to spend an afternoon with your mouth open, staring at it. Don't forget - Queenstown is also “Lord Of The Rings” territory and a number of film-related tours are on offer to satisfy your geek-out!


EATING AND DRINKING

If you're interested in the party scene then Queenstown is the place for you! With plenty of pubs, nightclubs and even ice bars around every corner you'll never struggle to find somewhere to quench your thirst and celebrate after all those white knuckle, high adrenaline activities!

Jumping out of planes and hiking up mountains are sure-fire ways to work up an appetite! If you're keen to self cater then you can always stock up on supplies at the supermarket and cook an extravagant dish (or pasta, most likely) at your hostel shared kitchen.

If you don't have the energy to cook but still want something budget-friendly then try 1876 Queenstown. With $5 beers and great value daily specials, you can't go wrong. Who doesn't love $10 Fajitas Tuesdays!

Last but not least, make sure to try at least one Ferg Burger while you're in Queenstown. Famous for being one of the best burgers in New Zealand, there's usually always a queue but trust us when we say it's worth it! We'd recommend getting your food to-go, heading down to the lake and soaking up the incredible views as you bite into that big, juicy FEAST!


Get to Queenstown! 

Find a New Zealand Tour


blog icon

READ OUR BLOG:

The Adrenaline Junkies' Guide to Queenstown - Feel your adrenaline levels climb as you arrive in the adventure capital of NZ!

Winter in Queenstown - Visit the annual winter festival, hit some of New Zealand's best fields or just enjoy the incredible snow-covered vistas.

aj hackett bungy

AJ Hackett Bungy Queenstown

Don't miss your chance to do a true NZ Must Do: Bungy jump in Queenstown - Home of the Wor...

canyoning queenstown thumb

Canyoning Queenstown

The best summer fun ever! Get ready to jump, slide, abseil/rappel and zip line through som...

DRJ Funyak thumb

Dart River Funyaks

Dart River’s Funyak day trip is an amazing journey deep into the Mt Aspiring National Park in inflatable canoes!

DRJS Jet Boat thumb

Dart River Wilderness Jet

A Wilderness Jet journey takes you deep into the World Heritage area of Mt Aspiring National Park by exciting wilderness jet boating on a braided, glacier fed river.

Kawarau Jet KJet 2012 21

KJet Queenstown

Get ready for the thrill of a lifetime, 60 minutes of high speed jet boating across two rivers, at speeds of up to 95km/hr!

Skydive Queenstown NZ

NZONE Skydive

Skydiving in Queenstown is definitely one of the best ways to see New Zealand's stunning s...

shotover jet thumb

Shotover Jet

Celebrating 50 years of continuous and leading jet boat operation Shotover Jet is world fa...

shotover canyon swing

Shotover Canyon Swing

At Shotover Canyon Swing & Fox we specialise in putting smiles on peoples faces and scary,...

Cardrona Ski

Ski Cardrona Packages

Cardrona ski area which is one of the best ski fields in New Zealand and there a range of day packages available.

queenstown skyline luge thumb

Skyline Luge

If you haven't 'luged' before then this is a must-do!Take a gondola up the mountain to the...

ziptrek ecotours thumb

Ziptrek Ecotours

Ziptrek Ecotours is NZ’s #1 original zipline tour and is a spectacular and fun guided zipl...

queenstown ben lomond walkway thumb

Ben Lomond Hike

If you're feeling fit and you've got a whole day up your sleeve you can hike to the highes...

queenstown dream basket

Hike Up Queenstown Hill

The amazing views from the top of Queenstown Hill are worth the 500 metre climb! Start you...

Queenstown from Bobs Peak thumb

Tiki Trail to Bob's Peak

Taking you to the top of Queenstown Skyline Gondola, the Tiki Trail is an alternative and ...

base queenstown

Base Queenstown, Discovery Lodge

Base Queenstown sets the standard in luxury budget accommodation, with amazing views, high quality facilities and a central location.

Accommodation Nomads Queenstown

Nomads Queenstown

Nomads Queenstown is located in the heart of Queenstown. It boasts an amazing lounge area ...