NZ
Queenstown
The Adventure Capital of the World
The Adventure Capital of the World
Lake Wakatipu (the finest alpine lake in New Zealand; the finest lake walk (the Queenstown Bay walk; the finest free lakefront walk; best at sunset when the Remarkables are reflected in the lake); the TSS Earnslaw (the 1912 twin-screw coal-fired steamship cruise from 45 NZ$; the Glenorchy scenic excursion from 65 NZ$)) and the Remarkables ski area (the finest bowl skiing in the South Island) define the Queenstown outdoor experience.
💡 Lake Wakatipu waterfront (the finest lake walk (the Queenstown Bay walk; free; best at sunset); the TSS Earnslaw (the 1912 twin-screw steamship cruise; from 45 NZ$)) — the defining Queenstown lake experience.
The Kawarau Bridge Bungy (the world’s first commercial bungee jump; 1988; 43m above the Kawarau River Gorge; 245 NZ$; the finest beginner bungee; the option to touch the water) and the AJ Hackett Bungy network (the Ledge (47m; the finest urban bungy view); the Nevis (134m; the finest commercial bungy in NZ; 295 NZ$)) are the finest adventure experiences in Queenstown.
💡 Kawarau Bridge Bungy (the world’s first commercial bungee jump; 1988; 43m above the Kawarau River Gorge; 245 NZ$; the finest beginner bungee; the option to touch the water) — the birthplace of the world’s bungee jumping industry.
Milford Sound (the finest fjord in the world; UNESCO World Heritage; the 15km Fiordland fjord; the finest fiord cruise (from 85 NZ$; book at realnz.com; the dolphins, the fur seals, the Fiordland crested penguins, and the Bowen Falls (162m))) is the finest natural experience in New Zealand.
💡 Milford Sound (UNESCO; the finest fjord in the world; 2h cruise from 85 NZ$; the dolphins, the fur seals, the Fiordland crested penguins, and the Bowen Falls (162m); book at realnz.com) — the finest natural experience in New Zealand.
The Skyline Gondola (32 NZ$ return; daily 9am–9pm; the finest view of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, and the Remarkables from Bob’s Peak (450m); the Luge (from 14 NZ$; the finest family activity in Queenstown)) and Arrowtown (the finest Victorian gold rush town in NZ; 20 min east; the Arrow River gold panning; the Lakes District Museum (5 NZ$); the finest autumn foliage (April–May)) are the two finest non-adventure Queenstown experiences.
💡 Skyline Gondola (32 NZ$ return; daily 9am–9pm; the finest Queenstown view from Bob’s Peak (450m); the Luge (from 14 NZ$; the finest family activity in Queenstown)).
Queenstown eating is dominated by the premium resort economy but the finest experiences are more specific: the Central Otago Pinot Noir (the finest Pinot Noir in the Southern Hemisphere; the Rippon Vineyard on the Lake Wanaka shore (45km from Queenstown), the Amisfield Winery (10km from Queenstown on the SH6; NZ$60–90 pp for the Trust menu with Central Otago Pinot), and the Peregrine Wines (the most architecturally striking winery in Otago; the distinctive hawk-wing roofline; NZ$15 for the tasting flight)), the Fergburger (Shotover Street; the most celebrated burger in New Zealand; NZ$12–18; the queue is always long in summer but moves fast; the Ferg Royale and the Southern Swine are the two most popular options), and the Queenstown waterfront restaurants (the Fishbone Bar and Grill; the Pier; the best Otago salmon and the finest lake views at any price level). The World Bar (Searle Lane; the most celebrated Queenstown bar for its teapot cocktails and its live music) and the Ballarat Trading Co (the Queenstown craft beer taproom) are the two most recommended evening bars.
Milford Sound (4.5h from Queenstown by coach; depart 7am; the first morning boat at 10am; mist still over the Bowen Falls; Real Journeys or Jucy Cruize; NZ$65–90) is the finest fjord in the world. Book weeks ahead.
The Kawarau Bridge Bungy (AJ Hackett; NZ$205; the world’s first commercial bungy site, 1988) has a free riverside viewing platform.
Milford Sound (the finest fjord in the world; the 15km-long fjord in Fiordland National Park; UNESCO World Heritage; the finest fiord cruise (from 85 NZ$; book at realnz.com).
The Remarkables ski field (NZ$149/day lift pass; first chairlift at 9am) gives the finest view over Lake Wakatipu.
Kawarau Bridge Bungy (245 NZ$; the world’s first commercial bungee; 43m). Skyline Gondola (32 NZ$ return; daily; the finest Queenstown view). Lake Wakatipu waterfront walk (free; best at sunset). TSS Earnslaw cruise (from 45 NZ$).
💡 Queenstown is the finest base for the Milford Sound day trip (the 3h drive at 6am; the 2h cruise from 85 NZ$; the 3h drive back; arriving at 9pm — the finest full-day New Zealand experience). The alternative (40-min scenic flight from Queenstown to Milford; from 350 NZ$) is the finest helicopter approach.
Milford Sound day trip (290km northwest; 3h drive or 40 min scenic flight; the 2h fjord cruise from 85 NZ$; book at realnz.com; the dolphins, the fur seals, and the Bowen Falls).
💡 The Nevis Bungy (134m; the highest commercial bungy in New Zealand; 295 NZ$; requires the transfer bus from Queenstown (from 19 NZ$; 45 min); book at bungy.co.nz at least 1 day ahead) is the finest single adrenaline experience in New Zealand.
The free Kawarau Bridge Bungy viewing platform (the closest ground-level view of the 43m jump), the free Queenstown lakefront walk (the Remarkables reflection in Lake Wakatipu), and the free Arrowtown Chinese settlement.
Milford Sound (NZ$75–120 pp for the cruise; NZ$0 for the self-drive; the most photogenic single NZ landscape) combined with the Kawarau Bridge Bungy (NZ$195; the original 1988 commercial bungee site) gives the two most specifically.
Matakauri Lodge (Glenorchy Road; the most celebrated New Zealand luxury lodge; 11 suites on the Lake Wakatipu shore 5km from Queenstown; the Remarkables visible from every room; NZ$700–2,500/night; the finest lake-and-mountain hotel)
RealNZ (realnz.com) for the Milford Sound cruise booking (from 85 NZ$ for the 2h cruise) and the overnight Milford Sound cruise.
Free
AJ Hackett Bungy (bungy.co.nz) for the Kawarau Bridge Bungy (245 NZ$), the Ledge (47m), and the Nevis (134m; 295 NZ$) booking.
Free
Navigation and offline maps — download the offline area on arrival.
Free
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