Epic Travel → Asia & the South Pacific → New Zealand → Otago → Queenstown

Location: Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand

Time Required: 1-2 days

Red Tape/Notes: None.

What’s Nearby? Haast Pass, Queenstown to Milford Helicopter Tour, Kepler Track Day Walk, Lake Alta and the Remarkables, Rob Roy Glacier Valley Track, Mt. Aspiring Packrafting, Robinson Creek Canyon, Wilson Creek Canyon, Cross Creek Canyon, Bendigo Ghost Town

A lot of people use Queenstown as their travel base when they’re exploring the South Island. I don’t really do the “travel base” method because there are too many things I want to see and don’t have time to keep coming back to the same place. I do understand that this works well for some people, or that at the very least, people might want to spend two or three nights in one place. Queenstown is a great spot for this – it’s the adventure capital of New Zealand and the town is vibrant with the energy of all those adventure-seeking residents and tourists, plus it’s picturesquely situated on the banks of beautiful Lake Wakatipu and framed by the rugged walls of the The Remarkables.

It’s a skiing town in the winter, but in the summer it’s popular to bungee jump (this is the site of the world’s first commercial bungee jump!) or take the Shotover Jet Boat for a thrilling high speed ride down the Shotover River. The Skyline Gondola offers beautiful views of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu, and once you get to the top, you can luge 800m down on the Skyline Luge. Warm summer days are also great for a stroll by the lake; a nice option is to do a short loop on the Queenstown Trail starting at the Ice Arena and walking along the waterfront, then heading back via the Queenstown Gardens.

Queenstown is also a great spot for hopping on a helicopter tour if you have the cash – you’ll get beautiful views of the area and if you choose a Milford Sound tour, you can see it much more quickly than by driving. The downside of doing the helicopter to Milford is that you miss the beautiful drive from Te Anau to Milford. Or if you’re looking for something free and more laid back in the area, you can take the short drive up to Arrowtown, a charming historic gold-mining town beautifully situated on the banks of the Arrow River. The town is adorable, and has lots of cute shops and cafes as well as the Lakes District Museum and the historic Chinese miners village. If you happen to be visiting in the fall, this is one of the premier destinations for viewing fall foliage.

Epic Travel → Asia & the South Pacific → New Zealand → Otago → Queenstown