Travel Guide to Queenstown, New Zealand

Why Adventurers Love Queenstown

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Queenstown invented commercial bungee jumping and has been raising the bar on adventure tourism ever since. Set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu with the Remarkables mountain range as a backdrop, the town is spectacularly beautiful and absurdly packed with adrenaline activities. Within 30 minutes of town you can bungee jump, skydive, canyon swing, jet boat, paraglide, mountain bike, and ski. In summer, the hiking is world-class with multi-day tracks like the Routeburn and Milford entering some of the most dramatic landscapes in the Southern Hemisphere. In winter, the Remarkables and Coronet Peak ski fields deliver reliable snow.

Top Activities

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• Bungee jump at Kawarau Bridge or Nevis — The original bungee site and the 134m Nevis, the highest in Australasia
• Skydive over the Remarkables — 15,000ft tandem jumps with mountain and lake views
• Hike the Routeburn Track — 32km Great Walk through alpine meadows and beech forest
• Ski the Remarkables — Reliable snow from June to October with terrain for all levels
• Jet boat the Shotover River — High-speed canyon runs through narrow gorges

Where to Stay

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Queenstown is compact and walkable, so central accommodation puts everything at your feet. Budget travelers should look at hostels on Shotover Street and Camp Street ($25-40/night for dorms). Mid-range options include apartments in Fernhill or Frankton ($60-100/night). For hikers doing the Great Walks, DOC huts along the Routeburn and Milford tracks must be booked months in advance during the October-April season ($55-75/night). The Frankton area near the airport is cheaper than downtown and connected by a frequent bus.

Getting to the Adventure Spots

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Most activity operators offer free hotel pickup. The Skyline Gondola provides quick access to mountain biking and luge tracks. Rental cars are useful for day trips to Milford Sound (4 hours), Wanaka (1 hour), and Glenorchy (45 minutes) for the start of the Routeburn Track. InterCity buses connect to Wanaka and other towns. The airport is 10 minutes from town with direct flights from Auckland, Christchurch, and Australian cities.

Budget Tips

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Book combo deals (bungee + skydive + jet boat packages save 20-30%). Visit in shoulder season (November or March-April) for lower prices and fewer crowds. Freedom camping is strictly regulated — use the Campermate app to find legal free sites. Cook at your hostel and shop at Countdown or PAK’nSAVE. The Queenstown Trail network offers free world-class mountain biking.