Kia Ora koutou katoa! (Maori: Greetings to you all!)
For adventure junkies and nature lovers, New Zealand is one of the world’s most dramatic countries and Queenstown is definitely its Queen!
Carved out of the land by glaciers, rivers and lakes, Queenstown is a stunning little town in New Zealand’s South Island. For centuries before the arrival of the Caucasians, the country’s original inhabitants, the Maori, had forged trails through the region for hunting and to lay their hands on prized pounamu/greenstone (if you like jewellery, pounamo earrings and chokers look gorgeous – do check them out in a tourist store).
Queenstown’s character has been shaped by legions of miners, mountaineers, rock climbers, abseillers and canyoners whose explorations and adventures over the years have resulted in it earning its status as the Adventure Capital of the World.
I’m an adventure-lover myself so when I visited NZ a few years ago, Queenstown was definitely on my itinerary. My husband was not too keen in the beginning but by the time we left Queenstown, he was talking about visiting it again! ☺
Here are the 10 best things to do in this amazing place (not for the faint of heart or for those who are scared of heights! ☺)
1. Skyline Gondola and Luge
I’m an absolute sucker for stunning natural views so if you’re anything like me, the Skyline Gondola is a must-do!
A short five-minute walk from the city centre, the Skyline Gondola will carry you high above the city to the Skyline complex. Get ready for a spectacular panorama with breathtaking views of Coronet Peak and The Remarkables mountain range. The Gondola will also take you across Lake Wakatipu to Cecil and Walter Peak where you will be amazed by the most talented artist on Earth – Mother Nature!
Once you’ve had your fill of the views (you won’t, but you have to move on at some point ☺), head on over to the Skyline Luge. Jump in a Luge cart and take on almost a kilometre of corners, tunnels and dippers for a fun adventure you will never forget. The winding luge tracks against the backdrop of Wakatipu basin looked very inviting and don’t forget to smile at the camera installed on the way up!
2. Helicopter ride
If you are in Queenstown, you must definitely try the helicopter ride. A number of options are available and you can choose what you like depending on your budget and places you want to visit. One of the cheapest trips is the Mt. Cook Adventure Tour that will take you from Queenstown to Mount Cook Village, nestled in the shadow of Aoraki Mount Cook (New Zealand’s tallest mountain). Other available options include Queenstown to Milford Sound, Queenstown to Jura Glacier and Alpine Scenic Flight (a 30-minute scenic helicopter flight where you will fly over Skippers Canyon and the Wakatipu Basin).
We were a group of 5 and we booked a customized tour of 3 hours with 4 landings!!! The views were unbelievable and the experience, even more so!
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3. Shotover Jet Boat Ride
The Shotover Canyons are absolutely spectacular year-round so if you want to see their beauty and feel their immense power, the jet boat ride is the best way. Hold on tight and prepare for the ride of your life!
With the Shotover Jet, you will get scenery, culture and adventure – it’s like 3 tickets for the price of 1! The activity is open year-round and you can book it online or at the office in Queenstown.
The boat ride starts with a 360 degree turn moving rapidly through the gorge. The guide takes sharp turns to make the ride thrilling and at times it will make you feel as if you are going to crash in the rocks! The crew even shoots an entire video which you can buy. Like I always say photos and videos MUST buy memories.
4. Bungy jumping
If you’re visiting NZ and don’t try bungy jumping, you’re missing out on an amazing experience!
Try the Nevis Bungy – jump from a height of 134 metres, the highest bungy in New Zealand. Or try the Kawarau Bridge Bungy – The worlds first Bungy where you can actually touch the water as you reach the ground at a mind-boggling speed! If you’re in the mood for even more heart-pumping adventure, then try the Ledge Bungy – a ‘freestyle’ bungy where your feet are free to twist, flip or do anything else. Scary or exciting – you decide!
We decided to jump from the Kawarau bridge for 2 reasons, first being it is the home of Bungy and second for the views of beautiful Kawarau river.
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5. Sky diving
This was my absolute favourite activity in Queenstown! Jumping from an altitude of 15,000 feet (you can also choose 12,000 or 9,000 feet) is no joke but once you do it, nothing else in life will seem like a challenge. You will be so proud of yourself that you’ll wonder ‘why didn’t I ever try this before?!’
This is a ‘tandem’ activity which means that an expert will be jumping with you. You will actually be strapped to his/her back so when he/she jumps, you will too!
Scary but totally worth it!
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6. Doubtful Sound overnight trip or Milford Sound day trip
Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound, two spectacular ‘fjords’ that will take your breath away with their beauty and majesty are just a few hours away from Queenstown and you must definitely visit at least one (or both if you can).
Milford Sound is about 4 hours away from Queenstown by road and you can easily do a day trip to cover its 16 km length. Doubtful Sound is larger, stretching to about 40 km, so if you want to visit it at leisure, I recommend an overnight trip. I would recommend Doubtful sound as the whole experience shall touch your soul.
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7. Skippers Canyon Tour with Gold Panning and LOTR Tour
Queenstown is gold-mining country. Even today, thousands of people visit Queenstown hoping to find some gold and earn bragging rights among friends and family (be honest – wouldn’t you?! ☺)
A must-do in Queenstown is the Skippers Canyon Tour – a trip that will introduce you to rugged landscapes, breath-taking sights and of course the history of gold mining in this area.
You will travel on Skippers Road in a comfortable 4WD vehicle alongside the Shotover River. The pace will be leisurely so you will have plenty of time to explore your surrounds and soak up the peaceful and unspoiled atmosphere. Your knowledgeable guide will tell you about the history of the place and you’re free to get close to the rich heritage of one of the most beautiful places on earth.
A tour typically starts at 8.30 where you will be picked up from your hotel/hostel. It ends at 12.30 with a drop-off to your accommodation.
The Lord of the Rings Tour (LOTR) is also a must-do activity in Queenstown. Take in the spectacular panoramic views over the Wakatipu Basin as you discover LOTR filming locations like Minas Tirith, Misty Mountains, the Pillars of the Kings (Argonath), Gladden Fields, the Ford of Bruinen and more. You will travel the historic gold mining roads in a comfortable 4WD vehicle and try your hand at Gold Panning (yes you can actually look for gold!!)
8.City centre amble and Queenstown Beach Street
I am from a huge metropolis so I tend to think of Queenstown as a small town rather than a city. Nonetheless, this is a town that combines the best of nature and modernity in one compact package.
Even walking around the city centre (which is tiny!) is an experience in itself. You can even sign up for a day walk (such as Queenstown Hill Time Walk) that will take you up into the nearby mountains (which are spectacular) and provide some amazing views around the gargantuan Lake Wakatipu (pronounced Fakatipu!). We fed the birds on the beach.
9. Tramping in the nearby mountains
I know what you’re thinking and no, that’s not what tramping is (get your mind out of the gutter!) ☺
What the rest of the world calls hiking (walking over rough country), the Kiwis call tramping!
Thanks to Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding Southern Alpine Range, Queenstown offers plenty of tramping opportunities for even novice trampers. If you’re new to tramping or a pampered city dweller, try the Frankton Arm Walkway, an easy 2-3 hour (return) track that starts from Park Street in Central Queenstown. Other easy tracks are the Tiki Trail to Skyline Gondola (see #1 above) which also starts from the city centre, and the Sunshine Bay walk which begins at Glenorchy Road. If you have previous tramping experience (like me), the Queenstown Hill ‘Time Walk’ is an absolute gem.If you have time on your hands and are an experienced tramper, you can try the Ben Lomond Trail, which is a 6-8 hour round trip from the top of the Skyline Gondola (again, awe-inspiring views!)
10. Half Day trip to Arrowtown
Arrowtown is another iconic NZ destination that you must include in your trip. It’s barely a 20-minute drive from Queenstown so you have no excuse to miss it!
This (former) gold mining town has a rich heritage and an amazing mining legacy, and is full of historic buildings that have been beautifully preserved. Do visit the Lakes District Museum to learn more about this little treasure of New Zealand!
So that was my trip to Queenstown. We city slickers had an amazing time discovering gorgeous places that had us so spellbound, we didn’t want to leave!
Do let me know what you think about this post. And if you are in Queenstown, I want to hear about your trip
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