Queenstown is the most tourist driven town of all of New Zealand. And there is good reason that it has built its economy on tourism. Within the South Island, Queenstown is centrally located, allowing for long day trips to a variety of landscapes. And there are truly unlimited things to do within Queenstown that range from relaxing to extreme adventure. This Queenstown itinerary will allow you to see the highlights of the town. You can always extend your time to explore and adjust your Queenstown itinerary to align with what you want to do while here.
While most of the activities of the region are located right outside of Queenstown, there are still things to do within Queenstown that give a great introduction to the region.
Day 1: Exploring within Queenstown
We recommend starting your Queenstown itinerary by hiking up the Queenstown Hill Summit. Take a taxi or Uber to the start of the trail and make sure to bring sufficient water. The hike is challenging but not particularly long and is a great introduction to other hikes that are available to do in the region. From the top, you get a great view over the town and lake below.
If you are looking for an easier way to get a beautiful view during your Queenstown itinerary, take the Queenstown Gondola to the Skyline Gallery and Luge. At the peak of the gondola route, there is an additional gondola that leads to the top of the luge route, which is a fun and thrilling activity that was invented in New Zealand. You can purchase tickets for the luge when you get your gondola tickets at the base of the mountain. At the top of the Queenstown Gondola is the start of the Ben Lomond trail, a hike that goes even higher up the mountain and some say has the best view of the valley and lake below.
You will also want to walk through the pedestrian center of Queenstown where you will find a number of restaurants and boutiques. The waterfront is a popular place to relax where you will find vendors, bars, ice cream parlors, and more. You can also spend time in the Queenstown Garden on the beach front and watch the boats in the lake and the sun setting over the mountains.
In the evening, if you are looking for a way to relax or have a romantic moment, make your way to the Onsen Hot Pools. Located just 10 minutes outside of town, this spa has a number of private hot pools that you can reserve for a period of time while looking over the river and mountain. The experience includes a drink and dessert all while enjoying the warm water and the beautiful view. The spa also has massage and facial treatments and options for cold plunge and steam room experiences. Relaxing like this is a must do as part of your Queenstown itinerary.
Day 2: A Great Walk
Your second day of your Queenstown itinerary will be focused on hiking outside of town. One of the major hikes within New Zealand is located just an hour outside of Queenstown. While the full hike is a multi-day adventure, you can do the first portion of the hike in just a day trip to and from the Routeburn Flats Hut.
If you love Lord of the Rings, there are a few filming locations in the region, including the Isengard Lookout (in the Dart Valley) and the Lothlorien (in the Paradise Forest near Glenorchy). If you love the Lord of the Rings, there are also some Lord of the Rings tours that depart from Queenstown and take you to a variety of the filming locations throughout the region. You may want to add one of these tours to your Queenstown itinerary. It’s a great way to see the landscapes of New Zealand through the lens of this incredible film production.
Finally, you will get to the base of the Routeburn Track. The Routeburn Track is one of the “Great Walks of New Zealand” and is typically a multi-day hike. However, you can always do pieces of this trek as single day hikes. For this one, the one-day route is almost 10 miles long, starts with a significant climb, and requires about 4 hours of walking to complete. The hike leads to the Routeburn Hut, one of the huts that is located along the longer hike where people stay instead of hiking with tents. You can do another portion of the hike from Fiordland National Park.
If you are interested in doing the longer hike while staying in the huts, you will need to reserve a spot in the hut in advance, especially during the peak season of tourism in New Zealand. After relaxing at the hut and taking in the views, you will return the way you came to complete the day hike.
Day 3: History, Adventure, and Wine
For the third day of your Queenstown itinerary, you will be partaking in the adventure-side of Queenstown. Many people come here for the adrenaline rush and activities that can be done here and those options are unlimited based on your interests. Below is just the introduction to those activities with a few that were invented in the Queenstown area.
First up, you will want to start your day with a jet boat experience at Shotover Jet Queenstown. Jet boats are a special boat with a flat bottom, designed to go over shallow rivers. Because of the shape of the boats, they can easily spin and turn quickly, making them perfect for a thrill ride. Shotover Jet operates in the slot canyons outside of Queenstown, being the only company allowed to operate in these thrilling and narrow waters. Jet boating is exciting but getting to glide through the canyon is really beautiful and fun! This is a low-stakes adventure activity that is great to get your adrenaline starting.
After the adventure, make your way to Arrowtown where you will find a quaint historical town and the ruins of a Chinese settlement. These miners came during the gold rush of the area in the 1860s. They faced many challenges and discrimination and you can learn more about their history on the plaques throughout the heritage-listed historic village. Afterwards, make your way to the main street of Arrowtown, Buckingham Street, that is full of boutiques and restaurants. You can grab food at Provisions of Arrowtown, a cute restaurant with great pastries and full breakfasts.
The adventure is not over yet as you make your way to the AJ Hackett Kawarau Bungy Centre, the location where commercial bungy jumping was invented. You do not have to go bungy jumping to enjoy this location. There is a restaurant where you can grab a snack while watching other people jump off the bridge and towards the river below. And if you choose to add bungy jumping to your Queenstown itinerary, you can decide if you get dunked into the water or stay dry and you will be released by a safety boat that waits for every jumper in the water below.
Queenstown is right next to the Central Otago wine region. This area is known for its Pinot Noir and has some beautiful wineries that overlook amazing vineyards. One to note is the Mount Difficulty Winery, which has beautiful wines and a delicious restaurant. You will want to make a reservation at the restaurant to ensure that you will be able to eat there. You can also do a wine tasting before, during, or after your meal to try the variety of wines that they produce.
Using Queenstown As a Hub
While we recommend driving to different parts of the South Island to experience the incredible landscapes, it is possible to visit different aspects of the island directly from Queenstown and adding these tours to your Queenstown itinerary to experience more of the South Island. Here are some of the other regions that can be visited.
Fiordland National Park and a Milford Sound Cruise
Fiordland National Park is a national park on the west side of the South Island. Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park is one of the most popular places to visit when in New Zealand. The drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound can take 4 hours but there are some tours that leave from the town to visit this beautiful landscape. We think that the national park is worth multiple days and independent exploration.
Wanaka
Wanaka is a resort town just an hour outside of Queenstown. It has access to different hikes and adventure activities, similarly to Queenstown, but at a smaller scale. There are tours that go from Queenstown to Wanaka but visiting independently or even staying overnight there will allow you to get the most out of the activities that you can find in Wanaka.
3-Day Itinerary to Explore Queenstown
Days 1
Stay within Queenstown and get great views
Day 2
Part of a Great Walk and discovering the landscapes
Day 3
Discovering the adventure activities and wine country around Queenstown
Read More About the Blueprint Travelers' Personal Experience in Queenstown
Update 56: Visiting Queenstown, the Adrenaline Capital of the World
We went on a jet boat, hiked part of a Great Walk, sampled top pinot noir wine, and ate delicious food all while visiting Queenstown and the area around.