buildings near body of water and mountains under clear blue sky and white clouds at daytime
OceaniaAdventureNature

Queenstown

Mountains, lakes, and alpine trails

Plan with AISee the 1 itineraryPhoto by Ömer Faruk Bekdemir on Unsplash
Best timeNovember to March for dry trails
Typical trip length5 days
On travli1 itinerary
Getting aroundRental car for Glenorchy and Milford day trips
CurrencyNew Zealand dollar (NZD)

About Queenstown

Queenstown lies beside Lake Wakatipu with steep mountains on all sides. The town center acts as the main hub. Skyline Queenstown and Queenstown Hill give access to high views. Glenorchy and Moke Lake lie within short drives for further exploration.

Arrowtown preserves old gold rush streets. TSS Earnslaw crosses the lake to Walter Peak. Milford Sound, a long day trip by road or a short scenic flight, stands out for its fjord scale. Queenstown Gardens provide flat paths by the water. The destination suits an active trip built around hiking and boat travel.

Why travelers love it

Skyline QueenstownGondola ride to a hilltop viewpoint over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu.Queenstown HillHilltop trails with views over Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables.GlenorchyGlenorchy is a small settlement at the head of Lake Wakatipu, 45 minutes from Queenstown.Moke LakeMoke Lake is a glacial lake near Queenstown with a shore track and picnic areas.TSS EarnslawThe TSS Earnslaw is a historic steamship that cruises Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown.Walter PeakWalter Peak rises above Lake Wakatipu and offers views of the lake and mountains.

Top attractions

Skyline Queenstown
ViewpointSkyline QueenstownQueenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown Hill
ViewpointQueenstown HillQueenstown, New Zealand
Glenorchy
NeighbourhoodGlenorchyQueenstown, New Zealand
Moke Lake
ParkMoke LakeQueenstown, New Zealand
TSS Earnslaw
MonumentTSS EarnslawQueenstown, New Zealand
Walter Peak
ViewpointWalter PeakQueenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown Gardens
ParkQueenstown GardensQueenstown, New Zealand
Milford Sound
ViewpointMilford SoundQueenstown, New Zealand
Arrowtown
NeighbourhoodArrowtownQueenstown, New Zealand

1 Queenstown itinerary

Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown, New ZealandQueenstown Adventure5 days · By travli

Queenstown questions

Is 5 days enough for Queenstown?

Five days covers Queenstown plus day trips to Milford Sound and Glenorchy. Rent a car for the drives to avoid backtracking and book jet boat and gondola tickets online two weeks ahead.

Do I need to book Milford Sound tours ahead?

Book Milford Sound day tours at least one week in advance in summer. Allow 12 hours round trip including the four-hour drive each way from Queenstown.

How do I get from Queenstown to Glenorchy?

Drive 45 minutes along Lake Wakatipu or take a shuttle that stops at Moke Lake. A rental car costs about 50 NZD per day and gives the most flexibility.

Do I need to book the TSS Earnslaw ahead?

Book a day or two ahead in summer. The cruise sails several times a day and costs roughly 90 to 130 NZD per adult depending on the package, so check the official site for the current schedule and price.