Moderately Adventurous

New Zealand – Outdoorsy Things to do in Queenstown

Hanna Ashcraft

Honestly, what can’t you do in Queenstown??! It’s an outdoorsy mecca with multiples of any offering – adrenalin activities from bungee jumping to paragliding, hiking in town and access to the Great Walks, scenic drives and views, and relaxing options like the onsen pools. Queenston is the perfect sized “city,” which is big enough to support activities and vegan delights while not too big to feel overwhelming with a very walkable downtown area. It’s also super scenic, sitting on the edge of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by mountains. 

We ended up in Queenstown several times, including flying in and out of the area from the North Island. With mountains on both sides and epic views as you cross over New Zealand, it was one of the best puddle-jumper flights I’ve ever taken. When we first landed, we got treats downtown before driving to Wanaka, then passed through again on our way to Te Anau, and finally ended up there at the end of our trip. We spent three nights in Queenstown, which wasn’t nearly enough! For example, we dipped into trails but did not always complete them. With that in mind, I combined most of the activities here (spoiler: bungee jumping has its own detailed breakdown) and included other items that I thought were intriguing. 

 

Hanna Note: 

We visited Queenstown on March 2 – 5, 2020, but I wrote this post in August 2022. Due to the pandemic, I froze and didn’t think it was a good idea to share a destination that was closed off to most of the world for what ended up being years. Now that New Zealand has opened up again, I am excited to relive our trip. Information is updated with current information as of 2022.

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Bungee Jumping with AJ Hackett

Yep. I did it. I went bungee (Bungy – NZ spelling) jumping in celebration of my 30th birthday while in Queenstown, which was wild. While not an adrenaline junkie, there are times and circumstances I will partake in a particularly adventurous activity. While bungee jumping originated with indigenous tribes of Vanuatu, the modern processes and equipment were popularized and commercialized by AJ Hackett in New Zealand in the late 1980s. With a long history of Bungee Jumping in New Zealand and the scenic location at the Kawarau Bridge, I was already thinking I would jump before I left the states… but I didn’t commit to going until my birthday rolled around. 

Once I decided to go bungee jumping with AJ Hackett, I wouldn’t turn back, but I was also nervous and not thinking clearly. Luckily, my partner took over all of the thinking to get me signed up, to the Kawarau Bridge, and eventually to jump off with my ankles tied. It was a gorgeous sunny day with a few puffy clouds, a vibrant blue river below, and a gentle breeze as I took the tiny steps to the platform. When they told me to jump, I didn’t hesitate. I went for it. And it was a looooooong fall down to the river. I clearly remember thinking, “I’m still falling!!!!” And then it was over, and I was swimming in mixed emotions – excitement, giddiness, relief, fear – of it being over. What a trip. For a far more detailed breakdown of the experience – head to bungee jumping blog post.

 

Other Queenstown Adrenaline Activities:

While all these adrenaline activities sounded fun to me, they are also pricey! And they can add up fast! Prioritize the one that is most exciting or at the right level for you. Bungee jumping felt special because of the history and ridiculously scenic bridge, but it might not suit your taste.

Onsen Hot Pools Queenstown

What activity do you follow up with after bungee jumping?! Well, instead of comparing another exciting action, a relaxing one we opted to do was the Onsen Hot Pools in Arthur’s Point. But this is not simply a hot tub soak. It is a beautifully designed building with a wooden hot tub that looks out over the turquoise Shotover River and valley in individual rooms. The experience includes a drink, snack, one hour soak, and separate rooms with a shower and retractable door. 

We were staying in an Airbnb in Arthur’s Point, so heading to the Onsen Hot Pools was a quick 3-minute drive (you’ll want to buffer more time coming from Queenstown). Upon arriving, you have to descend down to a building. Upon entering, I noticed it was immaculately designed, with a check-in desk where we chose our beverage and snack. I wish I had arrived extra early, so I could enjoy the waiting room – it was gorgeous. Then, when it was our turn, an attendant led us down the stairs to a hallway of doors. She opened a door near the end and led us into our hot tub room. 

After showering (Onsen policy), easing into the pool was delightful. It was cloudy when we first arrived, and we loved watching the clouds move around as we soaked. We could watch one of the jet boats zoom along the river every now and again. The only thing we wish was different was the water wasn’t super hot, and we like a HOT hot tub experience. Also, the experience is super popular, so book early!!! As I’m writing this, it’s the winter season, and they are fully booked out for the next few weeks – crazy. Head directly to the Onsen Hot Pools website for current pricing.

Hiking the Ben Lomond Track

The Ben Lomond Track leads to a famous summit with incredible views of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu, and there is a shortcut to make this challenging ascent more manageable. While you can hike from Queenstown (8.3 mi roundtrip), another starting point is at the top of the Skyline Gondola (6.8 mi roundtrip), which will save you about an hour of climbing and 1,300 ft of elevation gain. As always, check the Department of Conservation website for current trail conditions.

On our last evening in Queenstown, as a spur-of-the-moment decision, I convinced my partner to go up the Gondola, ride the luge (see the next section), and dip into the Ben Lomond Track. It was more of a sunset reconnaissance at a leisurely pace. While there are few patches of trees, the trail is mainly an exposed ascent with a gorgeous view of Lake Wakatipu, which reminded me a lot of the Roy’s Peak Hike. If you plan to do this hike during New Zealand’s summer, bring plenty of water and sunscreen!

The mountain range across Lake Wakatipu was glowing orange when we started. As we climbed, we watched the shadow slowly creep up and the sky change from blue to yellow and orange. While we probably only hiked for about 45 minutes, it was an absolutely stunning time to be out and about. Even if you don’t go all the way to the summit, it’s worth it to dip onto the trail even for the initial views. As we headed back down to the Gondola, everything was cast in a pinkish hue. I would absolutely go back and hike to the summit. 

Skyline Gondola and Luge – Queenstown

Okay, hear me out; the Skyline Gondola and Luge were hilariously fun. While I usually would do a hike or scenic drive, this was a fantastic activity for when you’re kinda tired and don’t want to go too far but still want one more adventure. The Gondola alone was about USD $30, but I knew my partner would secretly love the luge for an extra USD $10 or $13/per person. And we could take a detour on the Ben Lomond Trail from the top… and that’s precisely what we did. 

 

Gondola-ing

The Gondola leaves next to the Lord of the Fries vegan food truck, so we already knew exactly where to go, and when we arrived at 7:15 pm, almost no one was around! We got our tickets and were on the Gondola by 7:20 pm (sunset was at 8:25 pm, so we had about an hour+glow). The Gondola whisked us up the near-vertical mountain, and we got incredible views of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu almost immediately. And it deposited us inside a large modern building at the top, which housed a gift shop, daytime cafe/marketplace, and dining room. We wasted no time heading over to the luging!

Luging

The skyline “luge” is a paved track that snakes back and forth above the main building on the hillside. You ride non-motorized carts with large steering handles and a break, so you use the downhill track to accelerate. But before you begin, you must get helmets and check in at the bottom. You can take a chairlift to the top of the track. An attendant will help you get your carts, and you can practice steering before racing down. As adults, I am glad to say that we picked up how to operate the carts very quickly.  

On your marks, get set, goooooo! We zoomed around the track, whooping, hollering, and barely touching the break. Fun features like dips, tunnels, and curves were tricky but hilarious to navigate in the carts. Before long, we were back at the bottom and eager to do it again with better knowledge of the track, carts, and where the cameras were placed. As I predicted, my partner loved it and beat me every time, but only narrowly. We did at least two and maybe three runs of the luge. We probably would have done more if it wasn’t for the cost, but it was time to explore the Ben Lomond track before it got dark.

 

Tips for the Gondola/Luge/Ben Lomond

While it was an additional cost, I am glad we did the extra excursion to the Gondola, luge, and Ben Lomond trail, and we accidentally nailed the timing. Because we were super late in the day, and definitely during the dinner hour, it was super quiet everywhere. 

  • By starting after 7 pm, there was no charge for parking the car. We also got tickets and onto the Gondola without waiting, had the luging to ourselves, and saw practically no one on the Ben Lomond trail. 
  • Everything we did had a spectacular view, but that’s not what I looked at while luging. Be sure to grab some photos on the Ben Lomond trail or in front of the main building because it’s impossible to get a photo while luging.
  • If you’re already paying for the Gondola and 2 luges, you might as well pay for 3. 
  • While we had to hustle through the different activities due to the sunset, it was also SO GORGEOUS!
  • I’m glad we dipped into the Ben Lomond trail to spend more time at the top of the hill doing something that didn’t cost anything additional. It was a great way to pair something exciting with the natural beauty of New Zealand and rounded out the experience. 
  • Check for deals on the website and elsewhere before purchasing tickets. 
  • There is a walkway through the luge track we had to take when we returned from the Ben Lomond Trail. If someone doesn’t want to luge, they could still be part of the action by watching/taking a video from right next to the track. 

Scenic Drive to Glenorchy 

Pretty much any direction you drive from Queenstown is scenic. But if you’re trying to choose one scenic drive, I recommend heading to Glenorchy. The road to Glenorchy follows the shore of Lake Wakatipu by first going southwest, then turning the corner to head north. Along the way, you can appreciate the bright turquoise color of the lake and see the road winding into distant mountains. I recommend pulling over when heading to Glenorchy, as you will be on the left-hand side of the road and closer to the lake. 

Glenorchy is a cute little town at what feels like the end of the road (even though it’s not). There are a couple of tour operators, a cafe, a gift shop, and Quennie’s Dumplings (I got the veggie ones!). The town can get bustling, so take a walk over to the tiny harbor for a breath of fresh air. Then you can decide if you want to continue onto one of the many hikes in the area, such as the Routeburn Track, take the road to Paradise, or find a couple of the Lord of the Rings filming locations. Not all the streets stay paved once you leave Glenorchy, so buffer extra time as you continue to explore.

Hiking the Routeburn Track

After the scenic drive to Glenorchy, we decided to explore one of the Great Walks of New Zealand, which are typically multi-day hikes through awe-inspiring scenery. The Routeburn Track is 32 km and usually takes 2 – 4 days to complete, but it was fun to explore just part of the trail. To get there from Glenorchy, we continued north to cross the Rees River, then across the Dart River, and the rest of the way was on a dirt road past adorable sheep in the river valley and into forested land.

The Routeburn Track starts off with a swinging bridge and into Beech Forest. We saw the river several times on the trail, and the vibrant blue color contrasting the greenery surprised us every time. There is a gentle incline through the forest with lush ferns and crazy plant diversity. We gained elevation and made our way into a gorge and another bridge, where we decided to turn around. I don’t think we made it to the Routeburn Flats.

Since the start of this track is primarily through Beech Forest, we didn’t get crazy scenic views like some of our other hikes. Instead, I finally appreciated the New Zealand flora and fauna and noticed little details about the ferns, mosses, or the sound of the birds. On the way back, we opted to take a slight detour to do the Routeburn Nature Walk. I loved this detour as it had informational plaques about the plants along the trail. While I’m glad we made an effort to explore a portion of the Routeburn Track, the first part doesn’t have a knock-your-socks-off viewpoint. Instead, its beauty is a little more subtle and a worthy addition to a scenic drive to Glenorchy.

Queenstown Gardens or Queenstown Hill at Sunset

The sunsets over Lake Wakatipu were lovely, and I recommend seeing at least one. To get some fresh air while seeing the sunset, head to Queenstown Garden or Queenstown Hill. Both can be accessed straight from downtown, and Queenstown Gardens covers the peninsula that stretches into Lake Wakatipu. With a gentle hill in the center, walking paths, and gardens, this is a lovely walk at any time of day. Or you can play a round of frisbee golf! At the park’s edge, you get views of Lake Wakatipu, where we caught the sunset one night.

Unfortunately, I didn’t know about Queenstown Hill until researching items for this blog post! It is a trail that leaves the downtown area and climbs the iconic hill behind Queenstown. Since there is elevation gain, the track may be a little more challenging but also rewards you with great views over Queenstown and the lake. I’ll definitely do this next time!

 

 

Water Activities

Lake Wakatipu is the zig-zag-shaped lake that surrounds Queenstown, and it would be lovely to experience the city from a new angle. Since we were just on Milford Sound, we didn’t prioritize water activities. Here are a few that I was considering:

  • Cruise Lake Wakatipu – If you don’t have a chance to do a fjord cruise, this would be a great alternative at a lovely slow pace to take in the scenery. I bet this would be gorgeous in the spring when the mountains still have a bit of snow. Or perhaps at sunset? Lovely and not as pricey!
  • Hydro Attack – Okay, this seems absolutely ridiculous… but also fun…? I can’t decide, but if you want to zoom underwater and jump vertically in the air inside a metal shark on Lake Wakatipu, you can! The first time I saw it in the bay, I was stunned. 
  • Rent kayak or paddle boards – Yep, you can even go self-powered on the lake. 
  • Jetboat Tour – Not exactly relaxing and not exactly on the lake, the speed jet boat tours zoom up and down the Shotover River. They make quick turns and donuts on the river for an exhilarating experience.

 

 

Biking/Mountain Biking

While we didn’t have enough time to go biking or mountain biking while in Queenstown, we ran into some of the trails! While at a crossroad on Ben Lomond Track, we found a sign pointing in one direction for walking and the other for biking. Turns out it was part of the Queenstown bike park! And if you want to experience the longest vertical descent, head to Cardrona’s alpine resort. 

Also, while we were taking a scenic sunset drive, we saw someone loading bikes into the back of their truck with a phenomenal view of Lake Wakatipu. We pulled over and discovered the Seven Mile Point Trail, a multi-use trail that follows the shores of the lake. Another intermediate ride is around Lake Hayes, which looks to be around 5 miles in length. For all of the trails around Queenstown, check out the Queenstown Trail Trust, which has all the different tracks listed and recommendations for renting a bike. Another thing we will have to come back to!

Vegan Delights

Queenstown is a vegan paradise!! Especially after being in Te Anau which had scant vegan items, it seemed like every restaurant had possibilities!

  • Bespoke Kitchen – Bespoke was our favorite restaurant back in 2020, and we ended up going here for my birthday brunch! We a separate time to get dessert and coffee just as they closed. I wish they were open for dinner.
  • Lord of the Fries  – We went here more than once because of how fast, convenient, and tasty it is! It’s definitely not the healthiest option, but they have an extensive menu of fast-food items. You gotta get the poutine fries at least once!
  • Hell Pizza – This was a great late-night option with more than one vegan pizza option! 
  • Yonder – An adorable place with an okay experience. The night we went, they had stand-up comedy happening. The live event made it busy and chaotic when we tried to eat dinner. They had a delicious vegan option, but the portion size was a little small… and it was tough to get our original order in; we just gave up trying to get more. I would give it another chance.
  • Vudu Cafe – Vegan desserts alert! When we first got to Queenstown, I stopped by to grab a coffee and was shocked at the fancy vegan desserts here on our drive to Wanaka.
  • New: HALO Forbidden Bite – While making sure that each place is still open, I discovered HALO Forbidden Bite, an upscale option with an entire vegan menu. Let me know if it’s any good!
  • Soul Food: We went to Soul Food when it was located in Wanaka, but it now moved to the Queenstown area! This little grocery store had some ready-to-eat items in their bakery case.

 

Day Trips from Queenstown

And if you somehow run out of outdoorsy things to do in Queenstown, you can always take a drive to other activity hubs like Wanaka, Te Anau, and Aoraki/Mt. Cook. Here’s a sampling of things to do in each of those areas:

Overall Thoughts: Outdoorsy Things to do in Queenstown, New Zealand

What a fantastic way to finish our trip to New Zealand! We were in heaven with vegan and vegetarian options and gluttony of outdoorsy things to do in Queenstown. It was harder to decide what to prioritize, but I feel like we got a great taste for our first visit and can continue to narrow down on future trips. Bungee Jumping was an obvious highlight for me, but I also loved the peaceful Onsen pools and silly luging with the gondola ride. 

We stayed three nights and somehow caught all three magnificent sunsets while exploring – from the Queenstown Gardens, Ben Lomond Trail, and while driving the scenic road toward Glenorchy. Going back, I’d love to finish the Ben Lomond trail, do some biking, and maybe check out new areas like the Remarkables mountains, Lake Hayes, or Lake Moke. Writing this post makes me want to go back even more.

Okay, while we had a fantastic time in Queenstown, and this is already a massive post, I still feel like I’m missing something. If you’ve been there before (or when you come back), please tell me – what was your favorite outdoorsy activity? Let me and other travelers know in the comments what I should look forward to in the future!

Happy Travels,

Hanna

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