Queenstown

Adventure capital with alpine beauty

Queenstown sits on the edge of a deep lake in New Zealand’s South Island. The town is surrounded by mountains and forests, making it easy to see why outdoor activities like hiking, skiing and water sports are popular here. The climate stays cool most of the year, which keeps the scenery lush and inviting. Queenstown has a small-town feel but provides modern amenities for travelers looking for adventure or relaxation. Its location makes exploring nearby fjords and peaks simple, so visitors can experience varied landscapes without long travel times.

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Town in New Zealand

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.6

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	9

Read details

5/5

English is universally spoken in Queenstown, and all signage, menus, and tours are in English. Locals are friendly and used to international visitors, so communication is easy for tourists.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 27 Oct 2026

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Queenstown Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

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World-class for adventure sports and mountain scenery. Try bungee jumping and skiing, take lake cruises and hike alpine trails.

Place score

8.5

Best at:

Mountains

Natural sites

Guided tours

Lakes

Spotless

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

👩 8

Solo

New Zealand – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type I Type I: Read about power adapters
Currency:	New Zealand Dollar (NZD) £1 ≈ NZ$2.34
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted across New Zealand, and credit cards are commonly used, especially in urban areas and tourist spots. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not expected in New Zealand, though it is appreciated for exceptional service. 5-10% in restaurants and small tips for taxi and hotel staff are common.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally allowed in some designated areas but may be restricted in others. Consumption of alcohol in public places may require a permit.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in many public areas, especially indoor spaces and public transport.

Waitangi Day (6 February)	A national holiday celebrating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 111 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Ola
Other:	New Zealand is known for its stunning landscapes, from beaches and mountains to national parks and cultural experiences.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Queenstown, New Zealand

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Jan

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	Jan. - March, June - Aug., Dec.
Shoulder season:	April, Sep., Nov.
Crowdedness:	10 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Ski season usually mid June to early October at Coronet Peak and The Remarkables

Milford Sound road and Routeburn Track: avalanche and ice closures possible in winter, Great Walks bookings needed October to April

Christmas to mid January: accommodation fully booked weeks ahead, prices at their highest

Don't miss

🚡 Ride the Skyline Gondola for panoramic views
⚡ Zipline through the pine trees at Bob's Peak
🚤 Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the historic TSS Earnslaw
🌺 Stroll and relax in the beautiful Queenstown Gardens
🦜 Visit Kiwi Birdlife Park to see native wildlife

You've been here?

Why travel to Queenstown?

Queenstown is famous for its adventure activities – think bungee jumping, jet boating, paragliding and world-class skiing. But there’s so much more: tranquil lake cruises, vineyard tours and hiking trails with jaw-dropping vistas. The town itself buzzes with energy, great food and a friendly, international vibe. It’s also a gateway to some of New Zealand’s most iconic landscapes, from Milford Sound to the Remarkables. Just be prepared: Queenstown is popular and can get busy, especially in peak seasons. Prices are on the higher side for New Zealand and you’ll want to book your accommodation and activities in advance. Weather can change quickly, so pack for all seasons and check forecasts before heading out on hikes.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Skyline Gondola
2 Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge
3 Gibbston Valley Resort
4 Marine Parade

🎡Places for activities

1 Skyline Road
2 Kawarau Bridge Bungy
3 Shotover Canyon Swing
4 Hydro Attack
5 Arrow Luge Track
6 above paragliding spot

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Queenstown Gardens
2 Ben Lomond
3 Lake Hayes
4 Shotover River
5 Moke Lake
6 Coronet Peak
7 The Remarkables
8 Lake Wakatipu

🛍️Shopping

1 O'Connells Shopping Centre
2 Remarkables Park Town Centre
3 Queenstown Mall
4 Vesta Design
5 The Bead Shop
6 Ivan Clarke Gallery
7 The Winery

🎈Events

Queenstown Winter Festival
Queenstown Marathon
LUMA Southern Light Project
Gibbston Valley Summer Concert
Queenstown Jazz Festival
Queenstown Bike Festival
New Year’s Eve Fireworks
Winter Pride
Queenstown International Marathon
Arrowtown Autumn Festival

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Book activities early; peak seasons sell out fast.
Pack layers year-round; weather shifts quickly between lake breezes and alpine conditions.
Use buses or walk; parking is scarce and expensive downtown.
For quieter lake views, visit Moke Lake at golden hour – bring insect repellent and a windproof jacket.

How to travel to Queenstown

Queenstown Airport (ZQN) has direct flights from Auckland, Wellington and several Australian cities. It’s about 15 minutes by taxi or shuttle to the town center. Long-distance buses connect Queenstown to other South Island destinations and scenic drives from Christchurch or Dunedin are popular for road‑trippers.

Access summary

From Queenstown Airport (ZQN): Orbus #1 or taxi, about 10–25 minutes.
From Auckland/Christchurch: Direct domestic flights to Queenstown, roughly 1.5–2 hours.
From Te Anau/Milford: Scenic drive or tour buses, usually 2–4.5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Queenstown

Queenstown offers everything from luxury lakeside resorts and boutique hotels to cozy hostels and self-catering apartments. There’s something for every budget, but book early in peak seasons. Lakeside and central accommodations fill up quickly, while quieter stays can be found in nearby Frankton or Arrowtown.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables park By IHG

9.2

Swiss-Belsuites Pounamu Queenstown

8.3

Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa

8.6

voco Queenstown By IHG

9.1

Melbourne Lodge

8.5

Oaks Queenstown Shores Resort

8.3

Sudima Queenstown Five Mile

9.2

Crowne Plaza Queenstown By IHG

8.8

DoubleTree by Hilton Queenstown

8.5

Tahuna Pod Hostel

9.0

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How to get around Queenstown

The town center is compact and walkable, with most shops, restaurants and bars just steps apart. Local buses connect Queenstown to surrounding suburbs, ski fields and the airport. For exploring further afield – like Arrowtown or the wineries – renting a car is handy, but parking in town can be limited. Bike rentals are also popular for lakeside rides.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+1 %

Daily expenses in Queenstown are around 1% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend around the same on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-15 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to NZD) is 15% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is considerably cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£53	£135	£359
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£20	£54	£113
🍝 Food per day	£29	£74	£219
🚕 Transportation per day	£5	£7	£28

Notable additional fees: Coronet Peak and The Remarkables charge about NZ$169 (£72.27) for an adult day pass, cheaper booked online. Ski, boot and pole hire runs roughly NZ$60 – 80 (£25.66 – 34.21) a day.

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£32
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£14
🍟 Fast food combo	£7
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£10.50
☕ Cappuccino	£2.60
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£5.50

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.95
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£17
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.30

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£10.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£31
🤧 Cold medication	£3.40
💇 Basic haircut	£11.50

Safety information overview

General safety

Queenstown is very safe, with low crime rates. The main risks are car break-ins (don’t leave valuables visible) and rare petty theft in bars. Be mindful of natural hazards like sudden weather changes, earthquakes, or — very rarely-tsunamis.

Health & Medical

Medical care is excellent, with clinics and a hospital in town. Pharmacies are easy to find. Adventure activities carry some risk, so ensure you have travel insurance and follow safety instructions closely.

Accessibility

Most central attractions and hotels are accessible, but some outdoor activities and hiking trails may not be suitable for all. The town is hilly in places, so check accessibility if you have mobility needs.

Tap water

Tap water is safe, clean and tastes great. Public drinking fountains are available, so bring a bottle to refill while exploring or hiking.