Queenstown is the tourist hub of the South Island. This is where you can easy access to snowy mountains, amazing landscapes and adrenaline pumping activities. My first trip to Queenstown was for our honeymoon in 2018, and since then we have made the trip back down south at least another 2 times. Each time exploring a new part of the island from Milford Sound to the West Coast and across to Christchurch. If this will be your first time down south then this Queenstown Itinerary will help you get started with what is on offer in Otago.

Getting Around Queenstown

Queenstown centre is easy to get around without a car, the bars and restaurants in Queenstown are mainly situated on the water front with a few cheaper options a street or two back. You can easily spend a weekend in Queenstown without a car, but it just means more organising around public transport or tour activities to rely on to take you out of the city to see the incredible landscapes surrounding Queenstown

Car Rentals in Queenstown

Renting a car in Queenstown is super easy, there are plenty of rental companies at the airport you can either pre-book through or organise a car on the day you land.
There are at least 10 different rental companies at Queenstown airport, Avis car rentals and Hertz are the two main companies I have used each time I have visitied Queenstown.

Queenstown Taxis and Public Transport

As well as traditional taxi services, Uber is available in Queenstown which is super handy if you plan on having a few drinks or find the street parking in the city too expensive if you stay out of the main CBD. Public buses are of course another great option to get around the town and to neighbouring locations.

Day 1 – Skippers Canyon and Jet Boat Tour

Lets start your Queenstown weekend getaway off with a bang; Skippers Canyon is the longest road in New Zealand where vehicle insurance is not offered. So I would highly suggest booking a tour with Skippers Canyon Tours before you even contemplate taking your own vehicle down the canyon.

This is not a good option if you are deathly scared of heights, but the reward of such a scary drive is the views and the jet boat ride at the end. The road is almost a single lane and on one side is a cliff face, and the other is a several hundred meter drop to the ravine below. Skippers Canyon is also a filming location for the most recent Mission Impossible film where Tom Cruise flies a helicopter through a canyon, but you’ll learn more about that and the history of Skippers canyon when you take the tour!
You can read more about Skippers Canyon and Jet Boat Tour here!

Queenstown Private Spa Pools

At the end of the day reward yourself with a much deserved soak in a private spa at either Onsen Hot Pools or Nugget Point. Both locations have amazing facilities; Onsen is famous for it’s private spa set up over looking the valley, and although Nugget Point looks over almost the exact same view, their shared swimming pool facilities are beautiful with Roman inspired interiors. So depending on your weekend budget and availability, both are worth checking out, just make sure you book well in advance!

Day 2 – AJ Hackett Bungy and Ziplining

It’s not a trip to Queenstown if your adrenaline doesn’t spike at least once everyday. AJ Hackett is widely known in New Zealand as the company that’s most likely to make you pee your pants. Originally starting with a bungy over the Kawerau River, they have since extended their adrenaline pumping activities to swings, catapults and zip rides. I could only muster up enough courage to do the Queenstown Zipline which was more fun than expected but if you love the feeling of falling then check out either of the bungys, catapults or swing on their website.

Queenstown Wineries

Once you’re done jumping from bridges or swinging into valleys, continue along state highway 6 to one of the many vineyards along the way for a drink and some lunch. All of the wineries along this route to Cromwell have amazing views of the surrounding landscape and provide impeccable wine and food.

Roaring Meg Dam

The Roaring Meg Dam is a powerful hydro station in the Kawerau river used to create power for the region since 1936.
The Roaring Meg is worth stopping for the beauty of the Kawerau river and the shear noise of the water that pushes through the power station and two turbines.

Day 3 – Visit Arrowtown and the Chinese Settlement

You can’t spend a weekend in Queenstown without visiting their historic neighbour Arrowtown. Without a doubt Arrowtown is one of the coldest places I have visited in New Zealand, it sits in the shadow of the Crown Range and almost always has a low cover of fog covering the town. Arrowtown is famous for it’s historic Chinese settlement from the goldmining days in the late 1800’s. Check out the Remarkable Sweet Shop in the town for some amazing fudge and if you’re visiting in winter then grab yourself a mulled wine from the pub around the corner.

After you’ve spent your morning freezing your tits off in Arrowtown, head up the Crown Range to see some amazing views from across the valley, and if you have enough time visit the historic Cardona Pub for another snack.

Drive Crown Range

The Crown Range was once popular for being a back road that car rental companies would request you to not drive. These days the Crown Range is a popular road to get to plenty more ski fields or the Cardrona pub for a drink.
The Crown Range sits in the hills towering above Arrowtown, the views from above allow an almost 360 degree view across the valley and south towards Queenstown, this is also a popular route to take if you’re wanting to visit Wanaka or further north.

Cardrona Pub

The Cardrona pub is one of the oldest pubs in the south island and has been the main character in plenty of New Zealand TV adverts or shows across the years. The pub sits on the Crown Range and is open most afternoons carrying on into the evening and boasts a bar full of your choice of beer or spirits. There are also rooms to book for a night or two if you don’t mind staying slightly further out from any other food options in the area. Cardrona pub has an indoor fire to enjoy during winter, and a large backyard to relax in during summer.

Other Things to do in Queenstown

Eat out at Fergburger

Ferburger is the most popular burger joint in Queenstown; queues will stretch down the street with hungry customers happily waiting over 45 minutes to get their hands on a supersized Fergbuger. From breakfast burgers, to the main meat options including venison, Fergburger also caters for vegetarians with falafel and tofu patty options.

Since finding its success with delicious burgers, the ‘Ferg’ brand has since stretched their expertise to a bakery, bar and gelato shop. You will find these individual stores dotted around Queenstown; make a day of it and enjoy a meal at every Ferg branch!

Ski or Snowboard At the Remarkables

Queenstown is most popular during winter for its snow season. Tourists and locals visit the region by the numbers to take a turn on traversing the mountains on boards or skis. The Remarkables ski field is the most well known mountain in Queenstown due to it towering above the town and creating a jaggered silhoutte during dusk and dawn.

If you’re keen to come back to the South Island to explore more of New Zealand’s natural beauty, check out my following itineraries for a Wanaka to Franz Josef road trip, or a 10 day road trip around Otago and Canterbury.