Queenstown

Queenstown from the top of the Gondola Photo taken by: Adriana Reb (Flying Kiwi Traveller)

Adventure Tours in Queenstown

Queenstown - Tour Highlights

If there is a place in the world which can be called “The Adventure Capital”. this is, without any doubts, Queenstown. This beautiful emplacement concentrates most of the scariest and craziest activities that can be done. The atmosphere is encouraging with a buzzing vibe so it’s a great place to face your challenges. Furthermore, located beside the biggest lake in the country, Lake Wakatipu, this bustling city offers multiple things to do and enjoy with a huge variety of activities, good bars and restaurants and beautiful tranquil spots to just sit and enjoy.

Time spent here while on a Flying Kiwi tour:

During our Summer (Oct-Apr) and Winter (July-Aug) tours we spend 2 nights in this buzzing location.

Tours that take you here:

BOTH ISLAND TOURS: SOUTH ISLAND TOURS: WINTER TOURS:
Ultimate Explorer - 27 or 28 days   Summer Blast - 16, 17 or 19 days          Alpine Explorer - 9 days 
Total Aotearoa - 24 days  Southern Light - 9 or 10 days Ski & Snow Explorer - 6 days
Grand Traverse - 15 days Wild West - 8 or 9 days Best of the West - 4 days 
Reverse Traverse - 14 or 15 days              


Where we stay: 

Queenstown Lakeview Holiday Park - We’ve selected this location due to it’s close proximity to all the major hotspots and to enable you to maximise the Queenstown experience, day and night! With a short 400 metres walk from the centre of Queenstown, the Mall and Lake front as well as all major iconic attractions including the Skyline Gondola and Luge this is the place to be!

During our summer tours (Oct-Apr) we pitch our tents and in the winter (July-Aug) we stay in self-contained units.

- Wifi, 30minutes free per guest per day at the reception area. Parkside - $5 for 24 hrs 100GB
- Laundry, $4 per wash (30mins), $4 per dry (45mins) 

Queenstown is a popular place to both start or finish your Flying Kiwi tour; please see below for both pre & post tour accommodation options: 

Jucy Snooze - Located in the heart of downtown Queenstown, JUCY Snooze opened its doors in April 2018. Jucy Snooze Queenstown has a rooftop bar & cafe overlooking the majestic Lake Wakatipu with free WiFi throughout. You can choose from Double or Quad Ensuites, or nestle into one of the Jucy Pods - a private space in a shared room that’s able to be completely enclosed. Perfect for sleeping AND chilling out!

Things not to miss:

Try one of Fergburger’s tasty creations, a city’s characteristic local. Order it in advance to avoid the long queue and enjoy this delicious experience. If burgers aren’t for you or just need something extra, go next door and enjoy a Fergbaker Pie!

Things to do:

Take a walk around the Queenstown Gardens for stunning views of Lake Wakatipu. Take your own frisbee or rent one ($7) and play disc golf. It’s a kind of golf, but with the humble frisbee, it's great fun and is a popular pastime for the locals.

queenstown at night on tour

Free Things to Do:

Queenstown sunsets are truly epic and if you can, make time to head down to the lakefront to check it out. As the sun sets behind the mountains the clouds get painted in all kinds of beautiful colours.  New Zealand at night truly comes alive so get ready for action once the sun goes down.

Insiders Tip:

Sure, there are loads of restaurants to choose from but on a nice evening you can’t beat dinner beside the lake. Grab some takeaways, perhaps even a delicious Fergburger, a cold drink of something tasty to wash it down and go and enjoy a great meal beside the lakes edge while potentially watching a stunning sunset, perfect!

 

views from the top queenstown

Hiking Options:

The Ben Lomond Track – this is a full day hike but well worth the 1,748m climb to the summit for stunning views at the top! On a fine day you’ll enjoy 360° views overlooking Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, Mt Earnslaw, Mt Aspiring and many other peaks beyond.

The Queenstown Hill walk – a short but steep 3hr return walk taking you to an awesome viewpoint that has panoramic views across Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, The Remarkables, Cecil Peak and the Kawarau River.

Cycle Options:

Lake Wakatipu Ride – part of the Queenstown Trail, the Lake Wakatipu Ride is a relatively flat and easy ride perfect if you feel like a couple of hours in the fresh Queenstown air. We highly recommend stopping at the iconic Boat shed Café along the way to reward yourself with a sweet treat or coffee while enjoying the views over the lake to the spectacular Remarkables Moutains.

Kawarau Bridge Trail – this ride connects with three fantastic cycle trails showcasing Lake Wakatipu, the famous Kawarau and Shotover Rivers, Kawarau scenic reserve and Gibbston Valley.

Queenstown Bike Park - Attach your specialty mountain bike (can be hired from the bike park) to your Gondola cabin at the Skyline base and enjoy the leisurely uphill Gondola ride before detaching your bike and taking on the legendary challenges of the Queenstown Bike Park! Ride over 26 world class mountain biking trails and varying terrain for all abilities amongst the pine trees of the Ben Lomond Reserve,

Our pick of Queenstown’s Top 10 Adventure Activities:

Our pick of Top Wellington Activities:

skyline queenstown gondola bluebird

Skyline Gondola

The steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere, and we consider it one of the must-do activities in Queenstown, so much so we've included it free with many Flying Kiwi tours. Sit back as you ride the 450 metres above Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu where you'll enjoy the best views in the region!

Nevis Bungy 4

Nevis Bungy 

It's the big one! The only purpose built bungy over a canyon in New Zealand. This bad boy with have you free falling for 8.5 seconds but the pure fear and adrenaline will keep you buzzing for hours. This 134m Bungy is the highest in New Zealand and definitely not for the faint hearted.

 Nevis Swing 2

Nevis Swing

The world’s biggest swing, where you will be suspended above the valley floor and released! It's big and it's bad! Swing by yourself or tandem with a friend, go forwards, backwards or upside down - you choose. However you do it be prepared for the adrenalin rushes to go to the next level!

 NZone Marie Obermeier Skydive 1

Skydiving

A volatile cocktail of nylon, titanium and air! Step out that door and for up to 60 seconds you plummet towards earth at 200km/hr. Terminal Velocity! Be brave even if you aren't - no one will know! Queenstown is the birthplace of tandem skydiving and with views like this, we consider the perfect place to jump out of a perfectly good aeroplane!

 paragliding

Paragliding

You want the views but not the heart stopping scare?! Enjoy breathtaking views from Coronet Peak, the highest commercial take-off in NZ whilst you & your pilot soar majestically through the skies like an eagle, surrounded by breathtaking mountain views.

 Ismael Garcia Reyes horseriding qtn

Horse riding 

Ride through some of New Zealand's most pristine countryside, through glacial fed rivers with picturesque mountain views in an area rich with history and many filming locations from Lord Of The Rings.

 Canyon Jet Hannah Jones

Skippers Canyon Jet 

An unbeatable value Jet boat tour which includes a fully guided tour into the heart of Skippers Canyon along the infamous hand carved Skippers Road followed by a thrilling jet boat ride through the most dramatic canyons on the Shotover River.

 real journeys 400x400x

Walter Peak Farm Visit

A New Zealand farming tour like no other with the added bonus of a scenic cruise on Lake Wakatipu on board the vintage TSS Earnslaw steam ship! Spend a relaxing few hours enjoying the interactive experience as you see the inside of a working New Zealand farm.

 skiing qtn

Skiing & Snowboarding

Skiers and snowboarders are spoiled for choice in Queenstown. With three ski fields close by you can be on the slopes within the hour! With unrivalled alpine scenery, world class infrastructure and varied open terrain, each ski field has its own unique character and is well worth checking out! Don't by shy these fields are perfect for all levels.