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I spent the first portion of my three-week trip to New Zealand in Queenstown, the South Island’s adventure capital. From bungy jumping to skiing to white water rafting and eating your face off, Queenstown has a little something for everyone. It was a quick but super fun three days in Queenstown and I’m going to give my best recommendations for having a hell of a time there.
Be prepared for views like this, everywhere in Queenstown.
About Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown is a resort town on the South Island of New Zealand known for it’s adventure activities. With a population of under 30,000 residents, you can expect to encounter lots and lots of tourists in Queenstown.
The Vibe:
Get ready for ski-town vibes. Think Victoria, BC, Vail CO (slightly cozier and smaller), think Pacific Northwest views—snow-capped peaks and lakes and lush greenery everywhere. You can bring something nice to wear for a dinner, but expect to mostly see a lot of beanies, flannels, and snow pants.
Getting Around:
Getting around Queenstown is easy by foot, car, or public transport. There is an international airport just a ten-minute drive from town, but most of the flights will be to and from other New Zealand airports. Driving in Queenstown was easy, but parking not so much. I highly recommend booking accommodation that is in town or a short walk. There is a very good bus system that can take you where you need to be for cheap. Get info on buying a bus pass and how to use it here.
A cute downtown scene, until you notice the KFC in the background.
How Much Time Should I spend in Queenstown?
If you have a car, I think three days is plenty of time to spend in this little town. It is a bit of the ‘same old same old’ after that. If you won’t be driving, Queenstown is a great place to stay as a hub for your other adventures. You can catch a bus from downtown to the airport, to a bungy site, and to many other day tours in the area. There are plenty of tour shops in the downtown area, where you can browse things to do, and almost all of the tours and activities have an option that includes transportation. (If you have your own car, you’ll likely want to explore more road trip style—drive to an area and stay there overnight, before driving on to the next attraction.)
Where to Stay in Queenstown:
For your stay in Queenstown, definitely book accommodation in or close to the downtown area. The drive to and from town is a straight shot, but there is one way in and out, which can result in traffic. Parking will be very annoying. Save yourself the hassle by staying within walking distance of the restaurants, bars, shops, and tour offices.
I stayed in Queenstown by myself for one night, in an Airbnb, while my friends were in Australia. The next day when they joined me, we moved to a hotel just steps from downtown. The Airbnb was slightly further out, about ten minutes on foot to downtown, but it was SO freaking CUTE that I’m going to recommend it. It was a bedroom in a house with a shared bathroom, so if you’re against that, then click around for something different. But for my one night as a solo traveler it was PERFECT. Check out the adorable seating area by the bay windows overlooking the lake. Sip coffee and watch the boats go by, or get lost in the clouds shifting to hide, and then reveal, the snow-capped mountains across the water. It was a great budget option for one night with easy access to everything. Click here to see the listing.
Our other hotel was fine, but not rec-worthy. The location was stellar, though. So do yourself a favor and book nice and close.
Coffee in one of my favorite stays of the whole trip.
Just look at that reading nook!
Things to Do in Queenstown
Go Hiking!
Queenstown Hill Walking Track
The Queenstown Hill Walking Track is a gorgeous hike just a short walk from the center of town. I would consider it a must-do if you’re going to be in Queenstown. But don’t let the name fool you; this was no casual stroll up a “hill”.
Rated Hard on Alltrails, the Queenstown Hill hike is a steep incline for its entirety. In three short miles, you’ll gain 1300 feet of elevation and be treated to sweeping views of Lake Wakatipu, all of Queenstown, and the snow-capped peaks of Ben Lomond, Mount Earnslaw, and The Remarkables—one of New Zealand’s famous ranges. There is little cover at higher altitudes, so wear sunblock, and make sure to bring extra layers. It was quite cold and very windy at the top.
Frankton Waterfront Track
Okay, so this is more of a lovely nature stroll than a real hike. But I earned a low and slow after the elevation on Queenstown Hill. My Airbnb host recommended Frankton Walking Track, as it runs just behind where the house was perched. It is a mostly flat walk that hugs Lake Wakatipu and boasts grand views of the snow-capped peaks that circle it. You’ll pass by Queenstown Gardens, where you can take a detour to play disc golf or visit the gardens, and eventually it takes you straight into the downtown area of Queenstown. Perfect for a morning jog, if you happen to be gearing up for a race, like I was, or an afternoon stroll into town.
Top of Queenstown Hill, trying not to blow away.
The views from the top are so worth the work.
Bungy Jumping in Queenstown
Bungy Jumping is one of the best things to do in Queenstown, if you’re looking for a thrill.
The Kawarau Bungy Center was founded in 1988 and is home to the first commercial bungy jumping center in the world. This made it a good choice for my first time bungy jumping. The fact that it’s not quite as high as some of the other, newer bungy centers also didn’t hurt. Never to be an overachiever and scared out of my wits, I felt this level of bungy jumping was plenty for me, thank you very much.
There is another AJ Hackett bungy center near Queenstown. The Nevis Bungy is the highest bungy in New Zealand, with a height of 134 meters. You can fear your own death for a full 8.5 seconds with this one.
Both bungy centers offer buses from the center of town, and both can be booked on the AJ Hackett Website.
If you want to read more about my experience bungy jumping, click here: Face First: Bungy Jumping in New Zealand
Check out my post on Bungy jumping in New Zealand for more info!
Where to Eat in Queenstown
Nailing down the best restaurants in Queenstown will be tough, because there are SO many. But here are some of the places to eat in Queenstown that I loved.
Yonder
Yonder is a hip little café with indoor and outdoor seating that is the perfect spot for breakfast, lunch, or even a late night live music show, as we found out on our last night in Queenstown. Yonder was the first restaurant I stopped in after arriving in Queenstown. I flew from SAN-LAX-AKL-ZQN, which took more than 20 hours all-in. I arrived too early in the morning to check in to my accommodation, and unfortunately for me it was raining that day. I arrived to Yonder soaked and exhausted, but left feeling pretty darn good.
First of all, there is a fireplace in the restaurant, and I was seated right next to it. Win! The delicious cappuccino warmed me from the inside, speeding the process of becoming cozy and closer to human. The Turkish eggs were delightful. I could have sat there all day, sipping coffee after coffee and waiting out the rain. But being from America, I am always concerned about occupying a table for too long. So onto my first rainy day in Queenstown I went. Later, after my friends joined me in Queenstown, we ended up at Yonder late in the evening, after being drawn by live music floating under their door, escaping into the street. It was as fun at night as in the daytime, in a totally different way.
Vudu Café and Larder
Vudu Café was a happy accident and I wish I could have eaten every single thing on the menu. I was starving after my Queenstown Hill hike and needed a little bite for breakfast before I picked up a friend from the airport. There were pastries and breads, savory and sweet, lined up in the glass case on the counter. ALL of them looked delicious. They also have a full menu with hot food items. I opted for the Veggie Miso Hash, which was pan-fried asparagus, eggplant, potatoes, capsicum, and red onion on a green pea puree with crispy nori. I added a poached egg. If I didn’t have plans to eat with my friend (arriving in an hour and a half) I would have also bought one of the sweet items. Instead, I kept my cool with one entrée and a cappuccino. It was interesting and very fucking tasty.
Ballarat Pub
This is a place to drink. It is a pub that smells a bit like beer. Wood interior, dim lighting, low ceilings, tv playing “the footy”. You know the kind of place. I stumbled into the Balarat for dinner my first night in Queenstown, before my friends joined. I was tired from the travel (and being rained on all morning) and all I wanted was somewhere warm, cozy, and chill to sit and have an easy dinner. I sat down in a bench seat against the wall, a full view of the place before me, and started having second thoughts. It was unmistakably a pub, the beer was flowing, but how would the food be? I had my doubts.
I’m glad I stayed where I was because the food was good and just what I needed. I had the roasted broccoli and Feta salad and a side of Halloumi fries with sweet chili dipping sauce. 10/10 the meal was great. I got enough vegetables to feel like an adult and also got to dip fried cheese into a sauce to my heart’s content. They are known for their burgers—or, I should say, they hype their burger menu. So maybe try one of those if you’re feeling carnivorous.
Grab a table by the fireplace and get cozy at Yonder.
My weird, vegetable-packed brunch at Vudu. Get a sweet treat for me!
@Thai Queenstown
Nope, that’s not a typo. The actual name of the restaurant contains the @ symbol. None of my business! My friends and I had an excellent dinner at @Thai Queenstown. The food was flavorful, portions were huge. It was green curry for me, like it always is, but Dasha raved about the Tom Yum Soup and its epic portion, too.
Balls and Bangles
Dasha and I wanted a light breakfast before bungy jumping. Something that would provide nourishment but not make us vomit upside down. A bagel seemed like the obvious option, so we walked our butts to Balls and Bangles. But we weren’t expecting it to be so cute! Or have so many things we wanted! You can get a bagel sandwich, a normal breakfast bagel with spread, or a BURGEL. Do you know what that is? It’s a burger ON a bagel. Wild. They also make an assortment of beautifully decorated and sickly sweet donuts. We couldn’t resist, so dasha and I split a lemon powdered donut. For the main event, I got a rosemary bagel with half dill cream cheese and half jalapeno cream cheese. They don’t mind doing halfsies, so if you’re indecisive like me, you can pick two! We each got an iced latte and left feeling ready to take on our big, scary adventure.
1876
The 1876 is a bar and restaurant that happened to be right by our hotel in Queenstown. We followed the sound of live music, took a seat on the patio, and there we stayed for HOURS. It was cheap drinks, solid pub fare, and a fun atmosphere outside—plus heat lamps! We made friends with several locals and visitors at this pub and felt right at home. They run food and drink specials throughout the week, so stop by for an afternoon snack and song!
Come for the bagels, stay for a latte. (Indulge in a donut.)
Fish and Chips are a New Zealand staple. Get it at 1876 and stay for the live music.
What We Missed
Surely you don’t think I managed to do EVERYTHING there is to do in Queenstown in just three days. If you’ll be traveling to New Zealand, here are some of the other fun things to do in Queenstown:
Queenstown Gondola
Taking a gondola ride up to the top of Bob’s Peak is one of the top things to do in Queenstown. It is apparently the steepest cable car ride in the southern hemisphere. My friends and I fully intended to take a ride, kept meaning to, but time slipped away from us and we just didn’t get to do it. I felt okay about missing it since I got such stunning views of the area from the top of the Queenstown Hill Walking Track, but if I ever went back I’d do it.
Skiing & Snowboarding
I don’t ski or snowboard, but lots of people do and this is one of the big draws for Queenstown. As I was walking towards my hike, in a tee shirt, I saw snowboarders in all their gear, boarding a bus for one of the nearby peaks. The Remarkables, Coronet Peak, and Cardrona Alpine Resort are where folks ski around Queenstown.
To compare slopes & book passes, check out Queenstown’s official Skiing & Snowboarding page.
White Water Rafting
I went white water rafting in Australia, back in 2007 when I was in college and studying abroad. It was kind of a lackluster experience, so I’ve thought I should probably try it again somewhere else. (It was too crowded on the river the day we went, meaning a lot of stops and starts to avoid collisions.) New Zealand would have been a great place to try again, but unfortunately we just didn’t have the time.
There are several different white water rafting companies in Queenstown. I cannot recommend any, but I’m sure the reviews can steer you in the right direction. Here is Queenstown’s official website for white water rafting.
We didn't get to do everything, but everything we did was SO FUN.
And there you have it, folks. A fun way to spend three days in Queenstown, New Zealand. If you have other Queenstown recommendations, leave them in the comments for everyone. Got a Queenstown hotel you love? Leave that, too! We sure do appreciate it.
If you’re traveling to Queenstown, I hope this little guide helps. If you want more info on bungy jumping (at Kawarua), click back to my last post about it, and be sure to check back in a couple weeks for more New Zealand stuff. It was my last big trip for a while, so New Zealand will be filling the travel content quota. Don’t worry if you’re not into it; I’ll probably have an emotional moment or wild flight attendant story worth writing about soon.
I’m going to link some more travel and flight attendant content below, and since we are rapidly approaching the holidays, I’ll be putting those pieces first. Click around if you feel like it. If it’s your first time here, thanks so much for stopping by. Hope to have you back!
If you want to stay up to date with the latest travel tips, flight attendant stories, and uber-personal anecdotes, then consider subscribing. And if you like what I’m doing here and want to show some love, you can now buy me a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/awheelinthesky. Unlike holidays with your family, here a gift is never expected and always so appreciated.
Have a kick ass weekend. <3
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