Queenstown, New Zealand

Queenstown: What It Does Well and What It Costs

Queenstown has a population of about 16,000 but handles several million visitors per year. It sits on the shore of Lake Wakatipu, backed by the Remarkables mountain range to the south and Coronet Peak to the north. The setting is genuinely dramatic. The town has built an industry around adventure activities - bungy jumping, jet boating, whitewater rafting, skydiving - and around skiing in winter. It is expensive even by New Zealand standards, and crowded during peak months (December-February, July-August).

The Kawarau Bridge bungy

The Kawarau Gorge Bridge, 23km from Queenstown, is the site of the world’s first commercial bungy jump, operated by AJ Hackett since 1988. The bridge hangs 43m above the Kawarau River. A jump costs NZD 245 (2024 pricing). The Ledge at the top of the Skyline gondola in town offers a 47m urban jump for NZD 225. Neither is cheap. Both are commercially run with strong safety records. Queenstown bungy operations have conducted millions of jumps without fatalities.

The Nevis Bungy, 134m above the Nevis River 35km from town, is the highest in New Zealand and requires a separate bus transfer (NZD 305 total).

Jet boating

Shotover Jet operates on the Shotover River canyon, 10 minutes from town. The boats achieve 85km/h in a canyon where the clearance on either side is sometimes 1-2 metres. The 25-minute ride costs NZD 159 adults. It is loud, wet, and operates multiple departures per hour throughout the day. Most visitors find it worth the price.

Skiing

The Remarkables ski area (25km from town) and Coronet Peak (18km) are both accessible by shuttle from Queenstown. Daily lift passes cost NZD 115-145 (2024). Coronet Peak has more terrain variety; the Remarkables has better beginner areas. Cardrona, 60km away over the Crown Range, is the third option and often has better snow conditions than the two closer mountains. June through September is the ski season; snow conditions vary significantly year to year.

The Milford Sound day trip

Most Queenstown visitors do a day trip to Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound. Milford is 290km by road (4-4.5 hours each way), a long day from Queenstown but manageable. The fiord, with its 1,692m vertical cliffs and waterfalls, is one of the most photographed landscapes in New Zealand. Boat cruises depart from Milford twice daily (around NZD 85-110 adults). Flying into Milford from Queenstown (NZD 250-400 depending on operator and route) cuts the ground travel but adds cost.

Food

Fergburger on Shotover Street is genuinely good - the queue outside tells you so, but it moves quickly. A burger costs NZD 14-18. The bun is housemade and the patties are substantial. It is open from 08:00 and serves until 04:30; the late hours serve the post-bar crowd. Arrive between 11:00-12:00 before the lunch rush.

For a proper restaurant meal, Flame on the Lake at the Hilton and Rata on The Mall are consistently well-reviewed. Rata (NZD 35-50 per main, New Zealand produce, technically accomplished cooking) is the better-value of the two.

Arrowtown

The gold rush settlement 21km from Queenstown retains its 19th-century main street largely intact. The Lakes District Museum (NZD 12 entry) covers Otago gold rush history and Chinese settlement. The central street of wooden shopfronts is worth 90 minutes.