Queenstown Lakes

What to see

Queenstown sits on Lake Wakatipu with the Remarkables range behind it, and offers bungy, jet boating, skydiving, gondola rides and tracks of every length. Wanaka, on its own lake, is calmer and a good base for hiking, including the steep Roys Peak track. In winter, both towns serve ski fields like Coronet Peak, the Remarkables, Cardrona and Treble Cone.

• The Skyline Gondola and luge above Queenstown
• The Kawarau Bridge bungy, the original commercial bungy jump
• Roys Peak track at Wanaka for the view
• Ski fields around both towns in winter

Getting around

Queenstown to Wanaka is about an hour over the Crown Range, the highest sealed road in the country, or a little longer on the easier valley route. Queenstown has an airport with direct flights, and the town centre is walkable. A car helps for the lakes, the wineries at Gibbston, and Wanaka, but many activities include transport.

When to go

Summer is for hiking, the lakes and the long days. Autumn brings gold colour and fewer people. Winter, roughly June to September, is the ski season and the busiest time after summer, with higher prices. Spring is quiet and can still be cold in the mountains.

Honest notes

Queenstown is expensive and busy, and accommodation in peak summer and ski season books out and costs a lot, so reserve early. The adventure activities add up fast, with a bungy jump around NZ$200 and up, so pick a couple rather than trying everything. Wanaka is the cheaper, calmer base if Queenstown feels too much, and the scenery is just as good.

Costs and practical tips

This is the priciest corner of the country, so plan a budget. Beyond the bungy, jet boat trips and skydives run well into the hundreds of dollars, and a winter ski day with lift pass and hire adds up too. The free options are strong though: the lakefront walks, the Queenstown Hill and Wanaka lakeside tracks, and the much-photographed Wanaka willow tree out in the lake all cost nothing.

• Roys Peak is a steep 16 km return climb above Wanaka; start early to beat the crowds
• The Gibbston wineries near Queenstown can be visited by bike along the river trail
• Self-cater where you can, as eating out in Queenstown is dear

Queenstown or Wanaka

Queenstown has the activities, the nightlife and the airport, but it is crowded and costs more. Wanaka, an hour away, is quieter and family friendly, with the same lakes and mountains and easier hiking on its doorstep. Many travellers split a few nights between the two, or base in Wanaka and day trip into Queenstown for the big-ticket adventures.

Good to know

Queenstown has an airport with direct flights from Auckland, Christchurch and across the Tasman, so many people start or end a South Island trip here. The mountain weather can turn quickly, so carry warm and waterproof layers even in summer, and check road and avalanche conditions for the passes in winter. The alpine sun is strong, so use sunscreen. Tap water is safe and cards are taken everywhere.