Comparison · Queenstown vs Whistler · New Zealand / Canada
Queenstown vs Whistler
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0
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Quick answer
Choose Queenstown for Bungy jumping, Lake Wakatipu, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter; choose Whistler for Skiing and snowboarding and Peak 2 Peak Gondola. Queenstown is generally less expensive, and the two are about 12,463 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 12,463 km
- Less expensive
- Queenstown
- Best time for Queenstown
- July–August and December–March
- Best time for Whistler
- January–March and July–September
Side by side
| Queenstown | Whistler | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand | Canada |
| Known for | Bungy jumping, Lake Wakatipu and Skiing | Skiing and snowboarding, Peak 2 Peak Gondola and Mountain biking |
| Best time to visit | July–August and December–March | January–March and July–September |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $180–$320 | $300–$500 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | January, 22°C (72°F) | July, 26°C (79°F) |
| Coldest month | July, 7°C (45°F) | January, 0°C (32°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | ZQN | YVR |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Queenstown for…
Bungy jumping, Lake Wakatipu, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter. Queenstown sits on the shore of Lake Wakatipu in Central Otago, ringed by the jagged Remarkables and other peaks of the Southern Alps. The compact town centre is packed with tour shops, restaurants and bars, and it is the base for bungy jumps, jetboats, the…
Choose Whistler for…
Skiing and snowboarding and Peak 2 Peak Gondola. Whistler is a mountain resort town in British Columbia's Coast Mountains, about 120 km north of Vancouver along the Sea-to-Sky Highway. Its two mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb, form one of the largest ski areas in North America, linked by the Peak 2 Peak…
Top sights compared
| # | Queenstown | Whistler |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skyline Gondola and Luge | Whistler Blackcomb ski resort |
| 2 | TSS Earnslaw cruise | Peak 2 Peak Gondola |
| 3 | Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge bungy | Cloudraker Skybridge and summer alpine trails |
| 4 | Shotover Jet | Whistler Mountain Bike Park |
| 5 | Queenstown Gardens | Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre |
Food compared
| Queenstown | Whistler |
|---|---|
| Gourmet burgers | Poutine |
| Central Otago pinot noir | Après-ski nachos |
| Lamb | Caesar |
| Venison | BC wild salmon |
Which is cheaper?
Queenstown is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $180–$320 per person there, against $300–$500 in Whistler (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Queenstown on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 12,463 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 11 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Queenstown or Whistler cheaper?
Queenstown is usually less expensive: about $180–$320 a day mid-range against $300–$500 (estimates).
+Is Queenstown or Whistler better for a first trip?
Pick Queenstown for Bungy jumping, Lake Wakatipu, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter, or Whistler for Skiing and snowboarding and Peak 2 Peak Gondola.
+How far is Queenstown from Whistler?
About 12,463 km in a straight line.