3 days in Queenstown

Day by day

1. Day 1: Skyline Gondola and Luge and Queenstown Gardens

   Skyline Gondola and Luge, Queenstown Gardens and Kiwi Birdlife Park, then Onsen Hot Pools in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Skyline Gondola and Luge

      Gondolas climb from Brecon Street up Bob's Peak to a viewing deck about 450 metres above the town, looking over Lake Wakatipu, Cecil Peak and the Remarkables.

   2. Late morning

      Queenstown Gardens

      Walk the shoreline loop around the peninsula at sunset, then continue along the lakefront to Frankton on the Queenstown Trail.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Gourmet burgers

      Fergburger on Shotover Street (expect a queue, often late into the night) and other burger joints in the town centre.

   4. Afternoon

      Kiwi Birdlife Park

      A small conservation park at the base of the gondola with kiwi in nocturnal houses, tuatara and native birds such as kea and kākā.

   5. Evening

      Onsen Hot Pools

      Book an evening slot in winter to soak under the stars after a day on the slopes.

2. Day 2: TSS Earnslaw cruise and Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge bungy

   TSS Earnslaw cruise, Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge bungy and Shotover Jet, then Shotover Street and the Mall in the evening.

   1. Morning

      TSS Earnslaw cruise

      Stand on the stern deck on the way out for the best views back to town and the Remarkables.

   2. Late morning

      Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge bungy

      AJ Hackett opened the world's first commercial bungy site here in 1988, from a 43-metre-high historic bridge over the Kawarau River.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Central Otago pinot noir

      Cellar doors in Gibbston Valley, Bannockburn near Cromwell and wine bars in Queenstown and Arrowtown.

   4. Afternoon

      Shotover Jet

      Expect to get splashed; wear quick-drying clothes and a warm layer outside summer.

   5. Evening

      Shotover Street and the Mall

      Pubs, backpacker bars and late-opening venues in the core of the town centre.

3. Day 3: The Remarkables and Arrowtown and the Chinese Settlement

   The Remarkables, Arrowtown and the Chinese Settlement and Ben Lomond Track, then Steamer Wharf and the lakefront in the evening.

   1. Morning

      The Remarkables

      The serrated range that forms Queenstown's backdrop rises to over 2,300 metres.

   2. Late morning

      Arrowtown and the Chinese Settlement

      Visit in late April for the gold and red autumn trees, and borrow a gold pan to try your luck in the Arrow River.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Lamb

      Restaurants in the town centre and Arrowtown, and the farm barbecue at Walter Peak.

   4. Afternoon

      Ben Lomond Track

      From the top of the gondola, this demanding track climbs to the Ben Lomond saddle and on to the 1,748-metre summit, with views across Lake Wakatipu, the Remarkables and Mount Aspiring on clear days.

   5. Evening

      Steamer Wharf and the lakefront

      Waterfront bars for sunset drinks overlooking Queenstown Bay.

Before you go

• Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge bungy: Book ahead in summer and school holidays; time slots fill quickly.
• Onsen Hot Pools: Sessions are by reservation and often book out days ahead.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Queenstown Town Centre keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Fernhill and Sunshine Bay ($$$) suits couples, families and quiet stays. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 21–30 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.8 hours in June to 15.6 hours in December, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Queenstown
• 2 days in Queenstown
• 5 days in Queenstown

Questions travellers ask