Day trips · Queenstown · New Zealand
5 best day trips from Queenstown
Where to go when you want a day away from Queenstown, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Steve & Jem Copley, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Queenstown is Milford Sound (About 4 hours each way by road). The closest option is Glenorchy, about 46 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 5
- Closest
- Glenorchy (46 km)
- Most popular
- Milford Sound
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milford Sound | 290 km | About 4 hours each way by road | Coach tour with cruise, self-drive via Te Anau, or scenic flight | First-timers, Couples, Families |
| Glenorchy | 46 km | About 45 minutes by car | Car along the Glenorchy–Queenstown Road | Couples, Quiet stays, First-timers |
| Wānaka | 67 km | About 1 hour by car via the Crown Range | Car or shuttle bus | Couples, Quiet stays, Families |
| Te Anau | 170 km | About 2 hours by car | Car or coach | Families, Quiet stays |
| Cromwell and Bannockburn | 60 km | About 50 minutes by car | Car | Food lovers, Families |
The day trips
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290 km · About 4 hours each way by road
1.Milford Sound
Fiordland's most famous fiord has sheer walls rising from the sea, Mitre Peak and waterfalls that multiply after rain. The road through the Eglinton Valley and Homer Tunnel is spectacular in itself. A fly-cruise option reduces the long day.
- Getting there
- Coach tour with cruise, self-drive via Te Anau, or scenic flight
- Best for
- First-timers, Couples, Families
46 km · About 45 minutes by car
2.Glenorchy
The lakeside road to the head of Lake Wakatipu is one of New Zealand's most scenic drives, ending at a small village with a red boatshed. Beyond lie Paradise, Lord of the Rings filming locations, the Routeburn Track and jetboat trips on the Dart River.
- Getting there
- Car along the Glenorchy–Queenstown Road
- Best for
- Couples, Quiet stays, First-timers
67 km · About 1 hour by car via the Crown Range
3.Wānaka
A quieter lakeside town on Lake Wānaka known for the lone willow in the lake, Roys Peak's ridge-line views and Puzzling World. The Crown Range Road crosses one of New Zealand's highest main roads to get there.
- Getting there
- Car or shuttle bus
- Best for
- Couples, Quiet stays, Families
170 km · About 2 hours by car
4.Te Anau
The gateway to Fiordland on Lake Te Anau, with boat trips to the Te Anau glowworm caves and short walks on the Kepler Track. It makes a good overnight stop to split the Milford Sound drive.
- Getting there
- Car or coach
- Best for
- Families, Quiet stays
60 km · About 50 minutes by car
5.Cromwell and Bannockburn
Through the Kawarau Gorge past the bungy bridge, Cromwell has a restored heritage precinct on Lake Dunstan, summer fruit stalls and the Bannockburn wineries.
- Getting there
- Car
- Best for
- Food lovers, Families
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- A Bee Card gives lower fares than cash.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Queenstown?
Milford Sound. Fiordland's most famous fiord has sheer walls rising from the sea, Mitre Peak and waterfalls that multiply after rain.
+How long does it take to get from Queenstown to Milford Sound?
About 4 hours each way by road — Coach tour with cruise, self-drive via Te Anau, or scenic flight, about 290 km.
+How long does it take to get from Queenstown to Glenorchy?
About 45 minutes by car — Car along the Glenorchy–Queenstown Road, about 46 km.