Where to stay · Queenstown · New Zealand
Where to stay in Queenstown
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: André Richard Chalmers, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Queenstown Town Centre. Compact lakefront grid of tour shops, restaurants, bars and the Steamer Wharf. Best alternatives — families: Fernhill and Sunshine Bay; budget: Frankton.
Key facts
- First visit
- Queenstown Town Centre
- Families
- Fernhill and Sunshine Bay
- Budget
- Frankton
- Nightlife
- Queenstown Town Centre
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Queenstown Town Centre | Compact lakefront grid of tour shops, restaurants, bars and the Steamer Wharf |
| Families | Fernhill and Sunshine Bay | Hillside apartments and hotels west of town with lake and mountain views |
| Couples | Fernhill and Sunshine Bay | Hillside apartments and hotels west of town with lake and mountain views |
| Budget | Frankton | Airport suburb with supermarkets, Remarkables Park shopping and a lakeside beach |
| Luxury | Kelvin Heights | Peninsula of lakeside homes, a golf course and the Hilton resort across the Frankton Arm |
| Nightlife | Queenstown Town Centre | Compact lakefront grid of tour shops, restaurants, bars and the Steamer Wharf |
| Food lovers | Queenstown Town Centre | Compact lakefront grid of tour shops, restaurants, bars and the Steamer Wharf |
| Solo travellers | Queenstown Town Centre | Compact lakefront grid of tour shops, restaurants, bars and the Steamer Wharf |
| Shopping | Frankton | Airport suburb with supermarkets, Remarkables Park shopping and a lakeside beach |
| Quiet stays | Fernhill and Sunshine Bay | Hillside apartments and hotels west of town with lake and mountain views |
Queenstown neighbourhoods in detail
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, solo travellers and food lovers
Queenstown Town Centre
The town centre spreads a few blocks back from Queenstown Bay, with the gondola base, Steamer Wharf, the Earnslaw jetty and most adventure-tour pick-ups all within a ten-minute walk. Shotover Street and the Mall hold restaurants and bars that stay busy late. Rooms are expensive and can be small, but staying here removes the need for a car.
- Good
- Walk to restaurants, bars and tour pick-ups; Lake views from many hotels; Best nightlife
- Watch out
- Highest room rates; Noisy late at night on weekends; Parking is scarce
- Nearby
- Skyline Gondola, Steamer Wharf, Queenstown Gardens, TSS Earnslaw
$$$ · Best for couples, families and quiet stays
Fernhill and Sunshine Bay
Fernhill climbs the slopes west of the town centre along Fernhill Road, with apartment hotels, holiday homes and some of the best views of the lake and the Remarkables. Sunshine Bay below has a small beach and the start of the lakeside track to town. It is about 5 minutes by car or bus, or a steep 20-minute walk, from the centre.
- Good
- Panoramic views; More space for the money; Quiet evenings
- Watch out
- Steep walk back from town; Few shops or restaurants
- Nearby
- Sunshine Bay, Queenstown Town Centre, Bob's Cove
$$$ · Best for couples, first-timers and families
Frankton Road and Queenstown Hill
Frankton Road follows the lake east of town, lined with hotels and apartment complexes that look across to the Remarkables and Cecil Peak. The Queenstown Hill Time Walk starts on the slopes above. Buses run frequently along the road, and the town centre is a 10–30-minute walk depending on where you stay.
- Good
- Lake views at mid-range prices; Frequent buses; Easy drive to the airport
- Watch out
- Busy main road; Walk into town can be long
- Nearby
- Queenstown Hill, Queenstown Town Centre, Frankton
$$ · Best for families, budget and shopping
Frankton
Frankton lies at the head of the Frankton Arm next to the airport, with shopping centres, supermarkets and a lakeside beach and marina. It is the most practical base for families and skiers heading to The Remarkables, and the Queenstown Trail cycle path runs along the shore. The town centre is about 15 minutes away by bus.
- Good
- Supermarkets and family-friendly facilities; Close to The Remarkables ski area; Lower prices than town
- Watch out
- Little character; Aircraft and traffic noise in places
- Nearby
- Queenstown Airport, Remarkables Park, Frankton Beach, Kelvin Heights
$$$$ · Best for luxury, quiet stays and couples
Kelvin Heights
Kelvin Heights occupies the peninsula across the Frankton Arm, with large holiday homes, a lakefront resort area, a golf course and walking and cycling tracks along the shore. Water taxis cross to the town centre. It suits travellers with a car who want quiet and lake-edge views.
- Good
- Lakefront setting; Peaceful; Water taxi to town
- Watch out
- Few restaurants nearby; Need a car or boat for most trips
- Nearby
- Frankton, Queenstown Golf Club, The Remarkables
$$$ · Best for couples and quiet stays
Arthurs Point
Arthurs Point sits about 10 minutes' drive north of town on the road to Coronet Peak, above the Shotover River where the jetboats run. It has a few lodges, holiday homes and the Onsen Hot Pools, with cedar tubs overlooking the canyon. Skiers like it for quick access to Coronet Peak.
- Good
- Close to Coronet Peak; Canyon scenery; Quiet
- Watch out
- Few places to eat; Need transport to town
- Nearby
- Shotover Jet, Onsen Hot Pools, Coronet Peak
$$$ · Best for couples, culture, quiet stays and food lovers
Arrowtown
Arrowtown grew from the 1862 Arrow River gold rush and keeps its historic main street of timber and stone buildings, now cafés, restaurants and boutiques. Its trees turn gold in autumn, and the restored Chinese Settlement and the Lakes District Museum tell the town's mining history. It is a calm, characterful base with buses to Queenstown.
- Good
- Historic village atmosphere; Good restaurants and cafés; Close to wineries and trails
- Watch out
- About 20 minutes from Queenstown's activities; Limited nightlife
- Nearby
- Lakes District Museum, Arrowtown Chinese Settlement, Gibbston Valley
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Queenstown Town Centre | $$$$ | Skyline Gondola, Steamer Wharf, Queenstown Gardens, TSS Earnslaw |
| Fernhill and Sunshine Bay | $$$ | Sunshine Bay, Queenstown Town Centre, Bob's Cove |
| Frankton Road and Queenstown Hill | $$$ | Queenstown Hill, Queenstown Town Centre, Frankton |
| Frankton | $$ | Queenstown Airport, Remarkables Park, Frankton Beach, Kelvin Heights |
| Kelvin Heights | $$$$ | Frankton, Queenstown Golf Club, The Remarkables |
| Arthurs Point | $$$ | Shotover Jet, Onsen Hot Pools, Coronet Peak |
| Arrowtown | $$$ | Lakes District Museum, Arrowtown Chinese Settlement, Gibbston Valley |
Getting to your hotel
Queenstown Airport is in Frankton, about 8 km from the town centre: roughly 15–25 minutes by car or taxi, or a little longer by Orbus bus. Frankton Road can be congested at peak times.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Queenstown for first-time visitors?
Queenstown Town Centre. The town centre spreads a few blocks back from Queenstown Bay, with the gondola base, Steamer Wharf, the Earnslaw jetty and most adventure-tour pick-ups all within a ten-minute walk.
+Where should families stay in Queenstown?
Fernhill and Sunshine Bay: Panoramic views.
+Which area of Queenstown is best for a budget stay?
Frankton ($$): Airport suburb with supermarkets, Remarkables Park shopping and a lakeside beach.