Travelling to Queenstown? Get inspired by these top tips to make your holiday even better.
Queenstown is a place that invites you to venture beyond – to slow down, stay a while and soak in every moment.
When you travel Queenstown this way, you'll feel like a temporary local. You’ll take your time, get to know the community, connect with our culture, and give back.
Your small choices can have a big impact on our community – like planning to stay an extra day, choosing lower emissions transport, or opting to share in a guided experience with a local.
Ready to delve deeper? Here’s what you need to know before you go.
Tip #1: Take your time
You’ve earned it – plan to take your time and stay a while to really immerse yourself in this place. No matter what time of year you’re visiting, these six-day Queenstown travel itineraries will help you relax, unwind, and experience Queenstown on a deeper level. It’s worth extending your stay to explore Queenstown’s surrounding regions and towns. There’s so much to uncover in Arrowtown, Gibbston, Glenorchy, Kingston, and further afield, too.
Recharge this Autumn in Queenstown – a 6-day Travel Itinerary
- 10 min read
Escape the hustle of your everyday life and recharge with an autumn break in Queenstown. Take it…
Savour Winter in Queenstown – a 6-day Travel Itinerary
- 14 min read
Let the world slow down this winter with a long, relaxing stay in Queenstown.
Experience the Slower Side of Spring in Queenstown - a 6-day Travel Itinerary
- 12 min read
A 6-day slow travel Queenstown spring itinerary. Spring things to do and places to stay for those…
Soak Up Summer in Queenstown - a 6-day Travel Itinerary
- 9 min read
Take the time to immerse yourself in Queenstown’s natural beauty, connect with the locals, and…
Tip #2: Consider how you get around
Whether you choose to explore Queenstown on foot, by the $2 public bus network, by bike on the Queenstown Trail, or by hiring your own EV, considering lower emissions transport options makes for a trip that’s better for our community, your wellbeing, and your pocket.
Your Guide to Queenstown Walks & Hikes
- 5 min read
Whether you feel like a relaxing stroll or a multi-day trek into the backcountry, Queenstown has…
How to Explore Queenstown by $2 Public Bus
- 7 min read
Queenstown's bus network makes it easy and affordable to explore scenic spots like Sunshine Bay…
Exploring Queenstown by Bike
- 5 min read
With almost endless riding opportunities and spectacular vistas around every corner, from leisurely…
Guide to Exploring Queenstown by EV
- 7 min read
From charging options to regional travel tips, plan your electric road trip with this guide to…
Tip #3: Seek sustainable stays
Rest easy knowing your Queenstown stay helps preserve the environment and gives back to our local community. Discover Queenstown stays that are doing good – like working to reduce their energy use, supporting local suppliers, diverting food waste, and much more!
Low Impact Places to Stay in Queenstown
- 8 min read
Rest your head and ease your conscience with this guide to low impact Queenstown accommodation…
The Headwaters Eco-Lodge: Arrive Negative – Leave Positive
- 5 min read
If there’s an obvious illustration of regenerative tourism, it can be found at the end of the road…
Millbrook Resort: Journey to a Greener Stay
- 3 min read
A world-class resort in harmony with the surrounding land – that was the vision of the Ishii family…
Hilton Queenstown: Making Travel Better Globally and Locally
- 5 min read
From carbon-neutral meetings to food waste diversion and funding reforestation – here's how Hilton…
Tip #4: Connect with our community
When you become a temporary local when visiting Queenstown, you’ll forge connections with our community and share in our love for this place. Find fun ways to become a temporary local and connect with our people with the guides below.
How to Become a Temporary Local on Your Trip to Queenstown
- 8 min read
If you want to experience what living here is really like, this guide to exploring Queenstown like a…
Ski Patrol Couple Charlotte and Sam's Love Affair With Queenstown
- 11 min read
Charlotte and Sam's love for the mountains has led them to spend their winters at Coronet Peak…
Local Ride Guide Finn O’Connor Shares His Queenstown Insider Tips and Favourite Bike Trails
- 10 min read
Finn takes visitors on guided Queenstown mountain bike tours. He shares his story, tips for…
Meet Anika, a Gibbston Winemaker with a Passion for Regenerating Queenstown’s Environment
- 8 min read
Anika makes wine for Coal Pit Vineyard and Winery in Gibbston. She shares her passion for…
Tip #5: Get inspired
Queenstown has an ambitious goal to be a regenerative tourism destination with a carbon zero visitor economy by 2030 – read more about the plan here. Inspired by nature, our innovative community is leading the way and pushing new boundaries by giving back to people and place.
Get inspired to leave your mark, without leaving a trace, in Queenstown with these stories of our operators who give back to the environment and the local community.
Featured Queenstown Stories Top Itineraries
A Light Touch: Natural Selection Bike Aotearoa Comes to Queenstown
- 12 min read
Humans often strive to manipulate or "fix things", believing we can improve on what nature has already created. However, in our pursuit of so-called perfection, we usually overlook the inherent beauty of a natural state. Natural Selection Tour understands the importance of appreciating the canvas before adding paint. For…
The Headwaters Eco-Lodge: Arrive Negative – Leave Positive
- 5 min read
If there’s an obvious illustration of regenerative tourism, it can be found at the end of the road - the Headwaters Eco-Lodge in Glenorchy.
Canyon Brewing: Brewing and Growing its Own Beer to Help Lower its Carbon Footprint
- 3 min read
When Canyon Brewing set out to measure their carbon footprint, they were shocked to find that malting barley (one of the key ingredients in beer) accounted for…
Check In's journey to net zero emissions through the Wao Climate Action Initiative
- 1 min read
Check In is a locally connected concierge and holiday home booking service. Their focus is on sustainability, making conscious business decisions, and have…
Queenstown Activities on a Journey to Sustainability
- 5 min read
Meet the locals championing sustainable travel in Queenstown. Plan your sustainable Queenstown activities with environmentally-friendly ways to have fun in…
Biodiversity, Sustainability and The Chef's Garden at Gibbston Valley Winery
- 3 min read
In 2014, Gibbston Valley Winery made their first step towards a more environmentally friendly future in having the original Home Block vineyard certified…
Remarkables Market: A Journey to Becoming NZ's First Zero Waste Market
- 3 min read
Over the last three years, the Remarkables Market has been on a journey with a seemingly simple purpose; to be New Zealand's first zero waste market.