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If you’re making the most of the public holidays coming up and heading in Queenstown’s direction, here’s 10 things to do over the long weekend.
Art in Arrowtown
Art in Arrowtown
Paintings, drawings, contemporary sculpture, watercolours and photography are all on display in various public galleries, workshop spaces and artists’ studios or even in Queenstown’s wide open space. Take a look at the Queenstown art trail for some inspiration.
Queenstown Gardens Walk
Queenstown Gardens Walk
Lace up your walking shoes and explore the many day walks just a short trip from your accommodation. Queenstown Hill, The Queenstown Gardens, the Tiki Trail, and Moke Lake are all excellent short walks or day adventures and can be accessed from downtown. Find more inspiration here.
If you’re feeling like a bit more of a mission, drive out past Glenorchy and hike to the Routeburn Flats or Falls Huts and back (4-6 hours return). It’s a good idea to check in at the DOC office at 50 Stanley Street to make sure there are no weather or track warnings before you go.
Kayaking on Lake Wakatipu
Kayaking on Lake Wakatipu
You can join an organised kayak tour, or hire some canoes or kayaks yourself to explore Lake Wakatipu and see Queenstown from a totally different perspective. Make sure you check the weather before you go as conditions on the lake can change quickly. Always have a mobile or communication device with you, and wearing a lifejacket goes without saying.
Dinner on the beach
Dinner on the beach
Grab fish and chips, a burger or takeaways and enjoy your meal al fresco at Queenstown Beach. Never a dull spot, you’ll catch the jet boats, shark-shaped submersibles, passenger boats and paraflights on the water in front of you.
Visit a winery
Visit a winery
Many Queenstown wineries have cellar door tasting, and several have excellent restaurants on site, so whatever your appetite you can drop in for a taste, a meal or a winery tour. Queenstown is also home to a growing number of craft beer breweries, with cleverly named brews such as ‘Mischievous Kea’ available at bars featuring New Zealand’s finest craft brews on tap.
White water rafting
White water rafting
Home to the latest and greatest adventures, there are Queenstown adrenaline activities for every thrill-seeker, from iconic Queenstown bungy jumping and canyon swinging, Skydive, whitewater rafting and thrills on a jet boat. If you’re not into heart pumping thrills, there are plenty of soft adventures and indoor thrills to give you a milder adrenalin buzz.
Diners Queenstown Mall
Diners Queenstown Mall
You can’t beat the vibe of downtown Queenstown especially over a long weekend. With street side stalls, takeaway restaurants, art installations, buskers and performers, there’s always something on.
Visit some of our dessert shops, and award winning cafes for an expertly crafted coffee to keep you going.
Creative Queenstown Market
Creative Queenstown Market
The Remarkables Market is held Saturday 9am – 2pm with local produce, coffee, brunch and gift stalls, meanwhile the Creative Queenstown Market is also held Saturday 9am - 4:30pm on the Queenstown waterfront, with vendors selling arts, crafts and souvenirs. New to the scene is the Arrowtown Farmers Market held Sunday’s 10am – 2pm at Arrowtown’s Library Green, selling local produce, regional food & beverages and a range of plants and flowers.
Downhill mountain biking in Queenstown
Downhill mountain biking in Queenstown
Queenstown Bike Park and Cardrona Alpine Resort both have lift accessed mountain biking, so if you’re into serious downhill, hire a bike and lap the park all day. There are also gentler options, such as The Frankton Track along the Queenstown Trail, the Arrow River, the Lake Hayes Loop or Moke Lake. To get the heart pumping, pedal up 7 Mile Bike Park and explore the network of downhill trails.
If you're after a guided bike tour, (perhaps interested in pairing cycling with wine) book a guided or self-guided trip with one of our operators who will look after you from start to finish.
Queenstown Bay
Queenstown Bay
Frankton beach, Sunshine Bay, and the Arrow River are all great spots for a summers dip. We also have a guide to the best of Queenstown‘s beaches here.
With four distinct and unique seasons Queenstown has year-round appeal with each season offering a markedly different experience. We enjoy a continental-style climate with long hot summers and cool, crisp winters. Queenstown truly offers something for every season, very few...
You’ve seen the images on Instagram, and now you’re visiting and want to experience Queenstown’s famous sunrises and sunsets for yourself!
Home to the latest and greatest adventures, there are Queenstown adrenaline activities for every thrill-seeker, from iconic Queenstown bungy jumping to whitewater rafting, river surfing, canyon swinging and thrills on a jet boat.
Queenstown is a top pick for day hikes and overnight trips further afield. Read our top tips about safely hiking in the region.
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