Spring is glorious in Queenstown. The days are longer. The sun is warmer. Yet the ski slopes are often still open until early October. So, you can combine skiing with exploring walking tracks, touring wineries as the vines burst into leaf, and dining al fresco on fresh spring produce.

1. Book some spring sightseeing

Nature is closer here. The mountains and lakes form a vast landscape that restores your spirit. Immerse yourself in the scenery and spot the signs of spring. The days are longer so you can use the extra light to spend more time exploring. Daylight savings starts at the end of September, marking the beginning of long, golden Central Otago evenings for you to spend getting to know this special place.

See Queenstown from up high

You don’t have to fly to get a birds-eye view. Take the Skyline Gondola to the top of Bob’s Peak for a breathtaking panorama encompassing Lake Whakatipu, Coronet Peak, the Remarkables, Walter and Cecil Peak and  Queenstown below.

If you’re fit, and conditions allow, you can push on up the Ben Lomond track to the summit, for 360-degree views of the Whakatipu Basin and Mount Aspiring National Park. It’s a six to eight-hour return hike on a steep, exposed trail. Ensure you pack the right clothes, bring food, water, and sunblock, allow plenty of daylight, and let someone else know about your plans.

Queenstown Hill is another spectacular vantage point and a more accessible climb than Ben Lomond. Not only are you rewarded with views of the Remarkables, Cecil Peak and Lake Whakatipu, but you’ll pass illustrated information panels telling Queenstown’s story from Māori settlement to the present day

Take a guided tour for local stories

Touring with a local guide is a way to combine storytelling with scenery. Local guides will share Queenstown's history and Māori legends, introducing you to native birds and plants, talking about their traditional uses, and revealing the geological processes that shaped the land. From movie location tours to a scenic tour on horseback along glacial rivers, a guided tour will show you the secrets of this place.

If you prefer to tour at your own pace, you can hire an EV from Go Rentals, Snap or Europcar. Before you go, read up on our Queenstown stories for plenty of local locally-curated recommendations.

Queenstown Hill

2. Taste fresh spring produce and dine al fresco

Spring brings new flavours to the tables of Queenstown eateries. It’s the time to forage for wild onion and elderflowers, gather mahinga kai (traditional Māori food resources) like kōwhitiwhi (watercress) and pūha, and harvest crops like radishes, spinach, asparagus and strawberries. The best spots to taste spring produce are restaurants with kitchen gardens and strong ties with local growers and foragers.

Seasonal Queenstown eateries 

Here are nine Queenstown restaurants to eat all the spring flavours.

• Sherwood. Much of what you eat at Sherwood is grown onsite in their organic kitchen garden. Anything that isn’t is foraged or grown locally where possible. Food is hyper-seasonal and often plant-based, with the judicious addition of wild game and locally raised meat.
• Nest Kitchen + Bar. If you can tear your eyes away from the floor-to-ceiling views of Lake Whakatipu, Nest’s seasonal menu features South Island produce from Stewart Island salmon to Southland Merino lamb.
• Millbrook Resort grows most of its veggies and fruit and keeps chickens. With five restaurants to taste their seasonal dishes, chef Andi Bozhiqi is inspired by flavours from the estate’s gardens and the local area.
• Bella Cucina changes its menu daily to use the freshest produce. This authentic Italian kitchen does what Italian food does so well, taking seasonal ingredients and elevating them into something delicious. Their motto, 'eat simple, eat well' is well-earned.
• Mora Wines & Kitchen by Artisan. Mora means to linger. This cottage restaurant on the way to Arrowtown serves up flavours with a focus on quality, taste, and seasonal produce from Central Otago growers that will make you pause.
• Amisfield Restaurant & Cellar Door. Celebrated for its degustation menu, Amisfield promises an exploration of the region’s flavours. Chef Vaughan Mabee works with a small group of fishermen, hunters, gatherers and farmers to bring the tastes of Central Otago to your plate.
• No5 Church Lane. This elegant bistro and cocktail bar is big on showcasing local suppliers with original fusion flavours. The chef’s philosophy of nose-to-tail, zero-waste eating, sourcing from local farms, and foraging shines through.
• Headwaters Eco Lodge. The chefs at this Glenorchy lodge use produce from their own kitchen garden, orchard, and glasshouses, along with flavours foraged from the surrounding hills and mountains. Fresh, seasonal, and local is their mantra.
• Rātā. Named after the Southern crimson-blossomed tree, Rātā's strong New Zealand roots are reflected in every bite and sip. The menu changes seasonally to let the freshest produce shine, and ingredients are sourced as locally as possible. The team’s passion for preserving, dehydrating and fermenting means you can taste unique South Island flavours any time of the year.

Rātā's​ seasonal produce

Al fresco Queenstown

The warmer weather means you can dine al fresco and take your time to soak up the views. Pack a picnic from the Remarkables Market, grab a Fergburger, one of the famous Ferg Pies from the Fergbakery, or a crisp, succulent (and entirely gluten-free) fish supper from Erik’s Fish and Chips, and grab yourself a sunny scenic spot by the lake.

Or you can pull up a chair at one of these al fresco eateries.

• Public Kitchen and Bar. Classic Kiwi grub and a convivial deck on Steamer Wharf. 
• The Bathhouse. A historic gem in a Victorian bathhouse with tables on the beach.
• Atlas Beer Café. Folding windows open the whole bar to the world and lake views.
• Finz Seafood and Grill. Another waterfront treasure offering seafood by the lake.
• Jack’s Point Restaurant. Veranda tables surrounded by mountains, lakes and a championship golf course.

For more of Queenstown’s many al fresco bars and restaurants, check out our guide to al fresco dining around Queenstown.

Public Kitchen and Bar

3. Bike around the Gibbston wineries

Hire a bike or join a guided bike tour and spend an afternoon cycling between cellar doors amongst the vines in Gibbston, sampling our renowned Pinot Noir, nibbling on a gourmet platter of local produce, and enjoying those wine region vibes.

There are cycle options for riders of all ages and abilities. You can hire an e-bike to make the whole experience easier. With easy pick-up from central accommodation providers and return transport to Queenstown, you can ride for as long or as little as you like. If you love our incredible network of well-maintained cycle tracks throughout the region, please consider supporting Queenstown Trails who maintain and build our beautiful trails.

If the Valley of the Vines speaks to your soul, extend your stay and stay overnight in Gibbston to wake among the vines. Places to stay include an architecturally restored historic cottage, boutique vineyard cabins, and a luxury winery lodge.

Mt Rosa Winery, Gibbston

4. Enjoy spring blooms in the Queenstown Gardens

Queenstown bursts into bloom from September, with blossom-lined avenues and gardens filled with spring bulbs. The Queenstown Gardens are the best place to admire spring blooms. Explore hundred-year-old trees and beautifully maintained flower gardens from the accessible walking and biking trails that continue on around the lake.

You can also play frisbee golf (hire a frisbee from the Queenstown Ice Arena) or pack a picnic with local goodies and find a spot to admire the view. (Here are some other top picks for places to picnic in Queenstown). If you’re a runner, join in on parkrun every Saturday at 8am during daylight savings. The course runs through the gardens, so you can admire those blooms as you puff by with your new local friends.

Queenstown Gardens in spring

5. Give spring skiing a go

Spring is one of the best times of year to hit the slopes. The ski fields are usually open until early October (snow permitting, of course). Soft snow and sunny blue sky days make it a great time of year for beginners, families, and anyone wanting to progress their skills.

Longer, warmer days mean you could play golf in the morning and ski in a t-shirt in the afternoon. Check out our guide to spring skiing like a local in Queenstown.

Spring skiing at The Remarkables

6. Have yourself some wholesome family fun

There are many fun, enriching activities where kids can hear stories about the region and learn about Queenstown, and the longer spring days mean you can see and do more. Spring weather can still be unpredictable – so plan for both indoor and outdoor fun.

Check out this guide to family-friendly activities in Queenstown for a range of ideas with storytelling at their heart including Ziptrek Ecotours, Kiwi Park, KJet’s Time Tripper, and Buzzstop Bee and Honey Centre.

This guide to top things to do in Queenstown in the spring school holidays has a bunch of ideas for indoor activities to keep you and your kids entertained, along with top picks for places to eat in Queenstown with kids.

For self-guided fun head off on the Bob’s Cove plant hunt, or download an app to help you identify native birds and find out more about our environment.

Family fun in Queenstown

7. Check out spring events in Queenstown

From dance and music festivals to epic races for bikers and runners, Queenstown's spring calendar is packed full of events to celebrate the best of our place. Check out our spring events guide. Highlights include:

• Queenstown Salsa Festival: 21-24 September
• The Remarkables Market: Every Saturday from 30 September
• At The World’s Edge Festival: Classical music. 7-20 October
• The Glenorchy Gravel Grind: Mountain biking. 14 October
• Cyclorama. E-bike festival. 21-22 October
• Queenstown Marathon. 18 November.

Spring is also a great time of year to get tree planting, and the Wakatipu Reforestation Trust holds community tree planting days throughout the Whakatipu Basin.

The Remarkables Market

8. Get out on the golf courses

Queenstown is home to some of New Zealand's most scenic and celebrated golfing, with eight golf courses within 45 minutes of the centre of town. Play amidst waving tussocks and rocky outcrops surrounded by jagged mountains, or on plush resort greens. 

Queenstown’s two top golf clubs are doing a lot to look after Queenstown’s natural environment and give back to the local community. From native planting, wetland stewardship, and composting at Millbrook, to responsible greens maintenance with less fertiliser and irrigation at the Hills, it feels good to be setting a positive example as New Zealand’s golfing capital.

Friends golfing at Millbrook Resort

9. Test your limits with some big adventures

The pioneering spirit of our region gave Queenstown its reputation as the adventure capital of the world. Today, many of Queenstown’s famous hair-raising adrenaline activities are pushing new boundaries by giving back to people and place.

Queenstown’s famous adventures are a great way to connect with fascinating locals and immerse yourself in natural beauty, from snowcapped mountains to dramatic river gorges, while imprinting those memories deep in your psyche with a shot of intense adrenaline.

Spring is a particularly great season to go adventuring because activities that have been closed for winter reopen and you get to beat the summer crowds.

Back open after their winter break are:

• Whitewater rafting with RealNZ
• Beekeeping with BuzzStop
• Riversurfing with Serious Fun Riverboarding returns mid-September
• Paddle Queenstown’s beach rental for kayaks, aqua bikes, and paddle boards reopens mid-September
• Guided canyoning tours with Canyoning New Zealand are back in October

Whitewater rafting with RealNZ

10. Fly fish in backcountry rivers

The fishing and hunting season starts in spring. Warmer afternoons kick start the appetite of Queenstown’s fish population in preparation for the spring and summer feast.

Lake Whakatipu is open for fishing all year round. It offers great trolling and jigging during the day while casting a fly across one of the many river mouths into the lake can be rewarding in the evening. 1 November signals the opening of back country rivers so connect with a local guide to explore those secret fishing spots and catch a rainbow or brown trout.