Spring is glorious in Queenstown. The days are longer. The sun is warmer. The ski fields are open until early October so you can combine skiing with exploring walking tracks, biking the trails, touring the wineries and dining al fresco on fresh spring produce. Here's our guide to the top things to do during spring so you can take the time to slow down and soak it all up.

 

1. Book some spring sightseeing

In Queenstown, nature's beauty is all around you. As spring breathes new life into the landscape, the snowcapped mountains and lakes create a stunning backdrop. With longer days and golden evenings, you'll have plenty of time to explore.

See Queenstown from up high

For a bird's-eye view without flying, take the Skyline Gondola to the top of Bob’s Peak. From here you'll get for a breathtaking panorama of Lake Whakatipu, surrounding mountains and Queenstown nestled below.

For the adventurous and well-prepared, the Ben Lomond track offers a challenging hike with amazing views at the top of the Whakatipu Basin and Mount Aspiring National Park. It's a six to eight-hour walk, so pack well and let someone know your plans.

An easier option is Queenstown Hill, which combines great views with local history. 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 today.

Take a guided tour for local stories

To learn more about the area, consider a guided sightseeing tour. Local experts will share Māori legends, point out native plants and animals, and explain how the landscape was formed. 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.

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.

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. 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
• The Remarkables Market
• At The World’s Edge Festival
• Queenstown Marathon

Spring is also a great time of year to get tree planting, and the Whakatipu 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.

Dive into Queenstown's natural wonders through its renowned adventures. From snowy peaks to deep river canyons, these thrilling experiences not only showcase the area's stunning landscapes but also create lasting memories fueled by excitement and adrenaline. Below are some spring favourites to really immerse yourself in our natural surrounds:

• Whitewater rafting with RealNZ
• Riversurfing with Serious Fun Riverboarding 
• Paddle Queenstown’s beach rental for kayaks, aqua bikes, and paddle boards
• Guided canyoning tours with Canyoning New Zealand

Canyoning with Canyon Explorers

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.