Family friendly activities in central Queenstown

1. Get lost in an escape room or virtual reality

Solve a gold rush mystery or escape into another world!  Escape Quest run Queenstown-themed escape rooms as well as next-level VR Escape Rooms. Or, step into a new dimension with Thrillzone’s 360 VR games.

Practice your swing at Golf Federation's golf simulator experience. There's a range of family-friendly fun games to choose from to suit every skill level.

2. Cinema Experiences

Reading Cinemas Queenstown has the latest releases plus Spit the Dummy Wednesday screenings for parents and bubs. Thrillzone’s Vortex 12d Motion Theatre is a cutting-edge, white-knuckle adventure. On Queenstown's main pier you’ll discover a Queenstown you never imagined at KJet's Time Tripper.

KJet Time Tripper

3. Ice Skating and Ice Bumper Cars

Open year-round, Queenstown Ice Arena is centrally located and offers a range of fun indoor activities for kids including ice skating, ice bumper cars and a cafe right in the gardens.

Ice Bumper Cars at Queenstown Ice Arena

4. Indoor Skydiving

That’s right! Queenstown is the only place in New Zealand where you get to experience the feeling of a 13,000ft freefall indoors at iFly Skydiving Centre.

5. Indoor Entertainment Centres

Right in the heart of Queenstown is Thrillzone, with paintless paintball, 360 battleground, black light mini golf, laser tag, race simulator, motion theatre, VR adventures and more. Next door you’ll find Odyssey Sensory Maze or the crazy SmashIt Rooms!

6. Get Spooked at a Haunted House

Scare yourself to pieces at the hysterical and truly frightening Fear Factory, New Zealand's scariest haunted house.

7. Ice Bars

Check out a world where EVERYTHING is made of ice, even the drinks glasses and chairs! Queenstown has three Ice Bars to choose from, Minus 5 Ice Bar, Below Zero Ice Bar and the newest edition Queenstown Ice Bar to choose from.

Below Zero Ice Bar

8. Shopping

A rainy day in Queenstown is a perfect excuse to explore the shops and cafes!  Kids’ friendly shops include The Bead Shop, where you can make your own jewellery and the Remarkables Sweet Shop with free fudge tastings.

9. Discover Queenstown

Even if it’s raining you can still explore Queenstown and discover a slice of New Zealand. Take a lake cruise on the Spirit of Queenstown or The TSS Earnslaw.  Hop on a 4WD adventure with Off Road Adventures or discover a kiwi at the Kiwi Park.  Ziptrek Ecotours meanwhile will take you on a zipline adventure under the canopy of the trees. They depart from the top of the gondola, which will also take you to the Skyline complex.

Otherwise you can always go riverboarding (minimum age 8) or whitewater rafting (minimum age 13) as you’re going to get wet anyway!

Spirit of Queenstown scenic cruise

Queenstown rainy day activities further afield

10. Arthurs Point and Arrowtown

Hop on a bus or drive to Arrowtown and visit the shops and cafes, along with the interactive Lakes District Museum, complete with a kids’ treasure hunt!  Also in Arrowtown, the kids will love the Remarkables Sweet Shop, or check out a movie at the quirky, must-visit Dorothy Browns cinema. Just want to chill? Take in the spectacular Shotover River from your private family hot pool at the Onsen Hot Pools in Arthurs Point.

11. Frankton

Frankton is an entertainment hub with the popular Site Trampoline, and right next door is Chipmunks kids-only indoor playground. You just can’t go past Basecamp Adventures, in the same block with climbing walls and the super-fun Clip N Climb experience that is built for kids. Also in the same precinct is Game Over where you can get competitive with the family with indoor go-karting, arcade and lazer tag. Just minutes away you’ll find Alpine Aqualand indoor pool with lane swimming, hot pool and hydroslides.  Also in Frankton, opposite the Events Centre is the Buzzstop Honey Centre and Cafe, your home of all things bees and honey.

For more family fun indoor activities for kids, and outdoor activities, explore Kidz Go Queenstown on their website or app.