Ice skating & Ice Bumper Cars
Queenstown has a covered ice arena located in the Queenstown Gardens, providing fun for all ages and abilities. Have a go at ice skating, ice hockey or their brand new ice bumper cars. The ice hockey season runs through winter and the local team the Southern Stampede have a very loyal following!
Ice Bumper Cars at Queenstown Ice Arena
Skiing or snowboarding
With four ski resorts within 90 minutes of downtown, Queenstown is the perfect place to let you kids experience the snow for the first time and this year kids under 10 years of age ski free at The Remarkables and Coronet Peak. You just might be amazed at how fast your kids pick it up!
Kids Ski Lessons at The Remarkables Ski Area
Discover our wildlife
Get close to wildlife at the Kiwi Birdlife Park and working farms across Lake Wakatipu. In Queenstown you have the chance to meet a real-life dinosaur, the tuatara, or get up close and personal with brand new spring lambs, highland cattle, llamas and deer.
Meeting New Zealand's native wildlife at Kiwi Birdlife Park
Ice, Ice Baby
Have an Antarctic adventure when you visit one of Queenstown’s two ice bars, both at temperatures way below zero. Enjoy a non – alcoholic beverage from an ice glass, and see who can stay inside for the longest!
Family friendly mocktails at Minus 5º Ice Bar
Rock climbing
There’s an indoor climbing wall located at the Queenstown Events Centre (minimum age 8 years old), and at Basecamp Adventures Indoor Climbing Centre. Or in the summertime, try an outdoor climbing experience with Via Ferrata for kids aged 10 years and over, but be careful you might start a hobby!
Rockatipu Climbing Wall at the Queenstown Events Centre
Horse trekking
Saddle up and join a horse riding adventure in Glenorchy, Walter Peak, Arrowtown or Ben Lomond; our horse trek operators and scenery are second to none.
Horse riding in Glenorchy
Paddle Up
Book a kayak or canoe trip with an experienced operator and paddle along the lake side at your own pace. Older kids can paddle their own kayak, while younger ones will be able to sit in front of mum or dad and help! Or try something new and give aqua-biking a go with the family along the Queenstown waterfront.
Gone Fishin'
Prep your reel and head out fishing for the day. You can fish in the lake year round, and the back country rivers open for the season on the 1st November and close between April and May. You can check these dates at fishandgame.org.nz and make sure you have a fishing licence to avoid fines.
On Your Bike
Try out the Queenstown Trail network of cycle trails, its a great way to see more of Queenstown and you can do as much or as little as you would like! If you don't have your own bikes with you, there are plenty of bike hire options around too for families. For biking of a different kind, take your kids off road on a guided quad bike or buggy adventure, with trips tailored for young explorers.
Biking the Jack's Point Trail
Indoor Fun
For downtime or rainy days there’s plenty of indoor fun including cinema, swimming pools and trampolines to keep everyone occupied and happy. Get competitive as a family with go karting, laser tag or battle it out with paintless paintball, all without stepping outside. For the brave, wind your way through a haunted house or try indoor skydiving in a wind tunnel!
Indoor fun at SITE Trampoline