Snowmobiling
Here’s one for the thrill seekers. Sign up with Queenstown Snowmobiles for the ultimate snowmobiling tour – they’ve partnered with Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters to fly you to a snowmobiling site that’s accessible only via helicopter. You’ll fly 15 minutes to incredible backcountry terrain, full of powder fields that are 6000ft about sea level. Take your Go Pro, you’re going to want to capture the action.
Image: Alex Thom / Cardrona Alpine Resort.
Image: Alex Thom / Cardrona Alpine Resort.
Stargazing at Cardrona
Calling all astronomy lovers: alpine stargazing tours are now on offer at Cardrona Alpine Resort, with a rare opportunity to see the night sky from a place with minimal light pollution. With a naked-eye astronomy tour, followed up by star-gazing with a top-of-the-line telescope, you’ll see star clusters and nebulae alongside the moons of Jupiter, rings of Saturn and plenty more – and all from the beauty of the ski resort.
Queenstown Ice Arena
Queenstown Ice Arena
Ice Skating
Did you know Queenstown has its own ice arena? Located close to town, the arena offers up skate rentals, skating instructors, hockey stick rental and even skating aids in the form of penguins and seals for those who need a bit of help with their stability. You can even hire Frisbees to play a round or two or Frisbee Golf in the Queenstown Gardens.
Image: @ales.silva Instagram. Snowshoeing adventures.
Image: @ales.silva Instagram. Snowshoeing adventures.
Snowshoeing
You know what they say – if you can walk, you can snowshoe. It’s a really fun activity to try, giving you access to fun and snowy terrain while requiring little technical skill. Everything from family-friendly Snowplay trips to Heli Adventure trips is on offer depending on your budget and your desired level of adventure.
Glacier landing and snow experience. Image: @k_yu0526 on Instagram.
Glacier landing and snow experience. Image: @k_yu0526 on Instagram.
Scenic flights
Even if you're not here in winter, Glacier and snow landings provide the opportunity to get a snow experience year around. Take in the dramatic views as you fly over the Southern Alps and experience the thrill of landing on snow and glaciers deep within the alpine ranges. Don't forget to take your camera!
Snowy days in Queenstown
Snowy days in Queenstown
Explore Queenstown
While Queenstown’s typically not covered in snow, it’s not unusual to wake up to a blanket of white covering the town. And when that happens, it’s a pretty special experience. Go for a wander through town to Lake Wakatipu, and find a breakfast or lunch spot with a view; stroll through the cobbled streets of the shopping district as you duck in and out of shops, finding true New Zealand souvenirs; or just enjoy the views from your hotel window while ordering room service and a cosy bed.