If you only have a few days, Queenstown is the ultimate destination for an incentive trip with impact. Fly into our international airport, and you'll be in the centre of town in minutes, surrounded by dramatic scenery wherever you turn. Spectacular accommodation, venues, hundreds of activities, and sophisticated bars and restaurants are all within a short drive.

This three-day incentive itinerary gives your guests a special introduction to the Queenstown buzz. Balance connection, relaxation, and unforgettable bespoke experiences. Forget traditional rewards. Deliver an extraordinary incentive experience they’ll never forget.

Queenstown at Dusk looking over the centre town Walter Peak
Queenstown at dusk

Day 1: Connect with the Real Queenstown

Queenstown has a fascinating heritage. Invite your guests to connect with the destination on a deeper level and discover the region’s culture, history, and landscape. From the moment your delegates arrive, they’ll be immersed in the vibrant energy that’s uniquely Queenstown.

A Welcome They’ll Always Remember

Your guests arrive to be greeted at the airport by tangata whenua, the Māori people of the land. They perform a traditional welcome to connect you with New Zealand culture and with the whenua or land. After this greeting, your party will be escorted to jet boats, and jet down the Kawarau River into Lake Whakatipu, to arrive at their hotel in style.

For even more wow factor, transfer your guests straight from airplane to helicopter. They’ll be flown to the peak of a mountain overlooking Queenstown, where they’ll be formally welcomed by local Māori hosts, before being served a glass of champagne.

Get to Know Queenstown with a Private Tour

Altitude’s Queenstown Tour takes you to all the top local spots. You’ll visit highlights like the Shotover River and the historic goldmining village of Arrowtown, then head to Gibbston for bungy jumping (optional) and wine tasting overlooking the vines. Finish your day with a scenic boat cruise on Lake Whakatipu, before ending back in the heart of town.

For a bespoke tour of Queenstown’s hidden gems, try a BLACK private tour. As the BLACK crew say, some of the best spots in Queenstown are behind locked gates down dusty, unsigned roads. Their local guides have exclusive access to private properties and secret venues, and they can also arrange activities, or for you to meet local personalities.

Nomad Safaris offer guided trips with knowledgeable local guides. Head into the beautiful backcountry around Queenstown to explore goldmining ghost towns, Lord of the Rings film locations, and white knuckle 4WD trails. Your guides reveal the history behind the stunning scenery from Māori folklore to colonial culture.

Of course, your guests don’t need a guided tour to get to know Queenstown. If you give them the gift of downtime, they can take their own tour of the town, visiting boutiques, art galleries, cosy cafes and bars, or hiring a bike to explore further afield.

An Evening Cruise to a High Country Station

High country sheep stations were established here from the 1860s. They were the first businesses in the region before the gold rush came along in 1862 and helped shape local culture. Walter Peak High Country Farm across the lake from Queenstown is one of the original stations. At its peak it ran 40,000 sheep and 50 people worked on the farm.

Book your guests on a cruise to Walter Peak on historic steamship the TSS Earnslaw. When they arrive, they’ll be invited into the old homestead for a gourmet BBQ dinner with grilled meats, seafood, salads grown on the farm, delicious desserts, and local cheeses. After dinner, a farm demonstration gives fascinating insights into high-country station life.

Shotover River winding through mountains in autumn
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Vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw sailing through Lake Whakatipu at dusk
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View of a people sitting in a cafe courtyard surrounded with greenery
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(1) Shotover River, (2) TSS Earnslaw, (3) Odd Saint Cafe

Day 2: Unwind and Recharge

After the excitement of arriving in Queenstown, give your guests the gift of a day devoted to relaxation and discovering our celebrated food and wine scene. Queenstown has serene spa experiences in glorious locations. Allow time to slow down and unwind before exploring the local wine region and other culinary treasures.

Create your own Bespoke Spa Experience

On the shores of Lake Whakatipu, eforea spa at Hilton Hotel offers body scrubs, wraps, facials and massages, with indulgent organic products. Spa guests can use the hotel’s indoor pool, hot tub, steam room, and sauna. There is also a relaxing lounge.

Set at the base of Coronet Peak in Arthur’s Point, Onsen Hot Tubs and Spa are famous for their idyllic location above the Shotover River tumbling below. Guests can combine beauty treatments and massages with a soak in a hot tub with an astonishing view.

Near Arrowtown, The Spa at Millbrook is a tranquil space set in the resort grounds. They do a range of beauty and body treatments, along with luxurious packages. After unwinding in this delightful sanctuary, your guests can lunch at one of Millbrook’s restaurants, followed by a kitchen garden tour, to see where the produce for their meal is grown.

Meet Wine and Food Producers

Another lunch option is Royalburn Station, the high-country farm near Arrowtown run by chef, entrepreneur, and author Nadia Lim. Choose from a BBQ or lunch cooked by a chef and served in Prohibition House, a rustic 1920s cottage that used to be the old shearers’ quarters. After eating, take a guided tour of the station, and meet the crew who run the farm.

In the afternoon, introduce your reinvigorated guests to Gibbston, the worlds southernmost wine region, famous for its Pinot Noir. Pinot grapes are particularly expressive of the place they’re grown, so Central Otago Pinot is a unique expression of this land. The wines reflect the alpine landscape, clean air, bright sun, and schist soils. Book a private wine tour. Meet winemakers and sample wines paired with farm-to-table dishes crafted by local chefs.

A group of people on a tour through a big vegetable garden
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A group of people networking and having fun in an outdoor venue with mountains in the background
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A group of people attending a wine tasting at Kinross in Gibbston near Queesntown
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(1) Millbrook Kitchen Garden Tour, (2) Royalburn Station, (3) Kinross Wine Tasting

Day 3: Leave a Lasting Impression

Round off your incentive itinerary with an unforgettable day that blends adventure with luxury, while showcasing Queenstown’s unparalleled landscapes. Inspire your guests with a day of bespoke experiences crafted to create delightful memories.

See Queenstown From Above

Experience a bird’s eye view of Queenstown’s breathtaking landscapes. Soar above the Southern Alps on a scenic flight or transport your guests by helicopter to enjoy exclusive access to awe-inspiring views. Here are a few ideas to inspire your final day.

  • Fly over the peaks and marvel at ancient rivers of ice below, before landing on a remote glacier. See blue ice up close, before raising a glass of champagne.
  • Take a dawn sightseeing flight into Mt. Aspiring National Park. See the sunrise behind the mountain and fly over icefalls and glaciers.
  • Fly over Glenorchy, the Dart River, and Mt Alfred, before landing in Mt Earnslaw Basin and hiking into Earnslaw Burn to the foot of waterfalls tumbling from the hanging glacier.
  • Land on a peak for a gourmet picnic with a dramatic vantage point over Queenstown, Lake Whakatipu, and the surrounding mountain ranges.
  • Take a private wine and food tour by helicopter, landing in the Remarkables before visiting three boutique vineyards, and enjoying lunch paired with Gibbston wine.

A Sunset Cruise on the Pacific Jemm

Book a sunset lake cruise on a private superyacht. Explore Lake Whakatipu, and enjoy cocktails, canapes, and champagne while the sun drops below the peaks. Or book a private chef to serve up a delicious dinner onboard, before gently motoring back to Queenstown, to enjoy a nightcap of Central Otago whisky in one of the town’s atmospheric bars.

View from a plane window at sunrise looking out rivers, lakes and mountain ranges
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Pacific Jemm food & beverage
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Hiking Earnslaw Burn in Summer
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(1) Glenorchy Air, (2) Pacific Jemm, (3) Earnslaw Burn

Stay in Luxury Accommodation with a Queenstown Story

Queenstown has a number of boutique hotels as storied as they are luxurious. These exclusive heritage retreats combine five-star accommodation with places to gather and relax.

Hulbert House is an intimate, boutique hotel experience in a restored Victorian villa. Luxurious linens, morning tea treats, and pre-dinner drinks and canapes will make your team feel as if they’re staying in a private, historic home.

Eichardt’s Private Hotel offers seven luxurious suites in a handsome lakeside building built during the gold rush. This historic hotel is atmospheric and indulgent in equal measure. The intimate bar and sophisticated restaurant are popular with locals and guests.

A quirky, boutique hotel in an old 1920s dairy that was the local corner store, The Dairy Private Luxury Hotel features 13 luxury rooms and a private library. Its striking art deco frontage welcomes guests to contemporary glamour combined with vintage charm.

Hulbert House lounge with palm tree decor
Palm Lounge, Hulbert House

Stay Longer and Explore Further 

Queenstown is a hub for exploring Central Otago and beyond. Stay a few days longer so your guests have time to experience more of this spectacular place.  

  • Historic Arrowtown was founded in the Central Otago gold rush. Its picturesque, treelined streets are home to boutiques, galleries, and a buzzy food scene.
  • Visit Glenorchy. This remote alpine village surrounded by magnificent mountains and the gateway to a World Heritage area offers hiking, horse trekking, and kayaking.
  • Just 50-minutes’ drive from Queenstown, Wānaka is a charming lakeside town full of vibrant restaurants, cafes, and shops, with another wine region to explore.
  • Take a Milford Sound day trip to explore Fiordland’s magnificent natural beauty and wildlife. Or book an overnight stay on a boat in the heart of the Sound.
Milford Sound in summer from above
Milford Sound

Here to Help Organise Your Queenstown Incentive Itinerary

Get in touch with the Queenstown Convention Bureau team for free, impartial advice, and to create an extraordinary Queenstown incentive itinerary your top performers will never forget.