Arrowtown Autumn Festival Parade

Arrowtown Autumn Festival 16 – 20 April

The Arrowtown Autumn Festival provides a superb reason to get out and enjoy the slowing pace of autumn and the magnificent colours of the season. The region focuses on its gold mining history and celebrates its heritage in the streets of Arrowtown with a street parade and a programme of community-based events.

Talk a walk to see the autumn colours

Make sure you immerse yourself in nature’s vibrant colours when you visit in autumn. Wrap up warm and get out along the Arrow River, Lake Hayes Loop or Tobin’s track. The Queenstown Gardens are also a great spot if you feel like a quick walk, and you can see the golden poplars lining the lake from the gardens.

Bike the wineries

Visit the wineries

Early autumn is a great time to come and experience the wine harvest, where tonnes of grapes are harvested from Central Otago’s 200 vineyards.  Treat your taste buds to a lunch at one of the regions many fine winery restaurants after visiting their cellar doors. If you’re feeling like something more active, you can hop on a bike and join a ‘cycle the vines’ tour. 

LUMA Southern Light Project 29 May - 1 June

Taking place over Queen's Birthday weekend, the LUMA Southern Light Project is back again. Held in the Queenstown Gardens, the event is free to the public and showcases a curated collection of stunning light installations and sculptures. There are also pop up events held in the town centre and an art walk along Marine Parade. It's an event not to be missed!

The scenic drive to Glenorchy

Take a drive and visit Glenorchy

The frontier town of Glenorchy is a spectacular 45-minute lakefront drive from Queenstown set amongst snow-capped mountains, pristine lakes and rivers and national parks, the epic backdrop for many international films, including Lord of the Rings. The village offers several dining and accommodation options, a visitor centre, garage and general store as well as its famous possum fur products and New Zealand-made designer garments and gifts.

Sherwood Queenstown

Enjoy the seasonal produce

There are a number of restaurants in Queenstown that are big on locally sourced seasonal ingredients and menus inspired by fresh whitebait, venison and Cardrona Valley merino lamb, wild pheasant, rabbit and hare, vegetables, herbs and stone fruits.  Talented local chefs (and celebrity chefs) carefully craft stylish contemporary meals and gourmet burgers with more than 150 eateries to cater for any occasion.

NZ Golf Open at Millbrook Resort

Have a round of golf

Be sure to bring your clubs to Queenstown if you’re a golfer, as there are seven golf courses in the region all with their own unique greens and natural features. Not only is a golfing visit to Queenstown a chance to escape, it's a great way to energise and rejuvenate surrounded by stunning lake and alpine scenery.