When you’re heading to Queenstown for a ski holiday, it’s important to pack as efficiently as possible so you don’t want to lug extra kilos of luggage that could be taken up with chargers, ski poles and bespoke beanies. That’s why we’re here to help you decide what to leave out of your suitcase or backpack.

No jim-jams required

Surely you’re not planning on getting a good night’s sleep when there are so many bars and restaurants to explore? From quiet cocktail bars to foot-burning danceathons, there’s very little need to be tucked in tight at any stage. Even if you do manage to stagger in before sunrise, you won’t be climbing into your Peppa Pig pyjamas, that’s for sure.

Ledge Bungy

You won’t have time to read

It’s time to let the lies stop. You’ve carried that battered copy of Infinite Jest across five continents and never got past page three. There’s zero chance you’re going to crack the spine in Queenstown, when there’s so much else to eyeball. This buzzy resort town is chockers with activities like go-karting and bungy jumping. There are four ski fields in easy reach, and you can even ski after dark with Coronet Peak’s night-skiing. You won’t be reading, not when there’s so many epic events to get amongst!

Winter Pride

“Forget” the work laptop

Say what you have to say, to get time off work. But just so as you know, remote working and Queenstown don’t really go together. So, ditch that dead-weight laptop in your luggage and pack an extra merino instead.

With a winter calendar packed with activities on and off the mountain, from music festivals Snowboxx and Snow Machine to the biggest Winter Pride festival in the Southern Hemisphere, Queenstown is definitely not the place to find a quiet corner and get some reports done.

Sadly due to the increase in Covid-19 Alert Levels, the events above have been cancelled for 2021. We look forward to welcoming these events back next year.

Coronet Ski Field

Don’t bother with Travel Scrabble

Are you kidding? That thing is going to rattle around in your bag from the moment you leave home until months afterwards, when you finally empty it out again. There’ll be plenty of ski days to keep you occupied – from June to October – so no need for word-based board games.

Fergburger

Ditch that home-packed lunchbox

Mate, there are so many places to sample the local cuisine, you’ll run out of stomach space long before you run out of options. Why would you settle for that soggy sanger when the queue at Fergburger isn’t even that long? Sorry, is that a juice box?!

Skyline gondola

No need for your own sky gondola

Seriously, it’s cool. They already have one installed.