Queenstown · QUEENSTOWN BACKCOUNTRY DRIVING TOURS
41 tours
Good queenstown backcountry driving tours sell out between December and March, and the best go first. Here are the 15 to look at, with prices, durations and the weather caveats that matter on this side of the Alps.
1-hour Queenstown ATV quad biking with gear, training, and photo stops in a private 650-acre park, minutes from town.
“This was a very last minute decision and we are so glad we found it!! The guides (Stefan and Ollie) were excellent. Making sure we felt comfortable, helping us out, taking lots of photos for us, and answering all of our questions about thRead more”
Queenstown quad biking on automatic 400cc 4WD ATVs, riding exclusive Queenstown Hill tracks with safety training and tea at the peak.
“We appreciated the full training provided ahead of the experience. The guides were very attentive and experienced. The location was amazing with great views and we had a great time on this activity. Recommended!”
4WD Lord of the Rings filming stops in Queenstown and Arrowtown, plus Arrow River gold panning and tea in a small group.
“This tour was one of the highlights of our Queenstown Tour. Jenny was very knowledgeable about LOTR and had lots of great stories to tell. She was also a really skillful driver, giving us an exciting cross-river 4WD experience across Arrow River and the snowy roads of Skippers Canyon. It was super fun!”
Half-day Lord of the Rings 4WD from Queenstown with Arrow River gold panning, filming locations, and a small-group off-road adventure.
“This was an amazing tour! Our tour guide made it so special. He entertained us the whole time and we laughed so much. By the time the tour was over, we were all friends! He made me want to move to NZ. The views were incredible and riding the 4WD around the river made it seem like we were on an adventure. Will never forget this tour.”
Ride automatic 4WD quad bikes on Queenstown Hill with waterproof gear, training, and a summit photo stop over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu.
“Pickup went smooth and on time, the guys were veery nice and friendly, gave clear instructions on what to do and not to do on the quad bikes, then took the group up the hills to see some incredible views of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu. Totally worth it, would do it again, no questions asked!”
Half-day 4WD Skippers Canyon tour from Queenstown with hotel pickup, gold panning at Deep Creek, and classic suspension bridge stops.
“Stunning scenery. Different scenery than other tours. Learn history of a specific group of settlers.”
Drive a Queenstown 4x4 buggy off-road with helmet and wet gear, training, and Lake Wakatipu views on a small-group tour.
“What an amazing experience!! Led by Stephan and Bas who really looked after our family of 7, this was simply epic.. We all had a fabulous time off-road in our buggies, getting dusty (which was a huge part of the fun!), but the views were amazing! Highly recommend!!”
Boat across Lake Wanaka, then a small-group 4x4 climb to Mt. Burke Station for a gourmet picnic and local stories.
“Best trip of our holiday so far! Just 4 of us and Tony the guide who was excellent. Very knowledgeable and competent driving the boat and the jeep. Stunning scenery and exciting but really safe driving. Wine and food delicious. A great afternoon.”
Wild Hills Off Road Safari from Wanaka, a small-group 4WD ride to West Wānaka Station for alpine tea, wildlife, and big mountain views.
“Wonderful day. Great climb up the mountain, plenty of wildlife, good information about the area and a relaxing cup of coffee at the top.”
Skippers Canyon 4WD Tour from Queenstown with hotel pickup, small group, thrilling canyon roads, Skippers School tea and homemade cheese, views.
“It was our first day at Queenstown and it really was unforgettable. Skippers Canyon was just amazing. We experienced four seasons in just one afternoon. Perfect scenery for photo. One of the best things to do at Queenstown. Our guide was just excellent. He was very informative and passionate. Overall a very professional tour. Would recommend it for everyone.”
A full day 4WD Middle-earth route from Queenstown with movie costumes, hot drinks, lunch, and stops like Isengard and Arrow River gold panning.
“I did a whole day LOTR tour and really liked it a lot. Jordan and Jenny really took the time and showed all the LOTR spots. Driving around in a 4WD makes it much more exciting.”
Scenic 4WD from Lake Tekapo in a Land Rover Defender, Mackenzie farm animal time, and backcountry lookouts near Aoraki Mount Cook.
“Knowledgeable guides, great vistas, rare birds and beautiful wildlife. Great to get to see the backcountry and go where you wouldn't be able to access on your own.”
Race German Rimo go-karts up to 50 km/h on a long Queenstown-region track, with helmets included and pit-crew coaching.
“Its great fun with the track being pretty high speed but from when i went there were a lot of slow downs due to other drivers spinning and needing to get help from the marshals on track but overall its a great track and a lot of fun”
Passenger supercar laps at Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell near Queenstown, in a Ferrari 488 or Lamborghini Huracán, 15 minutes.
“Exhilarating experience in the Ferrari 488. Hold on to your seats! Recommended for a memorable experience of acceleration, grip and braking power.”
4WD Glenorchy half-day from Queenstown, visiting LOTR filming locations, using replica props for photos, with Lake Wakatipu views.
“Our guide was very friendly and offered lots of interesting information. It was great seeing iconic locations and having our pictures taken with movie props.”
