Category Queenstown Tours

Queenstown · QUEENSTOWN TOURS

The 15 Best Things to Do in Queenstown

345 tours

The town itself is four streets and a beach; everything worth the money happens on the water, up the gondola, or an hour down the road. These 15 are what makes a first visit work, with prices, running times and the detail each operator buries in the small print.

Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown

Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown - Hotel transfers and the start point that keeps your day on track

1.Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,001 reviews · from $216Our pick

Small group Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown with hotel pickup, scenic stops, and a 2-hour cruise to Mitre Peak.

“This experience was amazing! Our tour guide made multiple stops along the way to space out the trip and allow everyone to get some incredible pictures. He had some great facts to share along the way. There was a big storm the night before so we were worried they might cancel the trip but they assured us we were still good to go. Highly recommend this tour company!”

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Queenstown: Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise

Queenstown: Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise - TSS Earnslaw vs Spirit of Queenstown: Choosing the Right Dining Cruise

2.Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,713 reviews · 3h 30m · from $95

Queenstown’s Walter Peak BBQ cruise bundles a Lake Whakatipu ride, wood-fired gourmet buffet, and a farm dog and sheep show.

“The whole trip was excellent a lovely trip on the steam boat followed by a delicious varied lunch and then a very interesting talk and display of sheep shearing. Would thoroughly recommend.”

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Queenstown: Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Full-Day Trip

Queenstown: Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Full-Day Trip - Road to Milford Sound: how the coach ride becomes part of the show

3.Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,592 reviews · from $144

12-hour Queenstown to Milford Sound coach and cruise with onboard tea, viewing decks, lunch, and chances at rainforest waterfalls and wildlife.

“love love loved the tour. Pick up effortless driver full of knowledge cruise amazing. If you have never been to milford sounds do your best to get there it is so beautiful and serene.”

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Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Ride in Queenstown

Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Ride in Queenstown - Timing, Check-In, and On-Site Details You’ll Care About

4.Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Ride in Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,540 reviews · from $113

A high-speed Shotover River jet boat with 360 spins, canyon runs, and local stories from a small group capped at 12.

“We had a blast on the river shotover boat! It was really cool to be in the canyon and be on the river. It looks like they also have tours on the lake but we thought it was super fun to be on the river. We all loved doing this tour and felt very safe yet it was definitely a thrill ride!”

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Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly Tour from Queenstown

Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly Tour from Queenstown - The Scenic Flight Over the Southern Alps: Window Seats and Real-World Views

5.Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly Tour from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,792 reviews · from $462

Fly from Queenstown to Milford Sound, cruise about 1h45m, and return by air for Southern Alps views plus hotel pickup.

“10/10 experience! The most amazing views of the NZ alps and Milford Sound. Views from the air and then by sea gave me the full experience. Coming into land at Milford Airport was one of the best experiences of my life. My pilot, Daniel was fantastic. Talked us through the flights, the views and any bumpy parts of the journey! He helped make the trip so special. I am a 33 year old, female, solo traveller and found everyone very welcoming, caring and lovely.”

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Queenstown: Shotover River and Kawarau River Jet Boat Ride

Queenstown: Shotover River and Kawarau River Jet Boat Ride - Lake Wakatipu speed run, where the views still make sense

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Full-Day Trip by Plane & Boat

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Full-Day Trip by Plane & Boat - The 30-40 Minutes Over Central Otago and Fiordland: What You Actually See

7.From Queenstown: Milford Sound Full-Day Trip by Plane & Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,558 reviews · 5 hours · from $447

Fly from Queenstown to Milford Sound with guaranteed window seats, then enjoy a 2-hour cruise to Mitre Peak and waterfalls.

“Milford Sound from the air is absolutely unforgettable. I was blessed with perfect weather on the day of my visit, and taking the plane was definitely the right choice. The aerial views were truly breathtaking, even more so than the cruise, and the whole experience was very efficient and smooth. I highly recommend this to anyone visiting Milford Sound – it’s an experience you really shouldn’t miss.”

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Queenstown: Lake Wakatipu Scenic Cruise (90 Minutes)

Queenstown: Lake Wakatipu Scenic Cruise (90 Minutes) - Photo Ops That Feel Real, Not Forced

8.Lake Wakatipu Scenic Cruise (90 Minutes)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,462 reviews · from $49Best value

Enjoy a 90-minute Lake Wakatipu cruise from Queenstown with live captain commentary, photo stops, and heated comfort plus optional drinks.

“Relaxing, informative and entertaining. Excellent value for money. A very friendly and welcoming captain and assistant.”

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NZONE Skydive Queenstown

NZONE Skydive Queenstown - The Coach Route: Remarkables Ski Area, Glenorchy, Then Back to Town

9.NZONE Skydive Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,438 reviews · from $222

Tandem parachute jump in Queenstown, up to 15,000 feet over Lake Wakatipu. Transfers included, pick your height, buy photos after.

“This was truly one of the best things I have done in my life! I’m actually scared of heights, but did the 12,000 foot jump and was not scared at all. It was a beautiful day, I had absolute confidence in my jump master, and the whole thing was incredibly exhilarating, enjoyable and fun. I will do it again ! My teenagers had the time of their lives- this is a must do activity in Queenstown. This operation is so incredibly professional - I had no doubt about the safety and competence of the entire team. Thank you NZone for giving me one of the most fun and memorable days…”

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From Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Trip

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Trip - RealNZ meeting point and settling into the glass-roof coach

10.From Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,417 reviews · from $152

Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown with a glass-roof coach, photo stops, and a 2-hour wildlife cruise with live nature guides.

“The whole day was just a great experience! Our driver Danny was incredibly helpful and kind, educating us on the history of the towns we drove past or visited as well as the environment around us. I would highly recommend this tour and especially with RealNZ and if you can choose your driver choose Danny!!”

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Lord of the Rings Scenic Half Day Tour from Queenstown

Lord of the Rings Scenic Half Day Tour from Queenstown - Price and what $123.41 buys you

11.Lord of the Rings Scenic Half Day Tour from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,285 reviews · from $123

Small-group Lord of the Rings half-day tour from Queenstown with picnic stops, private Arcadia Station access, Mt Aspiring, and film-location walks.

“A must do for any Lord of the Rings enthusiasts. Not only was our tour guide, Amy, incredibly knowledgeable about movie info, she did a great job of showing off New Zealand’s beauty. We saw amazing vistas, private shooting locations for many films, and had a blast overall. Would not hesitate to recommend!”

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Queenstown: TSS Earnslaw Cruise of Lake Whakatipu

Queenstown: TSS Earnslaw Cruise of Lake Whakatipu - Exploring the Engine Room Without Rushing

12.TSS Earnslaw Cruise of Lake Whakatipu

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,255 reviews · 1h 30m · from $68

Ride the historic TSS Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu. Explore the engine room, learn ship history, and enjoy mountain views for 90 minutes.

“nothing to improve. An experience of a lifetime. Awesome, thanks everyone for making it such a wonderful time. I loved every minute. 😁”

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Queenstown Segway Tour

Queenstown Segway Tour - Meet at One Mile Car Park and get your Segway lesson

13.Queenstown Segway Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,235 reviews · from $61

Segway around Queenstown in 1 or 2 hours. Learn fast, cruise Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown Gardens with a small group guide.

“Great experience to see parts of Queenstown. We thoroughly enjoyed it. We particularly enjoyed the botanical gardens. The directions for the meeting point could be more specific.”

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Queenstown: Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Experience

Queenstown: Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Experience - Queenstown pickup, shuttle timing, and why location matters

Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch & Queenstown Lake Cruise

Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch & Queenstown Lake Cruise - Lake Wakatipu crossing: seats, steam, and quick photos

15.Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch & Queenstown Lake Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,196 reviews · from $98

Ride the vintage TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak for a gourmet BBQ lunch, sheep herding show, and Lake Wakatipu views.

“The boat is busy but comfortable- make sure you head downstairs and take a look in the engine room! The barbecue was fantastic; definitely worth knowing that you can go up as many times as you like rather than loading your plate sky high. The farm show was actually the highlight for me; good banter, great demonstrations and just the right amount of time.”

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