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Outdoor Activities in Queenstown

By Viator, June 2015

Don’t be fooled by the Minus 5° ice bar—Queenstown isn’t a city where you spend time indoors. While the downtown pubs and trendy restaurants are good for spending evening out on the town, daytime in Queenstown completely revolves around adrenaline-pumping outdoor excitement.

From the peaks of the Remarkables to the shores of Lake Wakatipu, the outdoor activities in Queenstown are some the most riveting and breathtaking in the country. During the summer month, river activities such as jetboating, kayaking, and whitewater rafting dominate the Kawarau River. When floating downstream, be sure to look up as you pass AJ Hackett Bungy for the chance to watch visitors throw themselves off the bridge. Below the water, it’s even possible to swim beneath the currents and go scuba diving in the river on the “fastest scuba dive” in the world.

On land, mountain biking and hiking dominate the outdoors scene, and dozens of trails encircling the area around between Queenstown, Wanaka, and the valley out towards Glenorchy. In Queenstown itself, one of the most popular hikes for those looking for a workout is the climb to the summit of Ben Lomond. This six-hour trek climbs high above the city and gazes out over the spine of the Southern Alps. Or, if you only have a few hours to kill and are looking to work up a sweat, make the climb up Queenstown Hill for a view looking back over the city. Backcountry trampers also use Queenstown as a base for embarking on the Routeburn Track, a three-day trek across the Southern Alps that ranks as one of the best hikes in the world.

Out on Lake Wakatipu—the elongated, 112 square mile lake that fronts the city of Queenstown—outdoor activities from jet skiing to sailing dominate the summer watersports scene. You can ply the water on a stand up paddle board, pedal in circles on a lazy peddle boat, or even go sailing east towards the mountains with the afternoon wind in your hair.

All of this, of course, is during the long summer months, and the winter in Queenstown in an entirely different scene where snow and ice transform the terrain. The city is sandwiched right between some of the best ski resorts on the South Island, and from the slopes of Cardrona to the peaks of The Remarkables, Queenstown is a city that comes alive during the winter. With all of the outdoor activities on offer, even the chill of the Southern Hemisphere winter can’t seem to keep Queenstown folks indoors.

In downtown Queenstown you’ll often find ice skating at a hockey rink in the center of town, and you can also find night skiing at Coronot Peak. Or, for an extreme thrill that you wouldn’t expect to find in winter, strap on a parachute to your tightly-bundled back and go sky diving during the winter in Queenstown. Though flights don’t operate in the middle of storms, you can still spend clear days flying across a sky which is punctuated by a carpet of white.

Active, fast-paced, and incomparably thrilling, once you experience the number of outdoor activities in Queenstown, you’ll quickly understand why this is the adventure capital of the world.

Tours & Tickets

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Queenstown Zipline Tour

672 Reviews

Find out why Queenstown is New Zealand’s adrenaline capital with this zipline adventure! Launching from the Ziptrek Treehouse at the Skyline Gondola summit, ... Read more

Location: Queenstown, New Zealand
Duration: Varies

From USD $73.56

Skydive Queenstown

126 Reviews

See Queenstown like never before as you take the ultimate leap of faith as you tandem skydive. Feel your adrenaline surge as you reach altitude and prepare to ... Read more

Location: Queenstown, New Zealand
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

From USD $222.18

Queenstown Nevis Highwire Bungy Jump

126 Reviews

The ultimate Bungy Jump challenge. Make no mistake, the Queenstown Nevis Highwire Bungy is not for the nervous - with a wild 134 meters (440 feet) drop, the ... Read more

Location: Queenstown, New Zealand
Duration: 4 hours (approx.)

From USD $204.34

Skippers Canyon 4WD Tour from Queenstown

102 Reviews

Discover the beauty of Skippers Canyon on this half-day 4WD tour from Queenstown. Leave behind the hustle and bustle of Queestown and travel 32 kilometers by ... Read more

Location: Queenstown, New Zealand
Duration: 4 hours (approx.)

From USD $118.89

Dart River 'Funyak' Canoe and Jet Boat Tour from Queenstown

90 Reviews

Discover the untamed beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mount Aspiring National Park on this full-day Dart River 'funyak' (inflatable canoe) and jet ... Read more

Location: Queenstown, New Zealand
Duration: 9 hours (approx.)

From USD $244.47

Lake Wakatipu Cruise and Mt Nicholas High Country 4WD Tour

48 Reviews

Discover New Zealand’s Lake Wakatipu and Mt Nicholas high country on a catamaran cruise and 4WD tour from Queenstown. Cruise to the lake’s western shore while ... Read more

Location: Queenstown, New Zealand
Duration: 3 hours 45 minutes (approx.)

From USD $55.73

The Ledge - Queenstown's Sky Swing

30 Reviews

And now for something completely different... remember the swing you had in your back yard? Well, the Ledge Urban Sky Swing takes that to a whole new level. In ... Read more

Location: Queenstown, New Zealand
Duration: 45 minutes (approx.)

From USD $118.89

Queenstown ATV Tour

24 Reviews

Get your pulse racing on an ATV adventure on Queenstown Hill! Riding a fully automatic, 400cc all-terrain vehicle (also known as a quad bike), you’ll follow ... Read more

Location: Queenstown, New Zealand
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

From USD $182.05

Shotover Canyon Swing

12 Reviews

Time to get psyched thrill-seekers: You can take an adrenaline-fueled plunge on the Shotover Canyon Swing, an innovative jump system that is equipped with ... Read more

Location: Queenstown, New Zealand
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

From USD $170.16

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Queenstown

987 Reviews

Be struck by the beautiful silence of Doubtful Sound as you cruise the crystal waters and take in the breathtaking scenery. Journey across Lake Manapouri, ... Read more

Location: Queenstown, New Zealand
Duration: 12 hours (approx.)

From USD $189.48

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Outdoor Activities in Queenstown

Tours & Tickets

Queenstown Zipline Tour

Skydive Queenstown

Queenstown Nevis Highwire Bungy Jump

Skippers Canyon 4WD Tour from Queenstown

Dart River 'Funyak' Canoe and Jet Boat Tour from Queenstown

Lake Wakatipu Cruise and Mt Nicholas High Country 4WD Tour

The Ledge - Queenstown's Sky Swing

Queenstown ATV Tour

Shotover Canyon Swing

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Queenstown

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