Queenstown travel guide
New Zealand
A lakeside town ringed by mountains, and New Zealand's base for hiking, skiing and adventure sports. It is small enough to walk, with Central Otago's vineyards and gold-rush towns close by.
Essentials
- Language
- English; te reo Māori is an official language and appears on signs and place names
- Currency
- New Zealand dollar (NZD)
- Plugs
- Type I, 230 V
- Emergency number
- 111 for police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Not expected; leaving a little extra for exceptional service is a kind gesture rather than a rule.
Rough daily budget
Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:
- Backpacker: $55-90, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
- Mid-range: $150-260, with a private room and restaurant meals.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Where to stay in Queenstown
- Town centre: the lakefront, the gondola and most of the restaurants, all on foot.
- Arrowtown: a preserved gold-rush village about 20 minutes' drive away, best in autumn colour.
- Glenorchy: a small settlement at the head of Lake Wakatipu, the gateway to the Routeburn Track.
Getting around Queenstown
The town centre is walkable, and local buses link it with Frankton, the airport and Arrowtown. A car makes it much easier to reach Glenorchy and the wider region.
Best time to visit Queenstown
December to March for hiking and the lake, or June to August for the ski season.
Top things to do in Queenstown
- Ride the gondola up Bob's Peak for views over Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables, or walk up the steep Tiki Trail instead
- Watch or try a bungy jump at the Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge, the first commercial bungy site
- Cruise across the lake on the TSS Earnslaw, a coal-fired steamship in service since 1912
- Cycle a section of the Queenstown Trail, which links the town with Arrowtown and the Gibbston wineries
- Hike the Ben Lomond Track in clear weather, a full-day climb with views across the Southern Alps
What to eat in Queenstown
- Central Otago pinot noir: the region's signature red wine, from vineyards a short drive out of town
- Lamb: New Zealand's best-known meat, often slow-roasted or served as rack of lamb
- Cheese roll: a southern speciality of soft bread rolled around a cheese filling and toasted with butter
- Hokey pokey: vanilla ice cream with crunchy pieces of honeycomb toffee
Day trips from Queenstown
- Milford Sound: a fiord of sheer cliffs and waterfalls, a long day of about four hours' drive each way, or a scenic flight
- Wānaka: a quieter lake town with walks and a laid-back café scene, about an hour by road over the Crown Range
- Gibbston Valley: cellar doors, cheese and the Kawarau Gorge, around 25 minutes by road
Local etiquette
New Zealanders are relaxed and informal, and "kia ora" is a welcome greeting. On the tracks around Queenstown, carry out all your rubbish, stay on the marked path and leave farm gates as you find them.
Staying connected
One NZ, Spark and 2degrees prepaid SIMs are sold at the airport and in town, eSIMs are widely supported, and coverage is good in Queenstown itself but patchy or absent on the road to Milford Sound and in the backcountry.
Staying safe
Alpine weather turns quickly, and winter roads such as the Crown Range can need snow chains, so check conditions before setting out. For adventure activities, book with established, licensed operators, and do not leave valuables in cars at trailheads.
A local tip
Mountain weather changes fast, so check the forecast and track conditions before any hike, even a short one like Queenstown Hill.
Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.
Meet people in Queenstown on Waypacker
Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Queenstown for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Queenstown, you could be one of the first hosts.
Questions about Queenstown
- What currency is used in Queenstown?
- Queenstown uses the New Zealand dollar (NZD).
- What is the emergency number in Queenstown?
- In Queenstown, call 111 for police, fire and ambulance.
- When is the best time to visit Queenstown?
- December to March for hiking and the lake, or June to August for the ski season.
- How much does a day in Queenstown cost?
- Roughly $55-90 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $150-260 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
- Is Waypacker free to use in Queenstown?
- Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
- Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?
- Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
- Can I meet locals in Queenstown without staying with anyone?
- Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
- Will anyone see my exact location?
- No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.