Three Days in Queenstown - Our Favourite Town In NZ
About Queenstown
Queenstown is the coolest town we visited in New Zealand. We like to usually avoid the hot spots as it's too hectic and usually overrated, but this perfectly placed mountain town has so much to offer.
Transportation:
You'll likely fly into Queenstown airport. From here, we recommend downloading Uber to grab an Uber ride from the airport to your hotel in Queenstown, which isn't too far of a drive (15 minutes).
Unless you're planning on road tripping or doing a bunch of day trips (and are trying to avoid the crazy day trip costs that come along with doing a ton of these tours), we would definitely recommend skipping the car. You don't need it in town as you will be able to walk absolutely everywhere, and if you only plan on doing a few day trips, it's not worth the extra hassle of driving (plus if your hotel doesn't have parking included, theres another consideration - it's not a massive town).
Best Time To Visit:
The best time to visit Queenstown is during the summer, but ofcourse it depends on the activities you are looking to do. Queenstown actually has so much to do year round - from hiking in the summer, to skiing in the winter!
Queenstown summers are from December - February and theres so much to do during this time of year (hiking, swimming, mountain + lake adventures... the list goes on). We visited in January and this place was alive. This itinerary is for the summer / shoulder season months when the weather is a bit warmer, however the restaurants and day trip ideas could definitely be adjusted to fit your visit!
To note here, summer vacations (and when kids are out of school) in Queenstown also align with the summer months on this side of the world, so keep that in mind when planning your vacation - costs and availability will be a huge factor here.
Queenstown winters are from June - September and there are a ton of winter activities for those that love the snow (skiing, snowboarding, mountain activities, etc).
Shoulder seasons in between these months above come with mixed weather, but are obviously the less busy and cheaper times of the year to visit which is always a plus. We will say that trying to book hotels during the summer in Queenstown was an absolute nightmare and it was NOT cheap.
How Much Time Do You Need:
This really depends on your plans as you could spend anywhere from one night to one week in Queenstown. Our personal recommendation would be to get a campervan and road trip around the South Island, and spend two of your nights in Queenstown to enjoy this area.
However, if you prefer to travel by staying in the same hotel (we love comfort!) and doing day trips to see the best spots in the area, we would recommend ATLEAST five days in this area to get a feel of this town PLUS the main sights nearby (such as Milford Sound day trip, Wanaka, Glenorchy, wine tours, and maybe even Mt Cook National Park).
Where To Stay
Check out these hotels that are centrally located in Queenstown for a comfortable stay close to everything. No need for a car here! If you are travelling during summer make sure you book as far in advance as possible - hotels here get both expensive and hard to come by the closer you get to your arrival date.
Day 1
Today is a day solely dedicated to exploring Queenstown and the area around it! After breakfast, head out on a walk on the sunshine bay track. If you like to run, this track is also a great place to get out for a run (and take a dip in the water - it's definitely refreshing!), and walking is 100% doable, it will just take a bit longer. The rocky beach at the end had almost no one else there when we visited.
In the afternoon (after you've enjoyed a nice patio lunch and drink!), head to a unique activity in the area... the luge! Plus you'll get a good mountain view when you get up there.
For a post-adventure snack hit up the cookie bar for happy hour. These cookies were actually so good - we were BIG fans.
Your evening will likely be spent for a little bit in line at Fergburger but we really enjoyed these burgers (they may be slightly overhyped but still really good). Try and time your visit or order online to miss the line. Take it to go and head to the Queenstown Wharf for sunset views and great vibes. The atmosphere is relaxed and you're surrounded by STUNNING settings.
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Day 2
Take a day trip from Queenstown! There are so many great day trip options from this area that will really depend on what you're doing for the rest of your trip. We HIGHLY recommend the Milford Sound day trip (ESPECIALLY if it's a bad weather day - the more rain thats happening the better the views will be).
If Milford Sound is later in your itinerary or you've already been there and done that, other day trips you could look into include Wanaka, Mt Cook, Glenorchy, or Wine Tours. If you're looking for a longer three day itinerary these are just SOME of the ideas you can do to fill your time in Queenstown.
Breakfast:
Lunch: Included in your tour.
Dinner:
Day 3
Explore more of what Queenstown has to offer. Today, choose an adventurous activity to pump the adrenaline. There are a few listed below, but you can choose from these, skydiving, ziplining, hang gliding, and so much more. Queenstown really is an adventure town.
In the evening, head to the perfect way to end your Queenstown experience - the Onsen Hot Pools! This place looks stunning and you can reserve private tubs to enjoy and relax throughout the day (so if you have other evening plans, you can do this earlier!).
Breakfast:
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We Hope You Love Queenstown!
Queenstown SHOCKED us. Usually we don't love cities (not that this really counts as a city at all - but usually the places where airports directly are, aren't really our thing). But this place is, for lack of better words, such a vibe! The cool restaurants, being immersed in nature, having so much to do right at your next step - it's such an incredible place. Whether you want to be outdoorsy or lay back in luxury, Queenstown has something for everyone. If you want more on New Zealand (& many other countries) be sure to check out the rest of our thatch profile (we have camper van itineraries for NZ!), and also our blog where we give insight into our favourite travel experiences.
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